Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Trading 0.9% Higher - Still a Buy?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) shares rose 0.9% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $16.87 and last traded at $16.69. Approximately 4,152,799 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 76% from the average daily volume of 17,125,998 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.53.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Energy Transfer Trading Down 0.3 %

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $17.63 and a 200 day moving average of $18.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.37 billion, a PE ratio of 12.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.12.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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%. Equities research analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be given a $0.3275 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. This represents a $1.31 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.12%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is presently 102.34%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Alps Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 12.9% in the first quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 75,353,994 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,400,831,000 after buying an additional 8,613,645 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 15.7% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 38,634,018 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $756,840,000 after purchasing an additional 5,254,721 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 0.8% during the first quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 24,170,455 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $449,329,000 after purchasing an additional 182,705 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in Energy Transfer by 5.9% in the fourth quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 19,776,221 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $387,416,000 after purchasing an additional 1,093,381 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westwood Holdings Group Inc. increased its holdings in Energy Transfer by 18.2% in the fourth quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 16,331,220 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $319,929,000 after buying an additional 2,512,060 shares during the last quarter. 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.