Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Up 2.6%

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) shares rose 2.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $15.65 and last traded at $15.62. Approximately 6,714,783 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 12,376,579 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.23.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ET has been the subject of several research reports. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, Mizuho restated a "buy" rating and issued a $19.00 target price (up from $18.00) on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $17.71.

Energy Transfer Stock Up 1.9 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $52.31 billion, a PE ratio of 14.35 and a beta of 1.64. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $15.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.22. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.46 billion. Energy Transfer had a net margin of 4.85% and a return on equity of 12.17%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.34 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast 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 was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 7th were issued a $0.315 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 6th. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.12%. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is currently 115.60%.

Institutional Trading of Energy Transfer

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 109,332.4% during the fourth quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 145,943,387 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,732,348,000 after purchasing an additional 145,810,023 shares during the period. First Reserve GP XIII Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $322,097,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 28.5% during the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 81,532,518 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,125,149,000 after purchasing an additional 18,087,249 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 20.9% during the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 76,339,168 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $906,146,000 after purchasing an additional 13,220,435 shares during the period. Finally, Alps Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 14.5% during the third quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 73,666,501 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,033,541,000 after purchasing an additional 9,341,798 shares during the period. 38.22% of the stock is 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.