Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Shares Purchased by United Capital Management of KS Inc.

United Capital Management of KS Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 3.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 75,721 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after buying an additional 2,679 shares during the quarter. Valero Energy comprises about 1.7% of United Capital Management of KS Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. United Capital Management of KS Inc.'s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $9,283,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Tobam purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 196.8% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on VLO. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $156.08.

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Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO traded up $1.86 on Wednesday, reaching $133.89. 3,968,281 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,768,487. 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 Co. has a 1-year low of $116.84 and a 1-year high of $184.79. The firm has a market cap of $42.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a 50-day moving average of $133.50 and a 200-day moving average of $133.58.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. Equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.38%. This is a boost from Valero Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio 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.