Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) is Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc.’s 10th Largest Position

Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc. cut its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 3.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 39,586 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 1,527 shares during the quarter. Atmos Energy comprises about 1.7% of Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 10th largest position. Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc.’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,513,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 18.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 710,826 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $82,918,000 after acquiring an additional 113,109 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised 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 period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 27.2% during the 2nd quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 6,034 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $704,000 after buying an additional 1,289 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 39.2% during the 2nd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 42,940 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $5,009,000 after buying an additional 12,084 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 69.1% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 14,211 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,654,000 after buying an additional 5,809 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on ATO shares. StockNews.com upgraded Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barclays increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Atmos Energy stock opened at $145.55 on Friday. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.46 and a fifty-two week high of $152.65. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $142.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $135.86. The stock has a market cap of $22.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.94.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.39%. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is 50.66%.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

About Atmos Energy

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.