Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Downgraded to Hold Rating by Zacks Research

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) was downgraded by stock analysts at Zacks Research from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other brokerages have also issued reports on VLO. Mizuho reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $192.00 price target (up previously from $190.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Friday, December 12th. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Erste Group Bank assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Monday, November 10th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Valero Energy from $197.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $183.00.

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.9%

NYSE VLO opened at $188.21 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $174.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $162.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.60. The stock has a market cap of $57.41 billion, a PE ratio of 39.29, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.77. Valero Energy has a twelve month low of $99.00 and a twelve month high of $193.33.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $3.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $32.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.80 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 8.69% and a net margin of 1.21%.Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Valero Energy news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total value of $1,728,540.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 134,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,352,787.92. This trade represents a 6.89% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 70.2% in the third quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $27,000. GFG Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1,277.8% during the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 248 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 230 shares during the period. Finally, Global Wealth Strategies & Associates acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

About Valero Energy

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.