Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the six analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $18.00.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on ET shares. Citigroup increased their price target on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Mizuho reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $19.00 price objective (up previously from $18.00) on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 15th.

Energy Transfer Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of ET stock traded up $0.29 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $15.53. The company had a trading volume of 15,827,531 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,503,916. The company has a 50 day moving average of $15.16 and a 200 day moving average of $14.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market cap of $52.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.24 and a beta of 1.64. Energy Transfer has a 1-year low of $12.18 and a 1-year high of $16.04.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.46 billion. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.17% and a net margin of 4.85%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.34 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer will post 1.46 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $0.315 per share. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 6th. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is 115.60%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energy Transfer

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ET. Activest Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 33.9% in the 4th quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 2,909 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 736 shares in the last quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,155 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $160,000 after acquiring an additional 737 shares in the last quarter. Veracity Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 32,203 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $444,000 after acquiring an additional 738 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 42.9% in the 4th quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,500 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 750 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ethos Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 15,866 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $219,000 after acquiring an additional 753 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 38.22% of the company's stock.

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.