MML Investors Services LLC Has $2.45 Million Holdings in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

MML Investors Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Free Report) by 13.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 125,086 shares of the pipeline company's stock after buying an additional 15,102 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $2,450,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Stonegate Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in Energy Transfer by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 34,320 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $672,000 after buying an additional 482 shares during the last quarter. Private Client Services LLC lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Private Client Services LLC now owns 16,915 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $331,000 after buying an additional 511 shares in the last quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Energy Transfer by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 130,202 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $2,551,000 after buying an additional 535 shares during the last quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC boosted its position in Energy Transfer by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Cannell & Spears LLC now owns 135,647 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $2,657,000 after purchasing an additional 546 shares during the period. Finally, Daymark Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Energy Transfer by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160,678 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $3,148,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.22% of the company's stock.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

NYSE ET traded up $0.19 during trading on Thursday, reaching $16.73. The company's stock had a trading volume of 6,696,384 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,265,040. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Energy Transfer LP has a 12 month low of $14.60 and a 12 month high of $21.45. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $17.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $18.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.32.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share (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%. 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 business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a $0.3275 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.31 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.83%. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is presently 102.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on ET shares. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $23.00 price objective on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Citigroup restated a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Monday, March 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $22.09.

About Energy Transfer

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.