Victory Capital Management Inc. Grows Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 32.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,177,052 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after purchasing an additional 291,412 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned about 0.37% of Valero Energy worth $144,295,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of VLO. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Tobam purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at $38,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Trading Down 4.5 %

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $121.81 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $132.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $134.66. The company has a market cap of $38.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy Co. 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 quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57.

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, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were given a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This is an increase from Valero Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is 53.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler raised shares of Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased 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. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $154.46.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.