Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Down 0.8% - What's Next?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report)'s share price fell 0.8% on Friday . The company traded as low as $19.71 and last traded at $19.78. 2,837,932 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 16,417,973 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.94.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on ET shares. Barclays lifted 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 lifted 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. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $21.50.

Energy Transfer Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization 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 has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $19.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.90.

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

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 15.0% in the third quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 346,825 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $5,567,000 after acquiring an additional 45,172 shares during the period. Watts Gwilliam & Co. LLC purchased a new position in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $1,297,000. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT increased its stake in Energy Transfer by 4.0% in the fourth 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 during the period. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 30.9% in the third quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 242,042 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $3,885,000 after buying an additional 57,184 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Paragon Capital Management Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 435.5% during the fourth 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 during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.22% of the company's stock.

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.