Atmos Energy (US:ATO) Zacks Investment Research·2024-01-15 17:47Company Overview - Atmos Energy (ATO) is based in Dallas and operates in the Utilities sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -0.09% [2] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.81 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.78%, which is lower than the Utility - Gas Distribution industry's yield of 3.6% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.61% [2] Dividend Information - Atmos Energy's annualized dividend of $3.22 has increased by 8.8% from the previous year [2] - The company has raised its dividend five times over the last five years, achieving an average annual increase of 8.96% [2] - The current payout ratio is 48%, indicating that Atmos Energy pays out 48% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [2] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Atmos Energy's earnings per share for 2024 is $6.56, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 7.54% [3] Investment Perspective - Atmos Energy is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend and strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4] - The company is positioned well for income investors, as dividends can enhance stock investing profits and reduce overall portfolio risk [4]