Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Monday.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on VLO. Barclays dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $179.00 to $173.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 30th. Citigroup raised their target price on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Valero Energy from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 1st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $184.00 to $179.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 6th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Valero Energy from $138.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $171.47.

Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $158.55 on Monday. Valero Energy has a one year low of $112.16 and a one year high of $184.79. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $157.00 and a 200 day moving average of $150.88. The company has a market capitalization of $51.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.85, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.59.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced 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 business had revenue of $31.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.02 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 24.82% and a net margin of 5.01%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $8.27 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 16.09 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 30th were given a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 30th. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.20%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.12, for a total value of $113,846.40. Following the transaction, the director now owns 13,314 shares in the company, valued at $2,105,209.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.47% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $33,000. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $33,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. First Foundation Advisors acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $37,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

About Valero Energy

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.