Energy Transfer Halts Lake Charles LNG Project, Predicts Acquisition Opportunities in 2026
- Acquisition Stagnation: Energy Transfer has not made any acquisitions since mid-2024, leading to a projected decline in its adjusted EBITDA growth rate to below 4% in 2025, indicating that the lack of M&A activity may hinder future growth prospects.
- Project Suspension: Despite securing a 30% equity agreement with MidOcean Energy, Energy Transfer has decided to halt the development of the Lake Charles LNG project to focus on its growing backlog of natural gas pipeline infrastructure projects, reflecting a prioritization of its core operations.
- Market Forecast: Analysts predict that 2026 will be an active year for Energy Transfer, expecting at least one multi-billion-dollar acquisition, potentially targeting midstream companies like Kinetik Holdings or Western Midstream to further diversify its business platform.
- Strategic Shift: Energy Transfer has expressed openness to discussions with third parties interested in developing the Lake Charles project, indicating a potential sale to a strategic buyer with LNG development experience, which could create new growth opportunities for the company.
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Frozen Assets: Winter Storm Fern Boosts These 3 Energy Stocks
Impact of Winter Storm Fern: The winter storm has affected 34 states in the U.S., causing significant disruptions and prompting millions of Americans to increase their heating usage, while meteorologists track plummeting temperatures and potential blizzard conditions.
Energy Market Dynamics: Natural gas futures surged by 5.49% this week, with wholesale electricity prices in the PJM region reaching unprecedented levels, leading to heightened anxiety among consumers regarding utility bills and signaling market opportunities for investors.
Reliability and Investment in Energy: The storm serves as a real-time stress test for energy infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of reliable energy sources and the need for investors to focus on supply chains and the structural value of energy reliability.
Future of Energy Companies: Companies like Energy Transfer and Vistra Corp are positioned to benefit from the current market dynamics, with Vistra's recent auction success and strategic pivots indicating a focus on high-return domestic pipelines and a strong balance sheet to weather future storms.

Energy Transfer Declares Quarterly Dividend Increase
- Quarterly Dividend Increase: Energy Transfer has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3350 per share, reflecting a 0.8% increase from the previous $0.3325, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to stable cash flow and shareholder returns.
- Attractive Yield: The forward yield of 7.47% not only provides investors with substantial cash returns but also has the potential to attract more income-seeking investors to the company's stock, enhancing its market appeal.
- Dividend Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on February 19, with a record date of February 6 and an ex-dividend date also set for February 6, ensuring shareholders receive their earnings promptly and bolstering market interest in the stock.
- Bond Offering Support: Energy Transfer is also pricing a $3 billion bond offering, which not only supports the company's capital structure but also provides funding for future investments and dividend payments, reinforcing its financial stability.






