Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Trading Up 0.6%

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) traded up 0.6% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $15.63 and last traded at $15.58. 2,613,086 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 78% from the average session volume of 12,146,226 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.48.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ET has been the topic of several analyst reports. Citigroup upped their target price on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Mizuho reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $19.00 target price (up from $18.00) on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Thursday, April 18th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five 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 $18.00.

Energy Transfer Trading Up 1.9 %

The stock has a market cap of $53.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.48 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.10. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $15.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.38.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.08. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.17% and a net margin of 4.85%. The business had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.46 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.34 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.56 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 20th. Investors of record on Monday, May 13th will be given a dividend of $0.317 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 10th. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.27 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.04%. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is currently 115.60%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Northwest Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Rise Advisors LLC increased its position in Energy Transfer by 88.2% during the fourth quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 1,978 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 927 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in Energy Transfer by 42.9% during the fourth 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Ables Iannone Moore & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. 38.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.