Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Stake Cut by State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D

State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D decreased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 39,855 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 1,185 shares during the quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,528,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of ATO. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 30,179 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,520,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.4% during the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 5,973 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $829,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 2,328 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $272,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 5.4% in the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,880 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $219,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Financial Strategies LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Legacy Financial Strategies LLC now owns 23,819 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,304,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO opened at $146.11 on Tuesday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $110.40 and a 1-year high of $146.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.57. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $138.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $126.93. The company has a market capitalization of $22.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.38%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is 50.66%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on ATO shares. Jefferies Financial Group started 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a 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 company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $143.94.

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.