Advisory Services Network LLC Boosts Stock Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Advisory Services Network LLC raised its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 4.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 34,941 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 1,499 shares during the quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $4,542,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VLO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Argus downgraded Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 16th. Citigroup upped their price target on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 18th. Scotiabank upped their price target on Valero Energy from $138.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Valero Energy from $171.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 4th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on Valero Energy from $173.00 to $176.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, May 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $173.87.

Insider Activity at Valero Energy

In related news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.12, for a total value of $113,846.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 13,314 shares in the company, valued at $2,105,209.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of Valero Energy stock traded down $0.14 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $162.42. 1,794,632 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,571,529. The business has a 50-day moving average of $166.50 and a 200 day moving average of $145.11. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $105.66 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.11 billion, a PE ratio of 8.04, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.64. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 24.82% and a net margin of 5.01%. The firm had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $8.27 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 18.11 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 30th will be issued a $1.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 29th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.20%.

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.