Centaurus Financial Inc. Cuts Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Centaurus Financial Inc. decreased its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 16.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 3,568 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 709 shares during the period. Centaurus Financial Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $559,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $142.42 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $142.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $153.88. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $119.88 and a 52 week high of $184.79. The stock has a market cap of $46.57 billion, a PE ratio of 7.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.35 and a beta of 1.39.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued 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 net margin of 4.25% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The firm had revenue of $34.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $5.40 earnings per share. Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 10.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 1st were issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 1st. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.01%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 21.20%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 16th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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.