Zacks Research Raises Earnings Estimates for Valero Energy

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research raised their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Valero Energy in a note issued to investors on Monday, December 15th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the oil and gas company will earn $9.17 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $9.16. The consensus estimate for Valero Energy’s current full-year earnings is $7.92 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Valero Energy’s Q4 2025 earnings at $2.34 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $3.28 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $8.95 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.79 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.72 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.85 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $8.59 EPS.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $3.66 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.51. The firm had revenue of $32.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.80 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 8.69% and a net margin of 1.21%.The company’s quarterly revenue was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.14 earnings per share.

VLO has been the subject of several other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Valero Energy from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Mizuho reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $192.00 price target (up from $190.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Friday, December 12th. Raymond James Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (up previously from $181.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Bank of America reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $195.00 target price (down from $198.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $169.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $183.20.

Valero Energy Trading Down 0.7%

NYSE:VLO opened at $161.83 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $171.21 and a 200-day moving average of $155.28. The company has a market cap of $49.36 billion, a PE ratio of 33.79, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.76. Valero Energy has a one year low of $99.00 and a one year high of $185.62.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in Valero Energy by 276.9% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,795,436 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,425,754,000 after purchasing an additional 7,931,018 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $827,390,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth $275,239,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 16.7% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,141,511 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,089,897,000 after buying an additional 1,164,217 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 81.2% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,413,182 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $186,498,000 after acquiring an additional 633,157 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total value of $1,728,540.66. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 134,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,352,787.92. The trade was a 6.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 20th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 20th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 94.36%.

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.