News

For the quarter ended March 2024, Atmos Energy (ATO) reported revenue of $1.65 billion, up 6.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.85, compared to $2.48 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -7.49% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.78 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.62, the EPS surprise was +8.78%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Atmos performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Operating revenues- Pipeline and storage segment: $223.49 million versus $205.75 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +21.2% change.
• Operating revenues- Distribution segment: $1.59 billion compared to the $1.59 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.9% year over year.
• Operating Income- Pipeline and Storage: $124.80 million versus $104.29 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Operating Income- Distribution: $426.19 million compared to the $394.74 million average estimate based on two analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for Atmos here>>>

Shares of Atmos have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

Top 5 Dividend Stocks for Your Retirement

Zacks targets 5 well-established companies with solid fundamentals and a history of raising dividends. More importantly, they have the resources and will to likely pay them in the future.

Click now for a Special Report packed with unconventional wisdom and insights you simply won’t get from your neighborhood financial planner.

See our Top 5 now – the report is FREE >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.