Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Trims Stock Holdings in Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC lowered its position in shares of Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) by 6.5% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 151,674 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 10,461 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC’s holdings in Valvoline were worth $5,488,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Valvoline by 2.0% in the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 27,158 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,173,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its position in Valvoline by 29.7% in the second quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 14,237 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $615,000 after purchasing an additional 3,263 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Valvoline by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,720,748 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $117,534,000 after acquiring an additional 94,673 shares in the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Valvoline by 4.0% during the second quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 142,118 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $6,139,000 after purchasing an additional 5,442 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT boosted its position in Valvoline by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 8,314 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $359,000 after buying an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.13% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other Valvoline news, CTO Robert Travis Dobbins sold 1,914 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.00, for a total value of $76,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 14,956 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $598,240. The trade was a 11.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Lori Ann Flees purchased 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $39.64 per share, for a total transaction of $99,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 38,428 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,523,285.92. The trade was a 6.96 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.66% of the company’s stock.

Valvoline Price Performance

NYSE VVV opened at $36.23 on Friday. Valvoline Inc. has a 1 year low of $33.86 and a 1 year high of $48.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.77. The company has a market cap of $4.65 billion, a PE ratio of 22.36 and a beta of 1.45. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $38.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $40.72.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Valvoline from $52.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Valvoline from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Valvoline from $46.00 to $42.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Stephens began coverage on Valvoline in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $49.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Valvoline from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $45.33.

Valvoline Company Profile

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.