Stifel Nicolaus Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) Stock

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) had its price target raised by Stifel Nicolaus from $21.00 to $23.00 in a report published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the pipeline company’s stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on ET. Barclays boosted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Wells Fargo & Company upped 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. Bank of America assumed coverage on Energy Transfer in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $20.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.18.

Energy Transfer Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:ET opened at $19.70 on Wednesday. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $19.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $17.71. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $67.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.69. Energy Transfer has a 1 year low of $13.95 and a 1 year high of $21.45.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.06). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.38% and a net margin of 5.90%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Energy Transfer will post 1.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.325 per share. This is an increase from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.60%. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is currently 94.85%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ET. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its position in Energy Transfer by 65.0% during the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 1,650 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in Energy Transfer by 2,138.5% during the 3rd 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 bought a new position in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, United Community Bank bought a new position in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.