Energy Transfer's 2026 Outlook Shows Optimism
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 17h ago
0mins
Should l Buy ET?
Source: Fool
- Strong Price Surge: Energy Transfer kicked off 2026 with a remarkable 11.9% unit price increase in January, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4% gain, reflecting market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Oil Price Boost: The WTI oil price surged 14% in January due to potential supply issues in Venezuela and Iran, which, while 90% of Energy Transfer's earnings are fee-based, still positively impacts 5% to 10% of its earnings, enhancing future growth potential.
- 2026 Earnings Outlook: The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA between $17.3 billion and $17.7 billion for 2026, representing a growth rate of 7.5% to 10% from last year's $16.1 billion, indicating an acceleration in growth driven by several expansion projects.
- Increased Capital Investment: Energy Transfer plans to invest between $5 billion and $5.5 billion in growth capital projects in 2026, primarily to enhance its gas pipeline network, up from $4.6 billion last year, supporting the rising power demand from AI data centers and further driving distribution growth.
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Analyst Views on ET
Wall Street analysts forecast ET stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ET is 20.65 USD with a low forecast of 17.00 USD and a high forecast of 23.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 18.190
Low
17.00
Averages
20.65
High
23.00
Current: 18.190
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.
Energy Transfer's 2026 Outlook Shows Optimism
- Strong Price Surge: Energy Transfer kicked off 2026 with a remarkable 11.9% unit price increase in January, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4% gain, reflecting market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Oil Price Boost: The WTI oil price surged 14% in January due to potential supply issues in Venezuela and Iran, which, while 90% of Energy Transfer's earnings are fee-based, still positively impacts 5% to 10% of its earnings, enhancing future growth potential.
- 2026 Earnings Outlook: The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA between $17.3 billion and $17.7 billion for 2026, representing a growth rate of 7.5% to 10% from last year's $16.1 billion, indicating an acceleration in growth driven by several expansion projects.
- Increased Capital Investment: Energy Transfer plans to invest between $5 billion and $5.5 billion in growth capital projects in 2026, primarily to enhance its gas pipeline network, up from $4.6 billion last year, supporting the rising power demand from AI data centers and further driving distribution growth.
See More
Energy Transfer's Attractive Yield and Associated Risks
- Attractive Yield: Energy Transfer offers a 7.3% distribution yield, appealing to dividend investors aiming to maximize portfolio income, although the underlying business structure is somewhat complex.
- Business Complexity: As one of North America's largest midstream operators, Energy Transfer owns energy infrastructure and charges fees for usage, but also serves as the general partner for two publicly traded master limited partnerships, adding management complexity.
- Dividend History Comparison: Unlike Enterprise Products Partners, Energy Transfer cut its distribution in 2020, and while it now targets annual growth of 3% to 5%, past cuts may have disappointed income-dependent investors.
- Investment Considerations: Despite the attractive high yield, the associated risks and complexities of Energy Transfer may lead conservative dividend investors to prefer Enterprise Products Partners, which offers more stable dividend growth.
See More
Top High-Yield Energy Stocks to Buy
- Enbridge's Stable Income: Enbridge (ENB) offers a forward dividend yield of 5.6% and has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years; despite a downgrade from JP Morgan due to sluggish crude oil growth, its strong cash flow ensures continued dividend payments.
- Energy Transfer's Growth Potential: Energy Transfer (ET) attracts income investors with a 7.3% distribution yield and has signed natural gas supply agreements with multiple data center operators over the past year, benefiting from the booming construction of AI data centers.
- Enterprise Products Partners' Income Machine: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) provides a distribution yield of approximately 6.3% and has increased distributions for 27 consecutive years; while only modest growth is expected in 2026, management projects a 10% growth in EBITDA and cash flow for 2027.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: With ongoing demand for energy infrastructure, all three companies are actively expanding their operations, particularly in renewable energy and AI-related projects, indicating strong long-term growth potential.
See More
Three Energy Companies Offering Reliable Dividends
- Stability of Energy Transfer: Energy Transfer (ET), one of the largest midstream companies globally, operates thousands of miles of pipelines, generating 90% of its EBITDA from contracted fees, ensuring a high dividend yield of 7.25%, which highlights its stability and reliability in the energy sector.
- Growth Potential of Renewables: NextEra Energy (NEE), a leading producer of wind and solar energy serving over 12 million customers, has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years and is expected to achieve an 8% annual earnings growth, showcasing its strong growth potential in the renewable energy space.
- Market Position of ExxonMobil: ExxonMobil (XOM), one of the largest energy companies worldwide, boasts a 42-year record of dividend increases with a current yield of 3%, and its recent acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources has further solidified its long-term growth potential in the Permian Basin.
- Overall Industry Performance: While the oil and gas industry may seem dull, the stable dividends and strong market positions of Energy Transfer, NextEra Energy, and ExxonMobil make them focal points for investors, providing reliable investment returns.
See More
Top High-Yield Midstream Energy Stocks for 2026
- Midstream Business Advantage: Midstream energy companies generate revenue primarily through fees for the use of their infrastructure, such as pipelines and storage facilities, ensuring high transaction volumes even during low oil prices, which provides stable income for investors.
- Enbridge's Diversification: Enbridge offers a dividend yield of 5.6%, the lowest among the three, but its diversified portfolio includes oil and gas pipelines and clean energy, with a track record of increasing dividends for 30 consecutive years, indicating stability and long-term growth potential.
- Enterprise Products Partners' Steady Growth: With a dividend yield of 6.3%, Enterprise focuses solely on midstream oil and gas assets and has increased its dividends annually for 27 years, showcasing the benefits of conservative management, making it suitable for investors seeking reliable income.
- Energy Transfer's High Risk-High Reward: Energy Transfer boasts the highest dividend yield at 7.1%, although it cut its distribution in half in 2020 to strengthen its balance sheet, it has since recovered and is growing, with management projecting steady growth of 3% to 5% annually, appealing to more aggressive investors.
See More
High-Yield Midstream Energy Investment Opportunities for 2026
- Midstream Business Advantage: Midstream energy companies generate revenue primarily through fees for the use of their infrastructure assets, such as pipelines and storage facilities, ensuring high volumes even when oil prices are low, which provides stable income streams.
- Enbridge's Diversified Portfolio: With a yield of 5.6%, Enbridge offers the lowest yield among the three but boasts a diversified portfolio that includes oil and gas pipelines and clean energy, having increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years, reflecting strong financial management.
- Enterprise Products Partners' Steady Performance: This master limited partnership (MLP) has a yield of 6.3% and has increased its dividend annually for 27 years, focusing solely on oil and gas midstream assets, showcasing a conservative management style that appeals to income-seeking investors.
- Energy Transfer's High-Yield Potential: Energy Transfer offers the highest yield at 7.1%, having cut its distribution in half in 2020 but now seeing growth above pre-cut levels, with management projecting steady annual growth of 3% to 5%, making it suitable for more aggressive investors.
See More
Energy Transfer's 2026 Outlook Shows Optimism
- Strong Price Surge: Energy Transfer kicked off 2026 with a remarkable 11.9% unit price increase in January, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4% gain, reflecting market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Oil Price Boost: The WTI oil price surged 14% in January due to potential supply issues in Venezuela and Iran, which, while 90% of Energy Transfer's earnings are fee-based, still positively impacts 5% to 10% of its earnings, enhancing future growth potential.
- 2026 Earnings Outlook: The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA between $17.3 billion and $17.7 billion for 2026, representing a growth rate of 7.5% to 10% from last year's $16.1 billion, indicating an acceleration in growth driven by several expansion projects.
- Increased Capital Investment: Energy Transfer plans to invest between $5 billion and $5.5 billion in growth capital projects in 2026, primarily to enhance its gas pipeline network, up from $4.6 billion last year, supporting the rising power demand from AI data centers and further driving distribution growth.
See More
Energy Transfer's Attractive Yield and Associated Risks
- Attractive Yield: Energy Transfer offers a 7.3% distribution yield, appealing to dividend investors aiming to maximize portfolio income, although the underlying business structure is somewhat complex.
- Business Complexity: As one of North America's largest midstream operators, Energy Transfer owns energy infrastructure and charges fees for usage, but also serves as the general partner for two publicly traded master limited partnerships, adding management complexity.
- Dividend History Comparison: Unlike Enterprise Products Partners, Energy Transfer cut its distribution in 2020, and while it now targets annual growth of 3% to 5%, past cuts may have disappointed income-dependent investors.
- Investment Considerations: Despite the attractive high yield, the associated risks and complexities of Energy Transfer may lead conservative dividend investors to prefer Enterprise Products Partners, which offers more stable dividend growth.
See More
Top High-Yield Energy Stocks to Buy
- Enbridge's Stable Income: Enbridge (ENB) offers a forward dividend yield of 5.6% and has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years; despite a downgrade from JP Morgan due to sluggish crude oil growth, its strong cash flow ensures continued dividend payments.
- Energy Transfer's Growth Potential: Energy Transfer (ET) attracts income investors with a 7.3% distribution yield and has signed natural gas supply agreements with multiple data center operators over the past year, benefiting from the booming construction of AI data centers.
- Enterprise Products Partners' Income Machine: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) provides a distribution yield of approximately 6.3% and has increased distributions for 27 consecutive years; while only modest growth is expected in 2026, management projects a 10% growth in EBITDA and cash flow for 2027.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: With ongoing demand for energy infrastructure, all three companies are actively expanding their operations, particularly in renewable energy and AI-related projects, indicating strong long-term growth potential.
See More
Three Energy Companies Offering Reliable Dividends
- Stability of Energy Transfer: Energy Transfer (ET), one of the largest midstream companies globally, operates thousands of miles of pipelines, generating 90% of its EBITDA from contracted fees, ensuring a high dividend yield of 7.25%, which highlights its stability and reliability in the energy sector.
- Growth Potential of Renewables: NextEra Energy (NEE), a leading producer of wind and solar energy serving over 12 million customers, has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years and is expected to achieve an 8% annual earnings growth, showcasing its strong growth potential in the renewable energy space.
- Market Position of ExxonMobil: ExxonMobil (XOM), one of the largest energy companies worldwide, boasts a 42-year record of dividend increases with a current yield of 3%, and its recent acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources has further solidified its long-term growth potential in the Permian Basin.
- Overall Industry Performance: While the oil and gas industry may seem dull, the stable dividends and strong market positions of Energy Transfer, NextEra Energy, and ExxonMobil make them focal points for investors, providing reliable investment returns.
See More
Top High-Yield Midstream Energy Stocks for 2026
- Midstream Business Advantage: Midstream energy companies generate revenue primarily through fees for the use of their infrastructure, such as pipelines and storage facilities, ensuring high transaction volumes even during low oil prices, which provides stable income for investors.
- Enbridge's Diversification: Enbridge offers a dividend yield of 5.6%, the lowest among the three, but its diversified portfolio includes oil and gas pipelines and clean energy, with a track record of increasing dividends for 30 consecutive years, indicating stability and long-term growth potential.
- Enterprise Products Partners' Steady Growth: With a dividend yield of 6.3%, Enterprise focuses solely on midstream oil and gas assets and has increased its dividends annually for 27 years, showcasing the benefits of conservative management, making it suitable for investors seeking reliable income.
- Energy Transfer's High Risk-High Reward: Energy Transfer boasts the highest dividend yield at 7.1%, although it cut its distribution in half in 2020 to strengthen its balance sheet, it has since recovered and is growing, with management projecting steady growth of 3% to 5% annually, appealing to more aggressive investors.
See More
High-Yield Midstream Energy Investment Opportunities for 2026
- Midstream Business Advantage: Midstream energy companies generate revenue primarily through fees for the use of their infrastructure assets, such as pipelines and storage facilities, ensuring high volumes even when oil prices are low, which provides stable income streams.
- Enbridge's Diversified Portfolio: With a yield of 5.6%, Enbridge offers the lowest yield among the three but boasts a diversified portfolio that includes oil and gas pipelines and clean energy, having increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years, reflecting strong financial management.
- Enterprise Products Partners' Steady Performance: This master limited partnership (MLP) has a yield of 6.3% and has increased its dividend annually for 27 years, focusing solely on oil and gas midstream assets, showcasing a conservative management style that appeals to income-seeking investors.
- Energy Transfer's High-Yield Potential: Energy Transfer offers the highest yield at 7.1%, having cut its distribution in half in 2020 but now seeing growth above pre-cut levels, with management projecting steady annual growth of 3% to 5%, making it suitable for more aggressive investors.
See More
