Key Takeaways Atmos Energy projects 7.3% earnings growth with dividend yield of 2.09% and beta of 0.75.OGE Energy expects 4.1% growth, with 0.60 beta, 3.2% yield, and improving earnings outlook.Fortis targets 4.6% earnings growth, 3.61% yield, and a low beta of 0.48 for stability.Wall Street has managed to hold its nerves amid growing fears of a weakening economy. However, major indexes have been volatile over the past couple of weeks. On Friday, volatility returned to Wall Street after a weak jobs report r ...

Eviden XH3000 JUPITER Eviden XH3000 JUPITER at Juliech Supercomputing Centre Eviden-built AI-dedicated partition of JUPITER – the exascale partition – celebrated during an official inauguration ceremony Paris, France – September 5, 2025 – Eviden, the Atos Group product brand leading in advanced computing, cybersecurity products, mission-critical systems and vision AI announces that the Eviden-built JUPITER Booster, a partition designed for large-scale simulations and AI training, has been inaugurated ...

Economic Overview - U.S. consumer confidence dropped to 97.4 in August from 98.7 in July, indicating a decline of 1.3 points, with short-term expectations for income, business conditions, and employment also falling to 74.8 [4][5] - Concerns about the economy have been exacerbated by tariffs imposed by President Trump, which have raised inflation fears and impacted consumer confidence [5][6] - A weak labor market, characterized by slow job additions, has further fueled recession fears, despite low layoffs and unemployment rates [7] Investment Recommendations - Given the economic uncertainty, it is advisable to invest in low-beta defensive stocks from the utility and consumer staples sectors, which include Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO), Fortis, Inc. (FTS), Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN), Ingredion Incorporated (INGR), and Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) [2][10] - These stocks are characterized by a beta greater than 0 but less than 1, indicating lower volatility, and they also offer high dividend yields [3] Company Profiles - **Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)**: Engaged in regulated natural gas distribution and storage, serving approximately 3.3 million customers across eight states. Expected earnings growth rate is 7.2% for the current year, with a beta of 0.75 and a dividend yield of 2.09% [8][9] - **Fortis, Inc. (FTS)**: Operates in the electric and gas utility sector, primarily in Canada and the Caribbean. Expected earnings growth rate is 4.6% for the current year, with a beta of 0.48 and a dividend yield of 3.57% [10][11] - **Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN)**: Focuses on natural gas distribution systems and pipeline projects, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Expected earnings growth rate is 25.3% for the current year, with a beta of 0.59 and a dividend yield of 4.72% [12][13] - **Ingredion Incorporated (INGR)**: Provides ingredient solutions specializing in nature-based sweeteners and starches, serving various sectors. Expected earnings growth rate is 6.7% for the current year, with a beta of 0.77 and a dividend yield of 2.47% [14] - **Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV)**: A leading provider of death care services in the U.S., offering a range of funeral and burial services. Expected earnings growth rate is 23.4% for the current year, with a beta of 0.86 and a dividend yield of 1.03% [15][16]

Core Insights - Atos Group is enhancing its management team with four senior executive appointments to support its transformation plan aimed at restoring sustainable profitable growth and creating long-term value for stakeholders [1][2][3] Group Management Changes - Florin Rotar has been appointed as EVP, Group Chief Technology Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience in AI and emerging technologies to help Atos become a global AI-powered technology partner [3][4] - Laurent Soulier is appointed as EVP, Strategy and Operational Excellence, with a background in cybersecurity and digital transformation programs in both public and private sectors [5][6] - Pénélope de Fouquières takes on the role of SVP in charge of Communication, leveraging her 20 years of experience in corporate communications and brand development [7] - Camille le Provost is appointed as Head of M&A, recognized for her expertise in managing complex international transactions [8][9] Company Overview - Atos Group operates with approximately 70,000 employees and generates annual revenue of around €10 billion, providing services under the Atos brand and products under the Eviden brand [11] - The company is a leader in cybersecurity, cloud, and high-performance computing, committed to a secure and decarbonized future [11][12]

Atmos Energy (ATO) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Individual investors often f ...

Industry Overview - Natural gas is increasingly utilized in power generation due to its cleaner-burning characteristics compared to other fossil fuels, leading to a rise in domestic natural gas output and greater LNG exports [1] - The demand for natural gas across various consumer categories necessitates the installation of more distribution pipelines [1][2] Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure - The U.S. natural gas network comprises nearly 3 million mainline and other pipes, essential for transporting natural gas from transmission networks to end users [2] - The natural gas pipeline industry requires a consistent flow of funds for the repair and maintenance of its extensive network and to address aging infrastructure [3] Production and Market Trends - According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, dry natural gas production increased by over 1 billion cubic feet per day from Q1 to Q2 of 2025, but is expected to decline by a similar amount in the following year [4] - Marketed natural gas production is projected to grow by 3% over 2024 volumes [4] Company Comparisons - A comparative analysis of Atmos Energy (ATO) and Northwest Natural (NWN) shows both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATO's fiscal 2025 EPS has risen by 1% to $7.33, while NWN's EPS estimate increased by 1.4% to $2.92 [6][10] Financial Metrics - ATO's return on equity (ROE) is 9%, while NWN's ROE is 8.6%, compared to the industry average of 9.08% [7] - ATO has a current ratio of 1.37, indicating sufficient short-term assets to cover liabilities, whereas NWN's current ratio is 0.68 [8] - ATO's debt-to-capital ratio stands at 40.21%, significantly lower than NWN's 62.05% and the industry average of 51.09% [11] Stock Performance - In the past month, ATO shares have increased by 7%, outperforming NWN's 2% rise and the industry's 3.9% growth [10][12] - ATO's dividend yield is 2.1%, while NWN's is 4.74%, both exceeding the S&P 500 composite average of 1.15% [14] Conclusion - Both Atmos Energy and Northwest Natural are positioned as strong investment options, with ATO being favored due to its superior debt management, liquidity, and stock performance [15]

As of Aug. 12, 2025, two stocks in the utilities sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock’s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock’s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the RSI is above 70, according to Ben ...

Core Insights - Atos has been recognized as a Leader in ISG's Provider Lens™ Mainframes – Services and Solutions in Europe for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing its strong market position and expertise in mainframe services [1][2] Group 1: Market Position and Recognition - Atos has been named a Leader in four quadrants: Mainframe Optimization Services, Application Modernization Services, Mainframe as a Service (MFaaS), and Mainframe Operations, showcasing its comprehensive service offerings [1][2] - ISG has elevated Atos from a Product Challenger to a Leader in the Mainframe Optimization Services quadrant, highlighting its decades of mainframe experience and innovative AI modernization capabilities [3] Group 2: Service Offerings - In the Application Modernization Services quadrant, Atos is recognized for its risk-averse modernization approach and secure migration framework, integrating GenAI into its modernization efforts [4] - Atos stands out in the MFaaS quadrant for its tailored migration strategies and hybrid environment support, combining IBM expertise with cloud-aligned scalability [5] - The Mainframe Operations quadrant assessment emphasizes Atos' focus on automation, cost efficiency, and hybrid IT integration in its operations services [6] Group 3: Company Background - Atos Group operates globally with approximately 70,000 employees and annual revenue of around €10 billion, positioning itself as a leader in digital transformation and cybersecurity [8][9] - The company is committed to a secure and decarbonized future, providing AI-powered, end-to-end solutions across various industries [9][10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For fiscal year to date 2025, the company reported net income of $1 billion or $6.4 per diluted share, with updated earnings per share guidance ranging from $7.35 to $7.45 [3][10] - Consolidated capital spending increased by 22% to $2.6 billion, with 86% dedicated to improving safety and reliability [13][14] - Operating income increased by $322 million due to regulatory outcomes, with residential customer growth contributing an additional $22 million [10][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pipeline and storage segment saw revenue increase by $12.5 million primarily due to increased throughput [10] - The distribution segment experienced strong residential and industrial customer growth, adding nearly 58,000 new residential customers and 22 new industrial customers with an anticipated annual load of approximately 3.4 Bcf [4][5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Texas added over 198,000 jobs in the last twelve months, reflecting a 1.4% annual growth rate, which supports the demand for natural gas [4] - The company achieved a 97% customer satisfaction rating, indicating strong customer service performance [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on modernizing natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage systems while expanding customer service [3][6] - Recent Texas legislation allows for increased capital spending deferral treatment, which is expected to enhance financial flexibility and support future growth [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the role of natural gas in economic development and anticipates continued customer growth [4][6] - The company expects earnings per share to grow at a rate of 6% to 8% annually, with a full update on the five-year plan to be provided in November [16] Other Important Information - The company has been recognized as the most trusted brand in 2025 among U.S. utility companies, reflecting its strong reputation in the market [7] - The company finished the third fiscal quarter with an equity capitalization of 60% and approximately $5.5 billion in liquidity [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on the $0.10 increase from Texas legislation - The $0.10 reflects the impact of legislation from June 20 through the end of fiscal 2025, effectively one quarter [21] Question: Inquiry about the through system commentary - The company anticipates a more normal operating environment for fiscal 2026, adjusting based on market conditions [23][24] Question: Capital outlay for the data center project in Abilene - The company continues to receive inquiries for projects across its service territory, with updates to be provided once contracts are signed [30] Question: Clarification on the percentage of capital spending eligible for deferral - The 80% figure refers to Atmos as a whole, with the majority of the increase associated with APT's investments [32] Question: Impact of stronger operating cash flow on future financing - The company plans to finance future growth using a balanced mix of equity and long-term debt, anticipating increased operating cash flow [41]

Atmos Energy (ATO) Q3 2025 Earnings Call August 07, 2025 10:00 AM ET Speaker0Thank you for standing by. My name is Greg, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to today's Atmos Energy Corporation Fiscal twenty twenty five Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question and answer session.Thank you. I would now like to turn the call over to Da ...