Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Up 1.9% – Should You Buy?

Shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) shot up 1.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $20.42 and last traded at $20.37. 4,548,655 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 73% from the average session volume of 16,682,686 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.99.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Energy Transfer presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.18.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

The company has a fifty day moving average of $19.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.35 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.38% and a net margin of 5.90%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.37 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be issued a $0.325 dividend. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.41%. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio is 101.56%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ET. Hudson Value Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Hudson Value Partners LLC now owns 64,775 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $1,269,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Helium Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $500,000. Alpine Global Management LLC acquired a new position in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter worth approximately $353,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Cornerstone Advisory LLC raised its stake in Energy Transfer by 45.4% during the 4th quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC now owns 32,223 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $644,000 after purchasing an additional 10,062 shares during the period. 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.