Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) Stock Price Up 7.2% Following Earnings Beat

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) shares shot up 7.2% on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as high as $39.52 and last traded at $39.48. 1,124,987 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 22% from the average session volume of 1,441,876 shares. The stock had previously closed at $36.84.

The basic materials company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.01. Valvoline had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 143.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on VVV. Morgan Stanley restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $38.00 price objective (down from $42.00) on shares of Valvoline in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Valvoline from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Valvoline from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Stephens began coverage on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $49.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Valvoline from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $45.11.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Valvoline news, Director Charles M. Sonsteby purchased 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $39.50 per share, for a total transaction of $395,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 26,437 shares in the company, valued at $1,044,261.50. This represents a 60.84 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Lori Ann Flees purchased 2,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $39.64 per share, for a total transaction of $99,100.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 38,428 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,523,285.92. The trade was a 6.96 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.66% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valvoline

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in shares of Valvoline by 92.1% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 630 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the period. Centricity Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valvoline in the fourth quarter valued at about $36,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valvoline in the third quarter valued at about $41,000. ORG Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Valvoline by 466.7% in the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,275 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 1,050 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 83.0% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,332 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 604 shares during the period. 96.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valvoline Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.15 billion, a PE ratio of 19.20 and a beta of 1.45. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $37.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $39.83.

About Valvoline

Valvoline Inc engages in the operation and franchising of vehicle service centers and retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company, through its service centers, provides fluid exchange for motor oil, transmission and differential fluid, and coolant; parts replacement for batteries, filters, wiper blades, and belts; and safety services, such as tire inflation and rotation, bulbs, and safety checks.