Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) Shares Bought by Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC

Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Free Report) by 13.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 135,128 shares of the pipeline company's stock after acquiring an additional 15,948 shares during the quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC's holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $2,512,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. United Community Bank purchased a new position in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Energy Transfer by 111.1% during the 4th quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 1,900 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on ET shares. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Energy Transfer from $25.00 to $23.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 19th. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $21.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $22.64.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

ET stock traded down $0.16 during trading on Friday, hitting $18.30. 9,629,412 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 15,590,181. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.78. Energy Transfer LP has a 52 week low of $14.60 and a 52 week high of $21.45. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $17.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $18.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The pipeline company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.03. Energy Transfer had a net margin of 5.74% and a return on equity of 11.56%. The firm had revenue of $21.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.32 earnings per share. Energy Transfer's quarterly revenue was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given a $0.3275 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.31 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.16%. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is 99.24%.

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.