Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) Shares Purchased by US Bancorp DE

US Bancorp DE lifted its position in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Free Report) by 242.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 493,107 shares of the pipeline company's stock after purchasing an additional 349,307 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE's holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $9,660,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ET. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its position in Energy Transfer by 65.0% during the third quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 1,650 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 650 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. raised its position in Energy Transfer by 2,138.5% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,746 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,668 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $39,000. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on ET. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $21.55.

Energy Transfer Stock Down 3.2 %

Shares of ET traded down $0.59 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $17.61. 4,150,759 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 16,970,244. The company has a market cap of $60.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.69. Energy Transfer LP has a fifty-two week low of $14.87 and a fifty-two week high of $21.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.12. The stock's 50-day moving average is $19.87 and its 200-day moving average is $18.08.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $0.325 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.38%. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.