Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. Buys 2,448 Shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. grew its stake in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) by 6.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,752 shares of the pipeline company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,448 shares during the quarter. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc.’s holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $838,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. United Community Bank purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Tortoise Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Energy Transfer by 111.1% during the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 1,900 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. 38.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Energy Transfer Trading Up 0.3 %

Energy Transfer stock opened at $18.93 on Thursday. Energy Transfer LP has a one year low of $14.90 and a one year high of $21.45. The business’s fifty day moving average is $19.52 and its 200 day moving average is $18.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.96 billion, a PE ratio of 14.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.72.

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

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $0.325 per share. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.87%. 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. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio is presently 101.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on ET shares. 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 report on Monday, January 13th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $23.00 price objective on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. 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, Energy Transfer currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $22.09.

Energy Transfer 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.