Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Down 3.4% - Time to Sell?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 3.4% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $16.72 and last traded at $16.68. Approximately 3,516,093 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 17,577,162 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.27.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on ET shares. Barclays upped 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. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $23.00 target price on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $22.09.

Energy Transfer Trading Up 1.5 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $59.57 billion, a PE ratio of 13.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.32. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $18.06 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last posted 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 net margin of 5.74% and a return on equity of 11.56%. As a group, equities analysts forecast 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. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a $0.325 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.49%. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is 101.56%.

Institutional Trading of Energy Transfer

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 126,331 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $2,028,000 after buying an additional 5,127 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 78,806 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,265,000 after buying an additional 3,485 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 1,265.0% in the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 231,398 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $3,714,000 after buying an additional 214,446 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 101,738 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $1,633,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Synovus Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 69.8% in the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 84,530 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $1,357,000 after purchasing an additional 34,749 shares in the last quarter. 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.