Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Down 0.4%

Shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) traded down 0.4% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $15.72 and last traded at $15.75. 3,017,990 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 75% from the average session volume of 12,280,758 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.82.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Mizuho reissued 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, April 18th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $18.14.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $53.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $15.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $14.50.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 8th. The pipeline company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.04). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.22% and a net margin of 4.85%. The firm had revenue of $21.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.91 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.32 EPS. Energy Transfer's revenue for the quarter was up 13.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.54 EPS 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 13th will be issued a $0.317 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 10th. This represents a $1.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.99%. This is an increase from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer's payout ratio is currently 116.51%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group increased its position in Energy Transfer by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 32,080 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $505,000 after acquiring an additional 633 shares during the period. Sfmg LLC grew its position in Energy Transfer by 2.2% during the first quarter. Sfmg LLC now owns 31,406 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $494,000 after acquiring an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 20,201 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $318,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 33,569 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $528,000 after acquiring an additional 708 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Veracity Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 32,916 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $518,000 after purchasing an additional 713 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.