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ATO vs BKH
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) vs. Black Hills Corporation (BKH) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both ATO and BKH operate as regulated utilities focused on natural gas distribution, providing stability amid market volatility.
- ATO has a larger market capitalization of approximately $31 billion versus BKH's $5.7 billion, serving 3.4 million customers compared to 1.1 million natural gas customers.
- Year-to-date, ATO has gained 13%, outperforming BKH's 10%, though BKH shows stronger one-year returns of 30% versus 20%.
- BKH offers a higher dividend yield at 3.7% compared to ATO's 2.1%, appealing to income-focused investors.
- Recent quarters show earnings strength: ATO beat Q1 fiscal 2026 estimates with EPS (earnings per share) of $2.44, while BKH initiated 2026 guidance of $4.25-$4.45 adjusted EPS.
- Both exhibit low betas (ATO 0.65, BKH 0.71), indicating lower volatility relative to the market.
Introduction
In the utilities sector, ATO and BKH stand out as regulated natural gas providers, offering reliable dividends and defensive positioning during economic uncertainty. This stock comparison analyzes their business models, recent performance, and market positioning, aiding dividend investors, income seekers, and those eyeing sector rotation into stable assets. With interest rate sensitivity and infrastructure spending in focus, understanding their relative strengths helps in portfolio allocation decisions.
ATO Overview and Recent Performance
Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is a leading regulated natural gas distributor and pipeline operator, serving 3.4 million customers across eight states through 76,000 miles of mains. Its pipeline and storage segment supports third-party transport with 5,700 miles of lines and five storage facilities, primarily in Texas. In recent market activity, ATO shares have shown upward momentum, gaining over 13% year-to-date and trading near the upper end of their 52-week range ($150-$193). This reflects positive sentiment from Q1 fiscal 2026 results, where EPS hit $2.44, beating estimates amid $1 billion in capital expenditures focused on safety and reliability. Analyst targets have risen, with Bank of America adjusting upward while maintaining neutral, underscoring steady growth from infrastructure investments and favorable regulation.
BKH Overview and Recent Performance
Black Hills Corporation (BKH) delivers electricity and natural gas, with electric operations in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming (1,386 MW capacity, 9,478 miles of lines) and gas to 1.1 million customers across six states via 4,581 miles of transmission and storage sites. Non-regulated services include repair plans and power generation from wind, gas, and coal. Shares have advanced about 10% year-to-date and 30% over the past year, trading around $75 within a $55-$79 range. Recent developments include a quarterly dividend declaration of $0.70 per share and 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.25-$4.45, signaling 6% growth. Opportunities in hyperscaler data centers and positive analyst notes on AI infrastructure have bolstered sentiment, alongside a recent virtual AGM approving key items.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
ATO emphasizes pure-play natural gas distribution and storage, benefiting from extensive infrastructure and customer scale, while BKH diversifies into electric utilities and non-regulated services, exposing it to renewables and data center demand. Growth drivers include ATO's heavy capex on reliability (over 85% of investments) versus BKH's expansion in transmission and storage. Recent momentum favors ATO on YTD basis with lower P/E (24.6 trailing) but BKH leads one-year gains and yield. Risk profiles are similar with low betas and high debt/equity (BKH 120%), though ATO's size offers greater stability. Market sentiment tilts positive for both amid utility sector rotation, balancing trade-offs in yield versus scale.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward ATO based on its superior year-to-date performance, larger scale providing trend consistency, and recent earnings beats signaling stable catalysts. While BKH excels in dividend yield and longer-term momentum, ATO's relative positioning in regulated growth makes it probabilistically favored for defensive portfolios in the near term.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ATO is a StrongBuy and BKH is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ATO’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileBKH’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- ATO’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- BKH’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ATO’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while BKH’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ATO’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- BKH’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
ATO (@Gas Distributors) experienced а -0.16% price change this week, while BKH (@Gas Distributors) price change was +0.99% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Gas Distributors industry was -0.75%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.35%, and the average quarterly price growth was +3.01%.
Reported Earning Dates
ATO is expected to report earnings on Aug 12, 2026.
BKH is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Gas Distributors (-0.75% weekly)Gas distributors are involved in moving and selling gas – from wellheads or over-distribution systems operated by other firms – to residential and non-residential customers. These companies perform tasks such as the gathering and processing of gas, intrastate and interstate transport, and delivery to the customer. Some of the biggest gas distributing companies in the U.S. include Sempra Energy, Avangrid Inc and Atmos Energy Corporation.
| ATO | BKH | ATO / BKH | |
| Capitalization | 28.4B | 5.6B | 508% |
| EBITDA | 2.59B | 837M | 310% |
| Gain YTD | 2.530 | 7.911 | 32% |
| P/E Ratio | 20.93 | 19.14 | 109% |
| Revenue | 4.88B | 2.29B | 214% |
| Total Cash | 126M | 23.6M | 534% |
| Total Debt | 9.63B | 4.66B | 207% |
ATO | BKH | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 62 | 70 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 59 Fair valued | 31 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 8 | 56 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 74 | 80 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 55 | 29 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
BKH's Valuation (31) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ATO (59) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that BKH’s stock grew similarly to ATO’s over the last 12 months.
ATO's Profit vs Risk Rating (8) in the Gas Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for BKH (56) in the Electric Utilities industry. This means that ATO’s stock grew somewhat faster than BKH’s over the last 12 months.
ATO's SMR Rating (74) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as BKH (80) in the Electric Utilities industry. This means that ATO’s stock grew similarly to BKH’s over the last 12 months.
BKH's Price Growth Rating (50) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ATO (59) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that BKH’s stock grew similarly to ATO’s over the last 12 months.
BKH's P/E Growth Rating (29) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ATO (55) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that BKH’s stock grew similarly to ATO’s over the last 12 months.
| ATO | BKH | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 52% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 46% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 53% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 63% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 35% | 3 days ago 51% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 35% | 3 days ago 46% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 20 days ago 49% | 10 days ago 52% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 40% | 6 days ago 50% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 68% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 29% | 3 days ago 44% |
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ATO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ATO has been closely correlated with OGS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 77% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ATO jumps, then OGS could also see price increases.
BKH and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, BKH has been closely correlated with D. These tickers have moved in lockstep 75% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if BKH jumps, then D could also see price increases.