Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Receives Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the fifteen ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $156.29.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler lowered shares of Valero Energy from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $169.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Scotiabank dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, 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 target price for the company.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $31,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.8 %

VLO stock traded up $1.06 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $129.79. 2,992,918 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,985,706. The company has a market capitalization of $41.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.64, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.04. Valero Energy has a fifty-two week low of $119.88 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $137.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $148.99.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. The business 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 13.01%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $7.49 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 9.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be issued a $1.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.30%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is 38.39%.

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.