Benzinga | Feb 18, 2021 10:13AM EST

Analyzing Atmos Energy's Ex-Dividend Date

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) declared a dividend payable on March 8, 2021 to its shareholders as of February 2, 2021. It was also announced that shareholders of Atmos Energy's stock as of February 22, 2021 are entitled to the dividend. The stock is expected to become ex-dividend 1 business day(s) before the record date. The ex-dividend date for Atmos Energy will be on February 19, 2021. The company's current dividend payout is at $0.62. That equates to a dividend yield of 2.82% at current price levels.

Understanding Ex-Dividend Dates'

Ex-dividend dates signal when company shares cease to trade with their current dividend payouts. There is a small intermission period before companies announce new dividends. Usually, a company's ex-dividend date falls one business day before its record date. Investors should keep this in mind when purchasing stocks because buying them on or after ex-dividend dates does not qualify them to receive the declared payment. Newly declared dividends go to shareholders who have owned that stock before the ex-dividend date. Typically, companies will announce and implement new dividend yields on a quarterly basis.

Understanding Atmos Energy's Dividend Payouts And Yields

Over the past year, Atmos Energy has experienced an overall upward trend regarding its dividend payouts and yields. Last year on February 21, 2020 the company's payout was $0.57, which has since grown by $0.05. Similarly, Atmos Energy's dividend yield in last year was 1.94%, which has since grown by 0.88%.

Companies use dividend yields in different strategic ways. Some companies may opt to not give yields altogether to reinvest in themselves. Other companies may opt to increase or decrease their yield amounts to control how their shares circulate throughout the stock market.

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