Fruth Investment Management Sells 1,090 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Fruth Investment Management decreased its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 10.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,626 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 1,090 shares during the quarter. Fruth Investment Management’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,335,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Perpetual Ltd grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 46.2% in the first quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 1,411,697 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $167,808,000 after purchasing an additional 446,292 shares during the last quarter. M&G Plc acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,941,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 1,532.1% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 218,700 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $25,511,000 after purchasing an additional 205,300 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 36.7% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 730,759 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $85,240,000 after purchasing an additional 196,163 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 45.7% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 444,267 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $51,544,000 after purchasing an additional 139,429 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSE ATO opened at $140.28 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $133.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $123.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.57. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $105.44 and a fifty-two week high of $140.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.17 billion, a PE ratio of 21.03, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.94% and a net margin of 25.09%. The firm had revenue of $701.55 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $924.75 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.94 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 6.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th were paid a dividend of $0.805 per share. This represents a $3.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.30%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 26th. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is presently 48.28%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ATO has been the topic of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $142.56.

Atmos Energy Company 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.