Gas Utilities: CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP), Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR), Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO), AGL Resources (NYSE:GAS), Laclede Group Inc (NYSE:LG)

Investment analysts at BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP), from $27.00 to $28.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets’ price objective would indicate a potential upside of 10.32% from the company’s current price. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP), net profit margin is 3.90% and weekly performance is 2.50%. On last trading day company shares ended up $25.38. Analysts mean target price for the company is $26.17. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP), distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 4.82%.

Shares of Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR), saw a significant growth in short interest in May. As of May 30th, there was short interest totalling 4,173,492 shares, a growth of 35.2% from the May 15th total of 3,087,698 shares,AmericanBankingNews.com reports. Currently, 2.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 619,919 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 6.7 days. Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR), fell 0.40% in last trading session and ended the day on $24.70. STR, Gross Margin is 80.50% and its return on assets is 4.50%. Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR), quarterly performance is 5.24%.

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO), was upgraded by analysts at Hilliard Lyons to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday. Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO), shares moved down 1.35% in last trading session and was closed at $52.68, while trading in range of $52.57 – 53.47. Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO), year to date (YTD) performance is 17.83%.

AGL Resources Inc. (NYSE:GAS), EVP Paul R. Shlanta sold 7,042 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.00, for a total value of $380,268.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 32,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,779,624. AGL Resources Inc. (NYSE:GAS), ended the last trading day at $54.89. Company weekly volatility is calculated as 1.10% and price to cash ratio as 18.97. AGL Resources Inc. (NYSE:GAS), showed a positive weekly performance of 1.31%.

On June 06, 2014, Laclede Group Inc (NYSE:LG), a public utility holding company, said it has priced a public offering of 9 million shares of its common stock at $46.25 per share. Laclede Group Inc (NYSE:LG), net profit margin is 5.70% and weekly performance is 1.73%. On last trading day company shares ended up $48.70. Analysts mean target price for the company is $51.00. Laclede Group Inc (NYSE:LG), distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 4.74%.