Zhang Financial LLC Invests $282,000 in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Zhang Financial LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 1,653 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $282,000.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Valero Energy

In other news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of Valero Energy stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 9th. The stock was 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 filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.47% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $162.00 on Thursday. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $105.66 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79. The company’s 50-day moving average is $166.46 and its 200 day moving average is $144.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.59. The company has a market capitalization of $52.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.55.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.64. The firm had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.02 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.01% and a return on equity of 24.82%. The company’s revenue was down 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $8.27 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 18.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 29th. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.64%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 21.20%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Valero Energy from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, April 1st. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $198.00 to $187.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 14th. Citigroup increased their price target on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 18th. Bank of America upgraded Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $156.00 to $210.00 in a research report on Friday, March 15th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $173.87.

Valero Energy 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.