Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Stock Price Down 1.4% – Should You Sell?

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)’s share price fell 1.4% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $16.95 and last traded at $17.22. 11,265,797 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 36% from the average session volume of 17,601,816 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.46.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ET has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target 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, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.55.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

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 $59.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.72. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.12.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 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%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.325 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.52%. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio is currently 101.56%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake 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 during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. 38.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.