Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Hits New 1-Year Low on Analyst Downgrade

Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday after Mizuho lowered their price target on the stock from $171.00 to $165.00. Mizuho currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Valero Energy traded as low as $123.63 and last traded at $124.79, with a volume of 247502 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $125.07.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $150.00 target price on the stock. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 4th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $155.07.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,293,589 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $174,673,000 after buying an additional 22,571 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 7.5% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 89,762 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $12,121,000 after purchasing an additional 6,278 shares during the period. HITE Hedge Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 136.1% during the third quarter. HITE Hedge Asset Management LLC now owns 75,117 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $10,143,000 after purchasing an additional 43,299 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 6,956,743 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $1,090,532,000 after purchasing an additional 192,397 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 130.9% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,136 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $194,000 after buying an additional 644 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy Stock Down 0.1 %

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 business has a 50-day simple moving average of $135.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $142.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.20, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.39.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.16. The firm 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 13.07%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $7.49 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be paid a $1.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.43%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.39%.

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.