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Energy Transfer Stock Is Cheap, but Does That Make It a Buy Now?
The Motley Foolยท 2025-10-05 07:33
Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer is currently undervalued in the market, trading at a low valuation compared to its peers, despite having a strong financial position and potential growth catalysts ahead [1][7][6]. Valuation and Financial Performance - Energy Transfer's units have declined by over 10% this year, leading to a valuation of less than 9 times earnings, which is significantly lower than the peer average of around 12 times [1][4]. - The company expects earnings growth to be less than 4% this year, a slowdown from the 10% compound annual growth rate since 2020, primarily due to weaker commodity prices and fewer growth catalysts [3][8]. Financial Strength - Energy Transfer is in its strongest financial position in history, with a leverage ratio in the lower half of its target range of 4.0-4.5, indicating a solid financial profile compared to some peers [6]. Growth Catalysts - The company plans to invest $5 billion into growth capital projects in 2025, including the Nederland Flexport NGL expansion and Hugh Brinson Pipeline, which are expected to add meaningful incremental earnings by the end of 2026 [8]. - Additional expansion projects, such as the $5.3 billion Desert Southeast Expansion, are expected to be completed by the end of 2029, providing growth visibility into 2030 [9]. - Energy Transfer is also developing several projects to increase natural gas transportation capacity, particularly to support growing demand from AI data centers [10]. Acquisition Potential - The company has a history of consolidating the energy midstream sector and has the financial strength to pursue acquisitions, which could further enhance its valuation [11]. Investment Opportunity - Despite the current slowdown in growth, Energy Transfer is viewed as a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive valuation and the potential for growth from ongoing and future projects [12].