Energy Transfer Starts 2026 Strong with 13% Share Increase
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy ET?
Source: Fool
- Share Price Surge: Energy Transfer's shares have risen by 13%, currently trading at $18.82, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth potential and likely attracting more investor interest.
- Growing Market Demand: According to the International Energy Agency, natural gas is the third-largest source of electricity for data centers globally, with the market projected to reach $902 billion by 2033, positioning Energy Transfer to benefit significantly.
- Key Partnership Agreements: The company has secured a major agreement with Oracle to supply natural gas for three of its data centers, along with a 20-year deal with Entergy Louisiana to support Meta Platforms' AI data center, further solidifying its market position.
- Future Outlook: The Q1 2026 earnings report is expected on May 5, and the market will closely monitor project developments; if Energy Transfer can maintain growth momentum, its stock price may exceed $20, enticing more investors to enter.
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Analyst Views on ET
Wall Street analysts forecast ET stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 18.710
Low
17.00
Averages
20.65
High
23.00
Current: 18.710
Low
17.00
Averages
20.65
High
23.00
About ET
Energy Transfer LP owns and operates a diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States, with more than 140,000 miles of pipeline and associated energy infrastructure. The Company’s strategic network spans 44 states with assets in all of the major United States production basins. Its core operations include complementary natural gas midstream, intrastate and interstate transportation and storage assets; crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGL) and refined product transportation and terminalling assets; and NGL fractionation. The Company’s segments include intrastate transportation and storage, interstate transportation and storage, midstream, NGL and refined products transportation and services, crude oil transportation and services, investment in Sunoco LP, investment in USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC), and all other. It also owns Lake Charles LNG Company, LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary, which owns an LNG import terminal and regasification facility.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Share Price Surge: Energy Transfer's shares have risen by 13%, currently trading at $18.82, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth potential and likely attracting more investor interest.
- Growing Market Demand: According to the International Energy Agency, natural gas is the third-largest source of electricity for data centers globally, with the market projected to reach $902 billion by 2033, positioning Energy Transfer to benefit significantly.
- Key Partnership Agreements: The company has secured a major agreement with Oracle to supply natural gas for three of its data centers, along with a 20-year deal with Entergy Louisiana to support Meta Platforms' AI data center, further solidifying its market position.
- Future Outlook: The Q1 2026 earnings report is expected on May 5, and the market will closely monitor project developments; if Energy Transfer can maintain growth momentum, its stock price may exceed $20, enticing more investors to enter.
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- Chevron's Strong Position: Chevron is benefiting significantly from the risks associated with Middle Eastern oil supplies, with its robust operations in the Permian Basin making it a top choice among Wall Street analysts, especially as its low-cost production ensures funding for dividends and capital expenditures even if oil prices fall to around $50 per barrel.
- ExxonMobil's Growth Outlook: As the world's second-largest energy company, ExxonMobil expects to increase its earnings by $25 billion by 2030 and generate an additional $35 billion in free cash flow, showcasing its strong market position and financial health, which appeals to income investors.
- Energy Transfer's Rising Demand: While Energy Transfer's revenue isn't directly driven by oil and gas prices, the disruption in Middle Eastern supply has increased demand for U.S. oil and gas, with the company operating over 140,000 miles of pipeline and transporting 32 million BTUs of natural gas and 7 million barrels of crude oil daily, expecting long-term distribution growth of 3% to 5%.
- Investor Focus: Amid the uncertainty in the Middle East, Wall Street analysts are increasingly focused on energy stocks like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Energy Transfer, although the Motley Fool analyst team suggests there are 10 other stocks with greater investment potential, urging investors to choose wisely.
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- Oil Supply Risks: The U.S. and Israel's attacks on Iran have disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, causing turmoil in global energy markets, prompting investors to monitor oil price fluctuations and their impact on energy stocks.
- Chevron's Stability: Chevron (CVX) stands out due to its strong operations in the Permian Basin, with expectations of over 10% annual growth in earnings per share and free cash flow, alongside a 39-year streak of dividend increases, reflecting its financial robustness amid Middle East oil supply risks.
- ExxonMobil's Growth Potential: As the world's second-largest energy company, ExxonMobil (XOM) anticipates a $25 billion increase in earnings by 2030 and an additional $35 billion in free cash flow, with a 43-year history of dividend growth attracting income investors.
- Energy Transfer's Market Demand: Energy Transfer (ET) benefits from rising U.S. oil and gas demand due to Middle Eastern supply disruptions, with its extensive pipeline network positioning it favorably in the market, and management expects a long-term distribution growth rate of 3% to 5%.
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- Tax Efficiency Improvement: According to Bank of America, a tax-aware portfolio achieved a 7.4% annualized return over 30 years, compared to 5.9% for a tax-insensitive portfolio, highlighting the significant impact of tax management on long-term returns.
- Buybacks Over Dividends: Investors should prefer stock buybacks over dividends since buybacks are not taxable events, while dividends incur taxes ranging from 0% to 20%, although companies may reduce buybacks due to other capital commitments.
- Municipal Bond Advantages: Municipal bonds provide federal tax-exempt income, and residents of the issuing state can enjoy additional state and local tax exemptions, with tax-equivalent yields potentially exceeding Treasuries by 70 basis points, making them suitable for high-tax investors.
- Direct MLP Ownership: Master limited partnerships (MLPs) offer attractive yields but should be owned directly to avoid extra tax burdens, as distributions are treated as a return of capital, increasing investors' cost basis; recommended high-rated MLPs include DT Midstream, Energy Transfer, and Enterprise Products Partners.
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- Energy Transition Investment: Energy Transfer is investing $2.7 billion in the Hugh Brinson Pipeline and $5.6 billion in the Desert Southwest expansion project to support surging natural gas demand, thereby enhancing its market position in the gas infrastructure sector.
- Market Leadership: Kinder Morgan operates over 65,000 miles of gas pipelines, transporting 40% of the U.S. natural gas, and plans to invest $10 billion in new projects by 2030, which is expected to significantly boost its cash flows and dividends.
- Strategic Partnership Expansion: Williams has signed a strategic partnership with Woodside Energy to invest $1.9 billion in its Louisiana LNG project, which is expected to drive its future earnings growth to exceed 10%.
- Growing Market Demand: As demand for natural gas power generation surges, companies like Energy Transfer, Kinder Morgan, and Williams are poised to benefit from this trend, anticipating robust earnings growth and becoming top picks for investors.
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- Infrastructure Expansion: Energy Transfer is heavily investing in its natural gas infrastructure, planning to meet surging demand by constructing the $2.7 billion Hugh Brinson Pipeline and the $5.6 billion Desert Southwest expansion project, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the gas market.
- Growth Potential: Kinder Morgan has committed to invest $10 billion in new growth projects, with 90% related to gas infrastructure, expected to enter commercial service by 2030, driving cash flow growth and supporting future dividend increases.
- Strategic Partnership: Williams has signed a strategic partnership with Woodside Energy to invest $1.9 billion in its Louisiana LNG project, and it expects to achieve over 10% compound annual growth rate through expanding its pipeline infrastructure, significantly boosting its profitability.
- Market Demand: As natural gas becomes increasingly crucial for power generation, demand is expected to surge in the coming years, leading to robust earnings growth for leading companies like Energy Transfer, Kinder Morgan, and Williams.
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