Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) Stock Position Raised by D.A. Davidson & CO.

D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its stake in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Free Report) by 5.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 291,548 shares of the pipeline company's stock after acquiring an additional 16,065 shares during the quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO.'s holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $5,711,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in Energy Transfer by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 346,825 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $5,567,000 after acquiring an additional 45,172 shares during the period. Watts Gwilliam & Co. LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,297,000. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT increased its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT now owns 7,586,598 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $148,621,000 after purchasing an additional 293,088 shares in the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 30.9% in the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 242,042 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $3,885,000 after purchasing an additional 57,184 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Paragon Capital Management Ltd increased its stake in Energy Transfer by 435.5% during the 4th quarter. Paragon Capital Management Ltd now owns 68,724 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,346,000 after buying an additional 55,890 shares in the last quarter. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ET has been the subject of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Barclays increased their target price on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $21.50.

Energy Transfer Trading Down 2.7 %

ET stock traded down $0.55 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $19.40. The stock had a trading volume of 15,630,769 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,852,734. The firm has a market cap of $66.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.69. The company's 50-day moving average price is $19.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.90. Energy Transfer LP has a 12-month low of $14.52 and a 12-month high of $21.45. 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 - Get Free Report) last posted its 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 net margin of 5.74% and a return on equity of 11.56%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $0.325 per share. This is an increase from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.70%. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is 101.56%.

About Energy Transfer

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.