Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Hits New 1-Year Low - What's Next?

Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $117.01 and last traded at $117.11, with a volume of 249843 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $118.59.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on VLO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Citigroup lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Piper Sandler downgraded shares of Valero Energy from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $169.00 to $123.00 in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $150.00 target price for the company. 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $155.07.

Valero Energy Stock Up 0.1 %

The company's 50-day simple moving average is $134.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $142.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.40. 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 announced 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 company had revenue of $32.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $31.04 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. Valero Energy's revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $7.49 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th were paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 20th. Valero Energy's payout ratio is 38.39%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,970 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1.6% in the second quarter. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,543 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $712,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 4.3% in the second quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 1,752 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $275,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 5.7% during the second quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 1,356 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $213,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 15.0% in the 2nd quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 575 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.