Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Receives Average Rating of “Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Buy” from the sixteen research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $151.93.

Several analysts have commented on VLO shares. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $127.00 to $154.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Scotiabank reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Mizuho raised their target price on Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $121.00 to $118.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO stock opened at $133.53 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $121.69 and a 200-day moving average of $127.60. The firm has a market cap of $41.82 billion, a PE ratio of 15.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.99. Valero Energy has a 12-month low of $99.00 and a 12-month high of $167.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.27). The business had revenue of $28.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.82 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Valero Energy will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 20th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.39%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 159.72%.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the first quarter worth $26,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. increased its stake in Valero Energy by 156.6% in the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 213 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 122.0% during the fourth quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

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.