Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Trading 2.1% Higher – Should You Buy?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) shares traded up 2.1% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $18.33 and last traded at $18.21. 4,388,496 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 76% from the average session volume of 17,955,480 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.83.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Citigroup raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.55.

Energy Transfer Stock Up 1.4 %

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $19.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.14. The firm has a market cap of $63.20 billion, a PE ratio of 14.38, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.35 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 11.56% and a net margin of 5.74%. Sell-side analysts predict that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $0.325 per share. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.06%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This is an increase from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 101.56%.

Institutional Trading of Energy Transfer

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Alpha Wealth Funds LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $2,143,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 125.0% during the 4th quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 469,227 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $9,192,000 after acquiring an additional 260,700 shares during the last quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 27.6% during the 4th quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 4,957 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 1,073 shares during the last quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $244,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.22% of the company’s stock.

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.