Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV Sells 15,489 Shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV lessened its position in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) by 4.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 303,652 shares of the pipeline company’s stock after selling 15,489 shares during the period. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV’s holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $5,949,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of 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 buying an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in Energy Transfer by 2,138.5% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,746 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,668 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Continuum Advisory LLC lifted its stake in Energy Transfer by 44.8% in the 3rd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 2,357 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 38.22% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ET has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $21.18.

Energy Transfer Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of ET opened at $19.98 on Friday. Energy Transfer LP has a 12 month low of $14.09 and a 12 month high of $21.45. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $19.76 and its 200-day moving average is $17.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $68.42 billion, a PE ratio of 14.69, a P/E/G ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last announced its earnings results 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 return on equity of 12.38% and a net margin of 5.90%. Equities research analysts forecast that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.37 EPS for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $0.325 dividend. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.51%. This is a boost from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 94.85%.

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.