Empower Advisory Group LLC Boosts Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Empower Advisory Group LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 2.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 495,931 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after buying an additional 13,700 shares during the period. Empower Advisory Group LLC owned about 0.15% of Valero Energy worth $66,966,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO traded up $2.17 on Wednesday, reaching $139.19. 913,344 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,947,975. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $120.21 and a one year high of $184.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.06 billion, a PE ratio of 12.24, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.39. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $135.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $146.80. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $32.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $31.04 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 13.07%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.49 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 9.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be issued a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 20th. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.39%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on VLO shares. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Piper Sandler lowered shares of Valero Energy from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $169.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $150.00 price target for the company. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $155.86.

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.