Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) Receives $222.00 Average PT from Analysts

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) has been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-one research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $230.00.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on VLO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $197.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, April 6th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $212.00 to $246.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $184.00 to $261.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $215.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 2nd.

Key Stories Impacting Valero Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts lifted price targets and maintained bullish ratings, providing upside narrative and institutional validation — Citigroup raised its target to $246 (neutral) and Piper Sandler lifted its target to $263 and kept an Overweight rating. Read More. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Refiners are benefiting from high oil and record crack spreads (product margins), a structural tailwind that helps Valero’s profitability even if crude rises. This sector-level thesis supports upside for VLO if product prices stay strong. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Value/income investor interest: Zacks highlights VLO as a top-ranked value stock, which can attract longer-term buyers focused on yield and valuation metrics. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader market strength (risk-on moves) can lift cyclical energy names including refiners, but VLO’s reaction will depend on crude-product spreads rather than equity momentum alone. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term margin pressure after crude rallied: rapid crude price moves can compress crack spreads if product prices lag, and that dynamic was cited as a driver of recent weakness. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Operational/firm-specific risks: Valero confirmed an explosion/fire at its Port Arthur refinery and is winding down Benicia operations — both increase short-term throughput uncertainty and sensitivity to operational headlines. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Recent selling signals: the stock showed a dip while the market gained (reported coverage of the decline) and Quiver flags recent insider and large institutional reductions, which can add near-term selling pressure. Read More. Read More.

Insider Activity at Valero Energy

In related news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 8,311 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $227.69, for a total value of $1,892,331.59. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 42,242 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,618,080.98. This trade represents a 16.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 70.2% in the third quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Torren Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. AXS Investments LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 157.0% in the 4th quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. now owns 203 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO stock opened at $234.99 on Thursday. Valero Energy has a fifty-two week low of $106.25 and a fifty-two week high of $258.43. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $223.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $190.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm has a market cap of $70.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.76, a PEG ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 0.62.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.55. The business had revenue of $30.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.20 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 12.35% and a net margin of 1.91%.The firm’s revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.64 EPS. Analysts predict that Valero Energy 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 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 5th were paid a dividend of $1.20 per share. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 5th. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.83%.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.