Sunoco LP (NYSE:SUN) Given Average Recommendation of “Buy” by Analysts

Sunoco LP (NYSE:SUN) has earned an average recommendation of “Buy” from the six analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $63.67.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Sunoco from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Sunoco from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, March 14th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on Sunoco from $61.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd.

Sunoco Stock Performance

SUN opened at $57.09 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $57.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $54.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of $8.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.65 and a beta of 1.35. Sunoco has a 1-year low of $49.45 and a 1-year high of $62.55.

Sunoco (NYSE:SUN) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The oil and gas company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.48 by ($0.73). Sunoco had a net margin of 3.85% and a return on equity of 22.52%. Research analysts predict that Sunoco will post 10.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sunoco Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were given a $0.8865 dividend. This represents a $3.55 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.21%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This is an increase from Sunoco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. Sunoco’s dividend payout ratio is 53.64%.

Institutional Trading of Sunoco

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Sunoco in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Independence Bank of Kentucky acquired a new stake in Sunoco during the 4th quarter worth about $53,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in Sunoco by 17.1% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,245 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $64,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Sunoco by 93.3% in the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,633 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 788 shares during the period. Finally, Transce3nd LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Sunoco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $90,000. 24.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Sunoco

Sunoco LP, together with its subsidiaries, distributes and retails motor fuels in the United States. It operates through two segments: Fuel Distribution and Marketing, and All Other. The Fuel Distribution and Marketing segment purchases motor fuel, as well as other petroleum products, such as propane and lubricating oil from independent refiners and oil companies and supplies it to company-operated retail stores, independently operated commission agents, and retail stores, as well as other commercial customers, including unbranded retail stores, other fuel distributors, school districts, municipalities, and other industrial customers.