Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Trading 3.4% Higher – Should You Buy?

Shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) traded up 3.4% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $18.01 and last traded at $17.85. 8,105,473 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 55% from the average session volume of 18,042,219 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.26.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on ET shares. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.55.

Energy Transfer Stock Down 1.2 %

The firm has a market cap of $62.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $19.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $18.14.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last announced 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, sell-side analysts expect 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. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a $0.325 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This is a boost from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.15%. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is 101.56%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in Energy Transfer by 2,138.5% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,746 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 1,668 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.22% of the company’s stock.

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.