Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Shares Acquired by Navellier & Associates Inc.

Navellier & Associates Inc. increased its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 4.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 19,859 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 825 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,435,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 1,514 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $186,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the period. WP Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. WP Advisors LLC now owns 35,524 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $4,355,000 after buying an additional 1,184 shares during the period. Parcion Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $208,000. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc now owns 52,104 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $6,387,000 after buying an additional 1,437 shares during the period. Finally, Mader & Shannon Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $749,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Stock Down 3.2 %

VLO stock opened at $134.67 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $116.84 and a 12 month high of $184.79. The firm has a market cap of $42.63 billion, a PE ratio of 15.88, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $131.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $135.87. 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 (NYSE:VLO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. Equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.36%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 53.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Valero Energy Profile

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.