Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Up 1.8% – Should You Buy?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) was up 1.8% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $20.55 and last traded at $20.29. Approximately 5,864,358 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 66% from the average daily volume of 17,031,139 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.93.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Barclays upped their target price on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $20.00 price target for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.18.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The company has a market capitalization of $67.45 billion, a PE ratio of 14.49, a PEG ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $19.73 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.71.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a net margin of 5.90% and a return on equity of 12.38%. Analysts predict that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.325 per share. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.60%. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is presently 94.85%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. StoneX Group Inc. lifted its stake in Energy Transfer by 8.2% in the fourth quarter. StoneX Group Inc. now owns 87,706 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $1,718,000 after purchasing an additional 6,616 shares during the last quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC lifted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC now owns 135,647 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $2,657,000 after acquiring an additional 546 shares during the last quarter. Summit Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 227.7% in the 4th quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 685,525 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $13,429,000 after acquiring an additional 476,308 shares during the last quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $597,000. Finally, O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its position in Energy Transfer by 20.2% during the 4th quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 12,090 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $237,000 after acquiring an additional 2,032 shares during the last quarter. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Energy Transfer Company Profile

Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates natural gas transportation pipeline, and natural gas storage facilities in Texas and Oklahoma; and approximately 20,090 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. It also sells natural gas to electric utilities, independent power plants, local distribution and other marketing companies, and industrial end-users.