Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Shares Down 0.8% – Time to Sell?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) shares fell 0.8% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $19.71 and last traded at $19.78. 2,837,932 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 16,417,973 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.94.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently weighed in on ET. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of 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 upped their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.50.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $19.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.12. The company has a market capitalization of $66.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.15, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.69.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last issued 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 11.56%. As a group, research analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $0.325 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.70%. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio is presently 101.56%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $46,000. AlphaCore Capital LLC boosted its stake in Energy Transfer by 20.5% during the 4th quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 12,264 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $240,000 after purchasing an additional 2,090 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LP boosted its stake in Energy Transfer by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 126,394 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $2,476,000 after purchasing an additional 2,797 shares during the period. Sunbeam Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $330,000. Finally, Michels Family Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth $502,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.22% of the company’s stock.

Energy Transfer Company Profile

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.