Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Down 1.3% – Time to Sell?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) dropped 1.3% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $19.77 and last traded at $19.87. Approximately 3,668,363 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 78% from the average daily volume of 16,517,305 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.12.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Energy Transfer Stock Down 1.2 %

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 stock has a market capitalization of $68.20 billion, a PE ratio of 15.53, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $19.85 and a 200-day moving average price of $17.86.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.35 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a net margin of 5.74% and a return on equity of 11.66%. As a group, analysts forecast that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.325 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.54%. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is currently 101.56%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Energy Transfer

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Michels Family Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $502,000. Toronto Dominion Bank bought a new stake in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth $48,426,000. Warm Springs Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth $1,469,000. WCG Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 6.4% in the fourth quarter. WCG Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 14,488 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $284,000 after acquiring an additional 871 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Value Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Hudson Value Partners LLC now owns 64,775 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $1,269,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.