Intellus Advisors LLC Makes New Investment in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

Intellus Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 91,891 shares of the pipeline company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,800,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ET. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in Energy Transfer during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. United Community Bank acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 111.1% in the 4th quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 1,900 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department purchased a new stake in Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.22% of the company’s stock.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

Energy Transfer stock opened at $18.65 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $19.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.26. The stock has a market cap of $63.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.72. 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 $14.90 and a 1-year high of $21.45.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The pipeline company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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, analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $0.325 dividend. This is a positive change from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.97%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Energy Transfer’s payout ratio is 101.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on ET shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. 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 report on Monday, December 9th. 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, Citigroup upped their price objective 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.55.

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.