Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Cuts Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund trimmed its position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 4,596 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 270 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $638,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Atria Investments Inc increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 1.3% during the third quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 31,399 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,355,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 176,224 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $20,957,000 after purchasing an additional 6,641 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 565.3% during the 2nd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 40,621 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,738,000 after buying an additional 34,515 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 3.6% in the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 419,721 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $48,960,000 after buying an additional 14,440 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 7.5% during the second quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 323,614 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $37,750,000 after buying an additional 22,531 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $146.97 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $139.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $127.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.39, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $110.46 and a 52 week high of $148.39.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.37%. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.87%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on ATO. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.