Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Stock Price Up 0.4% - Should You Buy?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) shot up 0.4% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $18.82 and last traded at $18.81. 1,631,148 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 89% from the average session volume of 14,526,048 shares. The stock had previously closed at $18.73.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on ET. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Barclays raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Energy Transfer presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $22.09.

Energy Transfer Trading Down 6.5 %

The company has a market capitalization of $60.75 billion, a PE ratio of 13.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.72. 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 business has a fifty day moving average price of $19.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $18.43.

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Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last posted 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 net margin of 5.74% and a return on equity of 11.56%. Analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.325 per share. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.34%. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is 101.56%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ET. Watts Gwilliam & Co. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,297,000. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT raised its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.0% during 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. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 164.1% during the fourth quarter. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 60,566 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,186,000 after purchasing an additional 37,633 shares in the last quarter. Paragon Capital Management Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 435.5% in the fourth quarter. Paragon Capital Management Ltd now owns 68,724 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $1,346,000 after purchasing an additional 55,890 shares during the period. Finally, FFG Partners LLC grew its holdings in Energy Transfer by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. FFG Partners LLC now owns 1,650,574 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $32,335,000 after purchasing an additional 13,948 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.