Community Financial Services Group LLC Boosts Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Community Financial Services Group LLC increased its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 7,198 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 370 shares during the quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,002,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. PFS Partners LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $79,000. Finally, Slocum Gordon & Co LLP bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $125,000. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. StockNews.com cut Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Argus raised Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $145.12 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $23.03 billion, a PE ratio of 20.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.72. The business has a 50 day moving average of $140.98 and a 200 day moving average of $138.63. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $110.46 and a 52 week high of $152.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be given a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.57%.

Atmos Energy Profile

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.