Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Trading Up 2.4% - What's Next?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) shares were up 2.4% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $17.46 and last traded at $17.51. Approximately 3,159,612 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 17,397,553 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.10.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on ET shares. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $23.00 price objective on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. 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, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $22.09.

Energy Transfer Stock Up 3.0 %

The company has a market cap of $60.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.75, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The business has a fifty day moving average of $18.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $18.45.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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, equities analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $0.325 per share. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is 101.56%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new position in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Finally, United Community Bank purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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