Natixis Advisors LLC Buys 14,616 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 9.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 176,431 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after acquiring an additional 14,616 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC owned 0.06% of Valero Energy worth $23,823,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the first quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. 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 report on Friday, September 20th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $150.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Valero Energy from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $172.00 to $165.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Mizuho reduced 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 report on Monday, September 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $155.86.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO stock traded down $1.10 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $142.91. 1,060,500 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,938,510. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $120.21 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market capitalization of $45.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $136.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $146.26.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 13.07%. The business had revenue of $32.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $31.04 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $7.49 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 9.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.99%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is 38.39%.

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.