Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. Reduces Stake in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) by 27.3% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 200 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 75 shares during the quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc.’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $31,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 28.8% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,158 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 482 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.9% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 34,705 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $5,348,000 after buying an additional 981 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 8.4% during the second quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,970 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $304,000 after buying an additional 152 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 26.0% during the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. Finally, LPL Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 20.6% during the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 109,772 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $16,969,000 after buying an additional 18,753 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.1%

Atmos Energy stock opened at $176.00 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $169.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $160.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market cap of $28.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.74. Atmos Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $136.05 and a twelve month high of $179.70.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.17 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.08 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 25th were issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 47.80%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on ATO shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH restated a “neutral” rating and set a $163.00 target price (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $167.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $159.00 price target (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. TD Cowen raised shares of Atmos Energy to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, September 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $170.44.

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.