Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Price Target Raised to $19.00 at Stifel Nicolaus

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Stifel Nicolaus from $18.00 to $19.00 in a report published on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the pipeline company's stock.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on ET. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Citigroup raised their price target on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Mizuho reiterated a buy rating and issued a $19.00 target price (up previously from $18.00) on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Energy Transfer has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $18.14.

Energy Transfer Price Performance

Shares of Energy Transfer stock traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $16.23. The company's stock had a trading volume of 20,695,464 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,321,025. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.10. Energy Transfer has a 12-month low of $12.21 and a 12-month high of $16.40. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $15.55 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.44. The company has a market cap of $54.68 billion, a PE ratio of 14.89 and a beta of 1.63.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 8th. The pipeline company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $21.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.91 billion. Energy Transfer had a net margin of 4.85% and a return on equity of 12.17%. The firm's revenue was up 13.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.32 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Energy Transfer will post 1.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 20th. Investors of record on Monday, May 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.317 per share. This represents a $1.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 10th. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is currently 116.51%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Alps Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Energy Transfer by 14.5% during the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 73,666,501 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,033,541,000 after acquiring an additional 9,341,798 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in Energy Transfer by 13.3% in the fourth quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 28,642,769 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $395,270,000 after buying an additional 3,368,427 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 38.3% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 25,621,485 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $353,576,000 after buying an additional 7,097,074 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 18.5% during the 4th quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 25,423,547 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $350,845,000 after buying an additional 3,976,676 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Reserve GP XIII Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at about $322,097,000. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.