ET

We rate Energy Transfer LP (ET) as a Hold with a composite score of 51.8/100 at a current price of $18.77. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (70th percentile) and value (56th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in momentum (36th percentile) and quality (41th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (30/100), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs; balance sheet deleveraging progress. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

Energy Transfer LP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 51.8/100 places it at rank #1730 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $58.9B market capitalization, Energy Transfer LP operates at meaningful scale within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

Revenue contraction of -4% combined with momentum at the 36th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 26% (-28.8pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 11% (-6.3pp vs sector) and net margins of 7.3%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 28%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.

At a current price of $18.77, Energy Transfer LP is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 56/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 11.0x (a 35% discount to the sector median of 16.9x), EV/EBITDA of 14.6x (at a premium), P/B of 1.3x, P/S of 0.8x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to Energy Transfer LP. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: significant leverage (139% debt-to-equity). While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: significant leverage (139% debt-to-equity). Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 70th percentile and quality factor at the 41th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: above-average stability (70th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; large-cap scale ($58.9B) provides resilience; a 7.60% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate Energy Transfer LP's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 12.0%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 139%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; Energy Transfer LP falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 7.60% dividend yield provides some income return, but the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, Energy Transfer LP receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 51.8/100 (rank #1730 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (30/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 50/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on Energy Transfer LP. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.