ProShare Advisors LLC Acquires 2,749 Shares of Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 4.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 66,766 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,749 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $10,869,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 138,207 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $22,499,000 after acquiring an additional 6,384 shares during the period. Spectrum Strategic Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $516,000. Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 80,307 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $13,073,000 after acquiring an additional 3,400 shares during the period. RiverFront Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 60.2% in the fourth quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 2,958 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $482,000 after acquiring an additional 1,112 shares during the period. Finally, Sapient Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. Sapient Capital LLC now owns 4,169 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $687,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.60, for a total transaction of $95,440.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.36% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE:VLO opened at $240.91 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The company has a market capitalization of $71.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 0.58. Valero Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $125.10 and a 12 month high of $263.75. The business’s 50-day moving average is $241.58 and its 200 day moving average is $204.24.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The oil and gas company reported $4.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.16 by $1.06. The company had revenue of $32.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.38 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 15.94% and a net margin of 3.37%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.89 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 26.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, May 21st will be given a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 21st. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is currently 34.88%.

Key Valero Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Valero was added to Zacks’ Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth-stock list, which can lift investor interest and signal improving momentum. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for May 22nd
• Positive Sentiment: Several recent analyst updates have nudged fair value and price targets higher, including a revised fair value estimate above the prior level, suggesting some Wall Street models still see upside in VLO. Why The Valero Energy (VLO) Story Is Shifting As Analysts Rework Targets And Assumptions
• Positive Sentiment: Valero’s Q1 results were strong, with EPS and revenue both beating estimates and revenue rising year over year, reinforcing the company’s earnings momentum.
• Neutral Sentiment: VLO is being highlighted in low-beta/steadier-portfolio screens as Middle East tensions increase energy-market volatility, which may attract defensive buyers but does not directly change fundamentals. 4 Low-Beta Stocks for a Steadier Portfolio: LQDA, XOM, VLO & FANG
• Neutral Sentiment: Valero continues to draw attention as a trending stock on Zacks, indicating elevated trading interest rather than a clear new catalyst. Here is What to Know Beyond Why Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is a Trending Stock
• Negative Sentiment: Some recent analysis points to pressure on refiners from weaker crude prices and softer distillate inventory signals, which can weigh on near-term refining margin expectations. Valero Energy (VLO) slides as crude sells off and traders reassess near-term margin signals
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank reportedly lowered earnings estimates for Valero, which can dampen sentiment if investors think profit expectations are being reset lower.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on VLO shares. Argus raised Valero Energy to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Valero Energy from $220.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Weiss Ratings upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold (c)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $255.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $236.00 to $263.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $237.94.

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.