Zhang Financial LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO – Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,653 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $282,000.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, FSC Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.
Insider Transactions at Valero Energy
In related news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of Valero Energy stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.12, for a total transaction of $113,846.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 13,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,105,209.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.47% of the company’s stock.
Valero Energy Price Performance
Valero Energy stock opened at $162.00 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $166.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $144.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.97 billion, a PE ratio of 8.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $105.66 and a 12-month high of $184.79.
Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.64. The firm had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.02 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.01% and a return on equity of 24.82%. The business’s revenue was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $8.27 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 18.18 EPS for the current year.
Valero Energy Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 30th will be issued a $1.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 29th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.20%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several research analysts have weighed in on VLO shares. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. Argus downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 16th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $167.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 26th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $138.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $173.87.
View Our Latest Stock Report on VLO
Valero Energy Company Profile
Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.
See Also
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