Nicolet Advisory Services LLC Increases Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Nicolet Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 20.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,769 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $242,000 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 business. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.2% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 58,229 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $8,077,000 after purchasing an additional 5,884 shares during the period. Hilltop Holdings Inc. purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth $249,000. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 25.4% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 72,703 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $10,103,000 after buying an additional 14,714 shares during the period. Investment Management Corp of Ontario boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 50.5% during the 3rd quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario now owns 5,064 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $702,000 after acquiring an additional 1,700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 2,300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $319,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ATO stock opened at $147.64 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The business has a fifty day moving average of $148.22 and a 200 day moving average of $143.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $110.97 and a 1 year high of $157.62.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. As a group, research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.36%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ATO. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday, March 31st. They set a “peer perform” rating for the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of Atmos Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, December 20th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They set a “buy” rating and a $156.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $149.15.

Atmos Energy 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.