Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $20.82.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Barclays upped their price objective on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $20.00 price objective on the stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT increased its position in Energy Transfer by 25.0% during the second quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 12,990 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $211,000 after buying an additional 2,600 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 9.2% during the 2nd quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 449,772 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $7,295,000 after acquiring an additional 37,927 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new stake in Energy Transfer in the 2nd quarter valued at $290,000. Ieq Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 8.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 197,856 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $3,209,000 after purchasing an additional 14,728 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GM Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in Energy Transfer by 18.2% during the second quarter. GM Advisory Group LLC now owns 18,400 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $298,000 after purchasing an additional 2,834 shares during the period. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Energy Transfer Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of Energy Transfer stock opened at $20.28 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $69.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 1.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The business has a 50-day moving average of $18.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.16. Energy Transfer has a 1 year low of $13.60 and a 1 year high of $20.40.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The pipeline company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.38% and a net margin of 5.90%. The business had revenue of $20.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $21.59 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.31 EPS. Energy Transfer’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Energy Transfer will post 1.34 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a $0.3225 dividend. This represents a $1.29 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio is currently 94.85%.

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.