Valero Energy (VLO) – Investment Analysts’ Recent Ratings Updates

Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

• 6/15/2024 – Valero Energy was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.
• 6/14/2024 – Valero Energy had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $187.00 to $169.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 6/7/2024 – Valero Energy was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.
• 6/6/2024 – Valero Energy had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $184.00 to $179.00. They now have an “equal weight” rating on the stock.
• 5/16/2024 – Valero Energy was downgraded by analysts at Argus from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.
• 5/14/2024 – Valero Energy had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $198.00 to $187.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 5/13/2024 – Valero Energy had its price target raised by analysts at Mizuho from $173.00 to $176.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.
• 4/30/2024 – Valero Energy had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $179.00 to $173.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 4/29/2024 – Valero Energy had its price target lowered by analysts at TD Cowen from $190.00 to $185.00. They now have a “buy” rating on the stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE:VLO opened at $149.94 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $160.11 and a 200-day moving average of $148.84. The company has a market capitalization of $49.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.43, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.47. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $108.28 and a 52 week high of $184.79. 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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.64. The business had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.02 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.01% and a return on equity of 24.82%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $8.27 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 17.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.20%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of the 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.47% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, First Foundation Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

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.