GQG Partners LLC Makes New Investment in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

GQG Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 1,175,136 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $202,443,000.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth $233,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 10.8% in the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 3,168 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $490,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 8.3% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 17,312 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,676,000 after buying an additional 1,331 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 8.5% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 3,117 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $482,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 43.9% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 13,410 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,073,000 after buying an additional 4,088 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director William James Ware bought 300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $167.59 per share, for a total transaction of $50,277.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 488 shares in the company, valued at $81,783.92. This represents a 159.57% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.43% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Atmos Energy stock opened at $167.16 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $173.57 and a 200-day moving average of $178.26. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $160.10 and a 52-week high of $192.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.88, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.60.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.08. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 28.50% and a return on equity of 9.67%. The firm had revenue of $879.06 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $900.82 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.16 EPS. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.400-8.500 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 8.46 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 24th will be paid a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 24th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Argus lowered their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $192.00 to $184.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $188.00 to $179.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Atmos Energy from $196.00 to $190.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $187.73.

Atmos Energy Company Profile

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) is a U.S.-based natural-gas utility that primarily focuses on the regulated distribution of natural gas. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company operates through local distribution systems to deliver natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and electric generation customers. Atmos’s core activities include pipeline operations, gas distribution, system maintenance and reliability programs designed to ensure safe and continuous service to its customers.

The company’s services encompass gas delivery, system integrity and maintenance, storage and transmission connections, and customer-facing programs such as billing, conservation initiatives and energy-efficiency offerings.