
3 Utility Stocks to Protect Your Portfolio as Inflation Rises in January
Rising January wholesale inflation rattles markets; low-beta utility plays ATO, CWCO and FTS offer defensive growth and dividends.
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Rising January wholesale inflation rattles markets; low-beta utility plays ATO, CWCO and FTS offer defensive growth and dividends.

HSY, BHP, RIO, ATO and ETR are low-beta dividend stocks that offer steady income and downside cushion as 2026 market volatility tests investors' nerves.

The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat ETF (NOBL) is up 9.39% YTD in 2026, decisively outperforming SPY's 1.08%. Dividend Aristocrats are regaining momentum after a weak 2025, with 55 outpacing SPY and 39 posting double-digit gains this year already. Dividend growth is lagging, with 2026's average increase currently at 3.22%, below last year's trend and potentially signaling headwinds.

Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does Atmos (ATO) have what it takes?

Calton and Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) in the undefined quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 5,275 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $901,000. A number of other

Net Income: $403 million or $2.44 per diluted share for fiscal 2026 first quarter.Capital Expenditures: $1 billion, with over 85% focused on safety and reliabi

ATO beats Q1 EPS estimates as revenues rise 14% year over year. The company lifts its quarterly dividend.

Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Atmos (ATO) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended December 2025, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.

Atmos Energy (ATO) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.44 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.41 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.23 per share a year ago.

Atmos Energy reported a 14.5% rise in first-quarter profit on Wednesday, as the natural gas utility benefited from strong demand for its gas distribution and pipeline facilities.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) today reported consolidated results for its first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2025. This news release should be read in conjunction with our earnings slides which are concurrently being posted at www.atmosenergy.com. Fiscal Year Highlights Earnings per diluted share of $2.44 on net income of $403.0 million. Capital expenditures were $1.0 billion; over 85% focused on safety and reliability. Strong financial profile with 59.9% eq.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) said today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the company's common stock of $1.00 per share. The indicated annual dividend is $4.00. The dividend will be paid on March 9, 2026, to shareholders of record on February 23, 2026. This is the company's 169th consecutive quarterly dividend. Atmos Energy Corporation, a natural gas-only distributor, is an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas. We safely deliver.

ATO heads into Q1 earnings with growth from new rates, steady customer additions and ongoing system upgrades in focus.

Why investors should use the Zacks Earnings ESP tool to help find stocks that are poised to top quarterly earnings estimates.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) by 1.4% in the undefined quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 899,374 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 12,607 shares during the period.

Dividend Aristocrats underperformed the S&P 500 in 2025, with NOBL returning 6.82% versus SPY's 17.70%. 2026 began strong for Aristocrats, with NOBL gaining 5.67% in January, outpacing SPY's 1.47%. Dividend growth for Aristocrats averaged 5.52% in 2025, but early 2026 increases trend slightly lower, raising questions for the year's outlook.

Evaluate the expected performance of Atmos (ATO) for the quarter ended December 2025, looking beyond the conventional Wall Street top-and-bottom-line estimates and examining some of its key metrics for better insight.

Atmos (ATO) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.

Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO - Get Free Report) is expected to be releasing its Q1 2026 results after the market closes on Tuesday, February 3rd. Analysts expect Atmos Energy to post earnings of $2.39 per share and revenue of $1.2123 billion for the quarter. Investors may review the information on the company's upcoming Q1 2026 earning