Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Stock Price Up 1.9% – Should You Buy?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) shares shot up 1.9% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $20.42 and last traded at $20.37. 4,548,655 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 73% from the average session volume of 16,682,686 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.99.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on ET shares. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Barclays boosted their price target on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $21.18.

Energy Transfer Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The company has a market cap of $68.54 billion, a PE ratio of 15.61, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $19.85 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.86.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) 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 11.66% and a net margin of 5.74%. Sell-side analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $0.325 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.51%. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is 101.56%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Forum Financial Management LP raised its stake in Energy Transfer by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 126,394 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $2,476,000 after buying an additional 2,797 shares in the last quarter. Sunbeam Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $330,000. Michels Family Financial LLC acquired a new position in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth $502,000. Toronto Dominion Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $48,426,000. Finally, Warm Springs Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,469,000. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other 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.