Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Trading Down 0.5% – Should You Sell?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) shares fell 0.5% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $19.79 and last traded at $19.95. 4,501,279 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 17,048,416 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.05.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on ET shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. Barclays increased their target price on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “buy” rating and a $20.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $20.82.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $68.19 billion, a PE ratio of 14.64, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The pipeline company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32. The business had revenue of $20.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.59 billion. Energy Transfer had a net margin of 5.90% and a return on equity of 12.38%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.31 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $0.325 dividend. This is an increase from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.53%. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio is presently 94.85%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 65.0% in the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 1,650 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in Energy Transfer by 2,138.5% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,746 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,668 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new position in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. United Community Bank purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.