Cibc World Markets Corp Buys 3,705 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Cibc World Markets Corp grew its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 17.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 24,477 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,705 shares during the period. Cibc World Markets Corp’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,409,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. SlateStone Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 7,655 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,066,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the period. First National Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. First National Advisers LLC now owns 15,379 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,142,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the period. GWN Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $213,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 33.1% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 44,305 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $6,171,000 after acquiring an additional 11,029 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.6% during the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 91,846 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $12,791,000 after acquiring an additional 3,176 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE ATO opened at $150.72 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $146.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $142.43. The stock has a market cap of $23.92 billion, a PE ratio of 21.47, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.97 and a fifty-two week high of $154.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56.

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

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 49.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on ATO. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $149.15.

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.