Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) Given Average Rating of “Buy” by Analysts

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) has earned a consensus rating of “Buy” from the nine brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $46.25.

VVV has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Valvoline from $52.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Valvoline from $46.00 to $42.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Valvoline from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Valvoline from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on Valvoline from $50.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Charles M. Sonsteby bought 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $39.50 per share, for a total transaction of $395,000.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 26,437 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,044,261.50. This trade represents a 60.84 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CTO Robert Travis Dobbins sold 1,914 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.00, for a total transaction of $76,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer now owns 14,956 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $598,240. This trade represents a 11.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.34% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valvoline

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VVV. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 92.1% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 630 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Valvoline by 57.9% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 728 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Valvoline during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Valvoline in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 46.5% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,465 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 465 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.13% of the company’s stock.

Valvoline Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE:VVV opened at $36.27 on Friday. Valvoline has a 1 year low of $33.86 and a 1 year high of $48.26. The company has a market capitalization of $4.66 billion, a PE ratio of 22.39 and a beta of 1.43. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $40.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $41.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.77, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

About Valvoline

Valvoline Inc engages in the operation and franchising of vehicle service centers and retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company, through its service centers, provides fluid exchange for motor oil, transmission and differential fluid, and coolant; parts replacement for batteries, filters, wiper blades, and belts; and safety services, such as tire inflation and rotation, bulbs, and safety checks.