Sigma Planning Corp Lowers Stock Position in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

Sigma Planning Corp reduced its stake in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) by 0.6% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 143,223 shares of the pipeline company’s stock after selling 937 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp’s holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $2,806,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Oxbow Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 471,336 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $9,233,000 after buying an additional 1,416 shares in the last quarter. Winebrenner Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $682,000. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 39.0% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC now owns 87,609 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $1,716,000 after buying an additional 24,564 shares in the last quarter. PYA Waltman Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $764,000. Finally, O Brien Greene & Co. Inc purchased a new position in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter worth approximately $319,000. 38.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target 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 boosted their price target on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $21.50.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

NYSE:ET opened at $19.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Energy Transfer LP has a 1 year low of $14.52 and a 1 year high of $21.45. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $19.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $17.91. The company has a market cap of $66.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.15, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.69.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 11.56% and a net margin of 5.74%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate 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 given a dividend of $0.325 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.70%. This is an increase from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is currently 101.56%.

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.