Peoples Bank KS Invests $211,000 in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Peoples Bank KS purchased a new stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 1,560 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $211,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the second quarter valued at about $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE:VLO traded down $1.61 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $142.42. 2,916,321 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,028,215. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $119.88 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a market cap of $46.57 billion, a PE ratio of 7.01, a P/E/G ratio of 3.35 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.48. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $143.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $154.05.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.11. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 21.01% and a net margin of 4.25%. The firm had revenue of $34.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.40 EPS. Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 10.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 1st were paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 1st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.20%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Mizuho cut their price target on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $146.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $165.20.

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.