Stifel Financial Corp Raises Stock Position in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

Stifel Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Free Report) by 1.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,616,600 shares of the pipeline company's stock after acquiring an additional 89,377 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp owned approximately 0.16% of Energy Transfer worth $110,029,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in ET. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 126,331 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $2,028,000 after buying an additional 5,127 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.6% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 78,806 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $1,265,000 after purchasing an additional 3,485 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its stake in Energy Transfer by 1,265.0% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 231,398 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $3,714,000 after purchasing an additional 214,446 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC increased its holdings in Energy Transfer by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 101,738 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,633,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares during the period. Finally, Synovus Financial Corp raised its position in Energy Transfer by 69.8% during 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. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.22% of the company's stock.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

ET traded down $0.15 on Friday, reaching $17.44. 9,802,655 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,413,225. The company's 50-day moving average price is $18.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $59.84 billion, a PE ratio of 13.63, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.32. Energy Transfer LP has a fifty-two week low of $14.60 and a fifty-two week high of $21.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

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

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a $0.3275 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. This represents a $1.31 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.51%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is currently 101.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ET has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Monday, March 24th. UBS Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $23.00 target price on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Energy Transfer currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $22.09.

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.