Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC Lowers Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC trimmed its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 10.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,667 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 192 shares during the period. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $204,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Capital Advisors Inc. OK grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 8.0% during the fourth quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 10,432 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,279,000 after buying an additional 776 shares during the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management Co lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 96.0% during the fourth quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management Co now owns 392 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $91,000. Essex Financial Services Inc. boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 40.8% in the 4th quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 4,526 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $555,000 after purchasing an additional 1,312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Private Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 18.0% in the fourth quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,251 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $276,000 after purchasing an additional 343 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO opened at $135.49 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.89 billion, a PE ratio of 15.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. Valero Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $116.84 and a 1 year high of $184.79. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $130.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $136.33.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be given a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.34%. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 53.30%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VLO has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Tudor Pickering raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $154.46.

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.