Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) Shares Sold by Lonestar Capital Management LLC

Lonestar Capital Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Free Report) by 7.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,300,000 shares of the pipeline company's stock after selling 100,000 shares during the period. Energy Transfer accounts for approximately 9.3% of Lonestar Capital Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its biggest holding. Lonestar Capital Management LLC's holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $25,467,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Stonegate Investment Group LLC boosted its position in Energy Transfer by 1.4% during the 4th 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 boosted 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 purchasing an additional 511 shares during the period. Wealthspire Advisors LLC boosted its position in Energy Transfer by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 130,202 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $2,551,000 after purchasing an additional 535 shares during the period. Cannell & Spears LLC boosted its position in Energy Transfer by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC now owns 135,647 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $2,657,000 after purchasing an additional 546 shares during the period. Finally, Daymark Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in Energy Transfer by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160,678 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $3,148,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the period. 38.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

Shares of ET traded down $0.24 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $17.04. The stock had a trading volume of 10,838,630 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,274,126. The company has a market cap of $58.47 billion, a PE ratio of 13.31, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.32. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $17.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Energy Transfer LP has a fifty-two week low of $14.60 and a fifty-two week high of $21.45.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last issued its 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%. On average, equities analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th will be given a dividend of $0.3275 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.31 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.69%. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is currently 102.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on ET. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Stifel Nicolaus upped 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. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $23.00 price objective on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $22.09.

Energy Transfer 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.