Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Down 0.1% - What's Next?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) shares dropped 0.1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $18.98 and last traded at $19.14. Approximately 3,774,060 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 78% from the average daily volume of 16,828,857 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.16.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on ET shares. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. One 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, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $21.55.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

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 has a market capitalization of $65.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.88, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.69. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $19.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.04.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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%. As a group, analysts forecast that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $0.325 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.83%. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is 101.56%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Stonegate Investment Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 34,320 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $672,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares during the period. Private Client Services LLC increased its position in Energy Transfer by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Private Client Services LLC now owns 16,915 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $331,000 after buying an additional 511 shares during the period. United Advisor Group LLC increased its position in Energy Transfer by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. United Advisor Group LLC now owns 18,540 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $363,000 after buying an additional 534 shares during the period. Wealthspire Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 130,202 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $2,551,000 after buying an additional 535 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cannell & Spears LLC boosted its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC now owns 135,647 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $2,657,000 after acquiring an additional 546 shares during the period. 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.