Level Four Advisory Services LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Level Four Advisory Services LLC lowered its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,667 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 143 shares during the period. Level Four Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,676,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 89.1% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 16,855 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,276,000 after purchasing an additional 7,942 shares during the period. Glenmede Trust Co. NA boosted its position in Valero Energy by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 45,505 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $6,145,000 after buying an additional 134 shares during the period. CreativeOne Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 67.9% in the 3rd quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 9,724 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,313,000 after acquiring an additional 3,934 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 6.9% in the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,527,895 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $341,342,000 after acquiring an additional 163,505 shares during the period. Finally, Financial Counselors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 7.6% during the third quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 3,790 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $512,000 after acquiring an additional 269 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $131.43 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $116.84 and a 1 year high of $184.79. The firm has a market cap of $41.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.50, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a 50-day moving average of $133.49 and a 200 day moving average of $133.31. 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 announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share 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, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.44%. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 53.30%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Mizuho reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $152.67.

Valero Energy Company 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.