Venturi Wealth Management LLC Trims Stake in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Venturi Wealth Management LLC lowered its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) by 7.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 10,009 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 855 shares during the quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,543,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ATO. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $233,000. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $284,000. Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 114.6% during the 1st quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 7,233 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,118,000 after buying an additional 3,863 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 1st quarter worth $211,000. Finally, Wesbanco Bank Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 18.9% during the 1st quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 2,016 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $312,000 after buying an additional 320 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE ATO opened at $175.83 on Thursday. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $136.05 and a 12-month high of $176.11. The company has a market cap of $28.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.15, a P/E/G ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $165.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $158.51.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.80%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on ATO. Argus set a $172.00 price objective on Atmos Energy in a report on Thursday, September 18th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH restated a “neutral” rating and set a $163.00 price objective (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, August 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, August 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $162.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, September 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $162.50.

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.