GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC Sells 734 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC lowered its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 43.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 954 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 734 shares during the period. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $147,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 72.5% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $51,000. Finally, Bank of New Hampshire bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $58,000. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 1.1%

NYSE:ATO opened at $152.76 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.71. Atmos Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $113.46 and a twelve month high of $167.45. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $156.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $148.86. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.92 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.82 billion. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.85 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th were issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 27th. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Monday, March 31st. They set a “peer perform” rating on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Mizuho lowered Atmos Energy from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their target price for the company from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Atmos Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $156.35.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total transaction of $2,264,700.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 172,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $26,063,979.36. The trade was a 7.99% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.48% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.