Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the fifteen analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $154.46.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price 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.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Tobam bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 196.8% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO traded up $2.48 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $124.24. 2,071,896 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,786,894. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $132.49 and a 200-day moving average price of $134.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.65, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy has a fifty-two week low of $116.84 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

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 for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This is a boost from Valero Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.64%. Valero Energy's payout ratio is 53.30%.

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.