Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Stock Price Up 0.3%

Shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) were up 0.3% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $15.87 and last traded at $15.85. Approximately 2,607,777 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 12,318,813 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.81.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on ET shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group cut 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 note on Thursday, February 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $17.57.

Energy Transfer Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $14.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.11. The stock has a market cap of $53.32 billion, a PE ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 1.64. 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 (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.08. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.17% and a net margin of 4.85%. The company had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.46 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.34 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.44 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 7th were paid a $0.315 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 6th. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.96%. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is presently 115.60%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Activest Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 33.9% in the 4th quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 2,909 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 736 shares during the last quarter. Veracity Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 32,203 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 738 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 42.9% in the 4th quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,500 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares during the last quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 15,866 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $219,000 after purchasing an additional 753 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bahl & Gaynor Inc. lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 228,569 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $3,154,000 after purchasing an additional 769 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 38.22% of the company's stock.

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.