Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) shot up 3.6% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $136.25 and last traded at $136.73. 299,773 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 91% from the average session volume of 3,329,294 shares. The stock had previously closed at $132.00.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on VLO shares. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $152.67.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on VLO
Valero Energy Trading Down 1.4 %
The stock has a market cap of $41.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. The stock's 50-day moving average is $133.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $133.31. 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 quarterly earnings data 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.
Valero Energy Increases Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.44%. 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 is 53.30%.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy
Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $149,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Valero Energy by 32.8% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 136,413 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $16,723,000 after purchasing an additional 33,710 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 105,904 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $12,983,000 after purchasing an additional 2,028 shares during the period. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 350.0% during the 4th quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 55,196 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $6,766,000 after purchasing an additional 42,931 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Total Wealth Planning & Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $346,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.
About Valero Energy
(
Get Free Report)
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.
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