Two Sigma Securities LLC Lowers Stake in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

Two Sigma Securities LLC lessened its position in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET - Free Report) by 80.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,291 shares of the pipeline company's stock after selling 51,339 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC's holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $241,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 12,090.8% in the fourth quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 12,455,613 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $244,005,000 after purchasing an additional 12,353,441 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its position in Energy Transfer by 15.7% during the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 38,634,018 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $756,840,000 after buying an additional 5,254,721 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at $50,166,000. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP lifted its position in Energy Transfer by 7.7% during the fourth quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 23,987,750 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $469,920,000 after acquiring an additional 1,723,683 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its position in Energy Transfer by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 11,662,581 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $228,470,000 after buying an additional 1,058,603 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.22% of the company's stock.

Energy Transfer Price Performance

ET stock traded down $0.51 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $16.53. The stock had a trading volume of 19,573,367 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,296,725. Energy Transfer LP has a twelve month low of $14.60 and a twelve month high of $21.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.91, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The company's 50-day moving average price is $17.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $18.50.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 11.56% and a net margin of 5.74%. As a group, research analysts predict 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 will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.3275 per share. This represents a $1.31 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.92%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. This is a boost from Energy Transfer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Energy Transfer's dividend payout ratio is 102.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ET has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Monday, March 24th. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Barclays upped their target price on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $22.09.

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.