J.Safra Asset Management Corp Makes New Investment in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

J.Safra Asset Management Corp purchased a new stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 520 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $62,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 32.9% in the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,177,052 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $144,295,000 after buying an additional 291,412 shares in the last quarter. Keybank National Association OH increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 32.0% in the fourth quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 11,260 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,380,000 after buying an additional 2,731 shares in the last quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI raised its stake in Valero Energy by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI now owns 8,598 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,029,000 after purchasing an additional 1,999 shares during the period. Patten Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $277,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Valero Energy by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,701,232 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,311,864,000 after purchasing an additional 413,963 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 4.5 %

VLO stock opened at $121.81 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $116.84 and a 52-week high of $184.79. The company has a 50-day moving average of $132.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of $134.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.30%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Piper Sandler raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

About Valero Energy

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.