Fisher Funds Management LTD Takes Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Fisher Funds Management LTD purchased a new position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 54,999 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $7,647,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 2,921 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $407,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Redmond Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $275,000. Cordatus Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,901,000. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 11,565 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,611,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the period. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 17.5% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 2,598 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $362,000 after buying an additional 387 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ATO stock opened at $149.87 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $141.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $139.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56. The stock has a market cap of $23.79 billion, a PE ratio of 21.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.72. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $110.97 and a 1 year high of $152.65.

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

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.32%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have commented on ATO. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They set a “buy” rating and a $156.00 target price for the company. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price target 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 investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $148.75.

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.