Empower Advisory Group LLC Has $204,000 Stock Holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Empower Advisory Group LLC decreased its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 67.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,474 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 3,006 shares during the quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $204,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sustainable Insight Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,068,000. Atria Investments Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.3% in the third quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 31,399 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,355,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. PFS Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the third quarter worth $69,000. Assetmark Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.0% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 56,632 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $7,855,000 after buying an additional 5,126 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWA Asset Management Group LLC acquired a new position in Atmos Energy during the third quarter valued at $297,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their price objective on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $143.94.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:ATO opened at $144.89 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $139.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $127.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.49 billion, a PE ratio of 21.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.68. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $110.46 and a 12-month high of $148.39.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.66%.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated natural gas distribution, and pipeline and storage businesses in the United States. It operates through two segments, Distribution, and Pipeline and Storage. The Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states.