Kentucky Retirement Systems Sells 1,214 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Kentucky Retirement Systems decreased its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 4.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,641 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 1,214 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems’ holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,863,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on VLO shares. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $172.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $178.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $187.00 to $169.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, June 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $171.36.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO stock opened at $138.67 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $119.88 and a 52 week high of $184.79. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $145.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $155.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.40.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.11. Valero Energy had a net margin of 4.25% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The business had revenue of $34.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.40 earnings per share. Valero Energy’s quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 12.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 1st were paid a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 1st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.20%.

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.