ORG Partners LLC Makes New $5.61 Million Investment in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

ORG Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 357,825 shares of the pipeline company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,614,000. Energy Transfer accounts for about 10.7% of ORG Partners LLC’s holdings, making the stock its biggest position.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Reserve GP XIII Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the fourth quarter valued at $322,097,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 38.3% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 25,621,485 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $353,576,000 after acquiring an additional 7,097,074 shares in the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 18.5% in the fourth quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 25,423,547 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $350,845,000 after acquiring an additional 3,976,676 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 1,447.6% in the fourth quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 3,756,955 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $518,460,000 after acquiring an additional 3,514,195 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Energy Transfer by 13.3% in the fourth quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 28,642,769 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $395,270,000 after acquiring an additional 3,368,427 shares in the last quarter. 38.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on ET shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, June 20th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, June 10th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $19.29.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

Shares of ET stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $16.25. The stock had a trading volume of 11,323,407 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,807,250. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Energy Transfer LP has a twelve month low of $12.46 and a twelve month high of $16.48. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.76 billion, a PE ratio of 14.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 1.66.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 8th. The pipeline company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.04). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.22% and a net margin of 4.85%. The firm had revenue of $21.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.91 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.32 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 13.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 20th. Investors of record on Monday, May 13th were issued a $0.317 dividend. This represents a $1.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 10th. This is a boost from Energy Transfer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Energy Transfer’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 116.51%.

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.