Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Shares Bought by Gabelli Funds LLC

Gabelli Funds LLC grew its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 5.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 76,907 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 3,830 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $13,094,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Waddell & Associates LLC increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 2.8% during the third quarter. Waddell & Associates LLC now owns 2,040 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $347,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. DSG Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 1.6% in the third quarter. DSG Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,803 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $647,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Cypress Capital Group lifted its position in Valero Energy by 0.3% in the third quarter. Cypress Capital Group now owns 18,786 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $3,199,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 3,381 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $576,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Becker Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Becker Capital Management Inc. now owns 11,837 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,015,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $225.02 on Monday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $191.65 and its 200-day simple moving average is $175.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $232.99.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.55. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 12.35% and a net margin of 1.91%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.64 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 5th will be issued a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 5th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.83%.

Valero Energy News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Valero priced an $850 million offering of 5.150% senior notes due 2036 and said proceeds may repay outstanding 7.65% debt — this should lower interest expense and extend maturities, supporting credit profile and cash flow. Valero Energy Corporation Announces Pricing of Notes Offering
• Positive Sentiment: Geopolitical shock from the Iran leadership change has pushed crude higher; analysts highlight refiners (including Valero) as beneficiaries of stronger crack spreads and margin expansion. Higher crude can raise refinery throughput economics in the near term. The Iran War Is Reshaping Energy Markets and These Stocks Win Big
• Positive Sentiment: Soaring jet fuel prices (Singapore benchmark) are widening margins for jet fuel — a key refined product — which benefits Valero’s refining economics and near‑term revenue potential. Jet Fuel Prices Are Soaring, and Airline Stocks Are Tumbling. These Companies Are the Big Winners.
• Positive Sentiment: Valero is advancing renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel projects, approved a dividend increase, and expects to benefit from new tax credits and changes in crude supply mix — supporting medium‑term earnings diversification and shareholder returns. Valero Energy Weighs Refining Strength Against Energy Transition Opportunities
• Neutral Sentiment: Options volume and open interest in VLO have spiked, signaling increased speculative or hedging activity; this can amplify intraday moves but is an ambiguous indicator for longer‑term direction. Spotlight on Valero Energy: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple bullish analyst/style‑score pieces (Zacks, MSN summaries) argue VLO remains attractive as momentum/value—useful framing but largely reiterative and not a catalyst by itself. Why Valero Energy (VLO) is a Top Momentum Stock for the Long-Term
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector peer moves (e.g., Phillips 66) and technical momentum (reports of multi‑day gains) support the industry narrative, but they can also prompt profit‑taking in a fast‑run stock like VLO. Why Is Phillips 66 (PSX) Up 7.8% Since Last Earnings Report?
• Negative Sentiment: Barchart and other commentary warn that Middle East uncertainty increases downside risk and volatility for projections — geopolitical upside is not guaranteed and can reverse quickly, which raises short‑term risk for VLO’s high valuation. What Does the Middle East Conflict Mean for Valero Energy Stock?

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 7th. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $217.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Zacks Research lowered Valero Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Valero Energy from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Valero Energy from $197.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $187.67.

Valero Energy Company Profile

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.