Barclays PLC Purchases 29,731 Shares of Sunoco LP (NYSE:SUN)

Barclays PLC grew its stake in Sunoco LP (NYSE:SUN - Free Report) by 6.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 466,019 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after acquiring an additional 29,731 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned 0.31% of Sunoco worth $23,971,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Independence Bank of Kentucky acquired a new position in Sunoco during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Sunoco by 17.1% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,245 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Sunoco by 93.3% in the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,633 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $84,000 after buying an additional 788 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Sunoco by 440.3% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,783 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $92,000 after buying an additional 1,453 shares during the period. Finally, Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in Sunoco by 90.6% during the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,723 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $95,000 after acquiring an additional 819 shares in the last quarter. 24.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Sunoco Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:SUN traded down $0.25 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $58.52. 39,878 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 456,833. The company has a market cap of $8.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.87 and a beta of 1.06. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $56.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84. Sunoco LP has a one year low of $48.00 and a one year high of $59.67.

Sunoco (NYSE:SUN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The oil and gas company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.48 by ($0.73). Sunoco had a net margin of 3.85% and a return on equity of 22.52%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Sunoco LP will post 10.65 EPS for the current year.

Sunoco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.8976 per share. This represents a $3.59 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.14%. This is an increase from Sunoco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 9th. Sunoco's dividend payout ratio is currently 53.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays lowered their price target on Sunoco from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 28th. Mizuho increased their target price on Sunoco from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Sunoco from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $64.33.

Sunoco Company Profile

Sunoco LP, together with its subsidiaries, distributes and retails motor fuels in the United States. It operates through two segments: Fuel Distribution and Marketing, and All Other. The Fuel Distribution and Marketing segment purchases motor fuel, as well as other petroleum products, such as propane and lubricating oil from independent refiners and oil companies and supplies it to company-operated retail stores, independently operated commission agents, and retail stores, as well as other commercial customers, including unbranded retail stores, other fuel distributors, school districts, municipalities, and other industrial customers.