Are Wall Street Analysts Bullish on Atmos Energy Stock?

Company Overview - Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is based in Dallas, Texas, and specializes in the distribution of natural gas, with a market capitalization of $29.8 billion. The company provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to large customers and manages storage and pipeline assets [1]. Stock Performance - ATO shares have outperformed the broader market over the past year, gaining 20.3%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 12.3%. Year-to-date in 2026, ATO stock is up 6.3%, surpassing the S&P 500's marginal rise [2]. - Compared to the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU), which has gained about 14.3% over the past year, ATO's performance is notable, although the ETF's year-to-date returns of 6.8% have outperformed ATO's gains in the same timeframe [3]. Financial Results - On February 3, ATO reported its Q1 results, with an EPS of $2.44, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $2.41. However, the company's revenue was $1.3 billion, falling short of forecasts of $1.4 billion. ATO expects full-year EPS to be between $8.15 and $8.35 [5]. - For the current fiscal year ending in September, analysts expect ATO's EPS to grow by 9.9% to $8.20 on a diluted basis. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, having beaten consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters [6]. Analyst Ratings - Among the 14 analysts covering ATO stock, the consensus rating is a "Hold," which includes two "Strong Buy" ratings and twelve "Holds" [7]. - The sentiment has become less bullish compared to three months ago, with one analyst suggesting a "Moderate Buy." Bank of America has maintained a "Neutral" rating on ATO and lowered the price target to $177. Currently, ATO trades above its mean price target of $177.73, with a Street-high price target of $193 indicating an upside potential of 8.4% [9].