Sterling Capital Management LLC Sells 12,235 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Sterling Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 617,084 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 12,235 shares during the quarter. Valero Energy accounts for approximately 1.0% of Sterling Capital Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Sterling Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.19% of Valero Energy worth $75,648,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Tobam bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 122.0% in the fourth quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on VLO shares. Mizuho dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective 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. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 7th. Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $152.46.

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Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE:VLO traded down $2.79 on Tuesday, reaching $107.54. 3,106,264 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,979,904. The firm has a market cap of $33.87 billion, a PE ratio of 12.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $127.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $131.52. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $174.94.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. Equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.20%. This is a boost from Valero Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.30%.

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.