Eagle Bay Advisors LLC Cuts Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Eagle Bay Advisors LLC cut its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 7.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,122 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 84 shares during the period. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $156,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Czech National Bank boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 6.4% during the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 33,658 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,688,000 after buying an additional 2,036 shares during the period. ORG Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 127.0% during the fourth quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,481 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $624,000 after buying an additional 2,507 shares during the period. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 50.0% during the fourth quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,147 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,407,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the period. Finally, ORG Partners LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 85.0% during the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,382 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $193,000 after buying an additional 635 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.1 %

ATO traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $137.12. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 130,880 shares, compared to its average volume of 681,545. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $110.46 and a 1 year high of $152.65. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $142.59 and its 200-day moving average is $135.23.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.54%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 50.66%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. 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 research report on Friday, November 22nd. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They set a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped 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 assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $148.75.

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.