Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Trading 3.6% Higher – Time to Buy?

Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) rose 3.6% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $136.25 and last traded at $136.73. Approximately 299,773 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 91% from the average daily volume of 3,329,294 shares. The stock had previously closed at $132.00.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Mizuho dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $152.67.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $41.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. The company’s 50 day moving average is $133.68 and its 200-day moving average is $133.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results 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 net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. Equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. 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. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.39%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 53.30%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 123,356 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $14,751,000 after purchasing an additional 455 shares in the last quarter. Kieckhefer Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,226,000. Hudson Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 6.5% during the fourth quarter. Hudson Capital Management LLC now owns 31,792 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $3,897,000 after buying an additional 1,937 shares during the last quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $274,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 89,762 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $12,121,000 after acquiring an additional 6,278 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Company Profile

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.