Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Sets New 52-Week Low – Here’s Why

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday. The stock traded as low as $154.72 and last traded at $154.8850, with a volume of 38719 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $156.44.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on ATO shares. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Monday, July 13th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $180.00 price objective (down from $198.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, September 11th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Atmos Energy from $173.00 to $167.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Atmos Energy from $188.00 to $179.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on Atmos Energy from $184.00 to $183.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $183.58.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $167.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $175.02. The company has a market cap of $26.28 billion, a PE ratio of 18.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.60.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $879.06 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $900.82 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 28.50% and a return on equity of 9.67%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.16 earnings per share. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.400-8.500 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 8.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 24th were issued a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 24th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 47.56%.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director William Ware purchased 300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $167.59 per share, for a total transaction of $50,277.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 488 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $81,783.92. The trade was a 159.57% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.43% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $10,387,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 504.9% in the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 7,815 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,346,000 after buying an additional 6,523 shares during the period. Anchor Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 176.7% during the 2nd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 22,612 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,895,000 after buying an additional 14,440 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 163.5% during the 2nd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 42,632 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $7,344,000 after buying an additional 26,454 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 250,465 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $43,148,000 after acquiring an additional 5,778 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation is a regulated natural gas distribution and pipeline company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company delivers natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers and is one of the largest natural gas distributors in the United States.

Atmos Energy operates through two primary businesses: natural gas distribution and pipeline and storage operations. Its distribution activities include acquiring, transporting, storing and delivering natural gas, while its pipeline operations provide transportation and storage services and support the company’s distribution network.

The company serves customers across eight states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.