Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Trading Down 1.4%

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) shares were down 1.4% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $14.97 and last traded at $15.02. Approximately 6,219,346 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 49% from the average daily volume of 12,245,048 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.23.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on ET shares. Citigroup lifted their price target on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group lowered their price target on Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $17.57.

Energy Transfer Trading Up 0.8 %

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $51.30 billion, a PE ratio of 13.97 and a beta of 1.64.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.08. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.17% and a net margin of 4.85%. The business had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.46 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.34 EPS. Energy Transfer’s revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 7th were given a $0.315 dividend. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 6th. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.28%. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is 115.60%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Avalon Capital Management grew its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 25.8% during the 1st quarter. Avalon Capital Management now owns 75,499 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $1,188,000 after purchasing an additional 15,499 shares during the period. Founders Financial Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 79,066 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $1,244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,171 shares in the last quarter. Romano Brothers AND Company raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 46.7% during the 1st quarter. Romano Brothers AND Company now owns 32,482 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $511,000 after acquiring an additional 10,343 shares in the last quarter. Griffin Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Griffin Asset Management Inc. now owns 99,078 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $1,558,000 after acquiring an additional 1,058 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Toth Financial Advisory Corp raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 57.8% during the 1st quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 5,155 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 1,888 shares in the last quarter. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.