Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Given New $323.00 Price Target at Barclays

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price objective hoisted by Barclays from $279.00 to $323.00 in a report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Wolfe Research reaffirmed an “underperform” rating and set a $203.00 price objective on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $286.00 to $357.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $259.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $277.47.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of VLO stock opened at $312.89 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $92.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 0.55. Valero Energy has a 12-month low of $130.78 and a 12-month high of $320.24. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $270.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $238.69.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. The company had revenue of $44.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 27.11% and a net margin of 5.17%.The firm’s revenue was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.28 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 36.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be paid a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.92%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of Valero Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 19,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,294,212.14. The trade was a 27.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.36% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Ballast Inc. lifted its position in Valero Energy by 7.4% in the second quarter. Ballast Inc. now owns 6,217 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,619,000 after buying an additional 430 shares during the last quarter. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $205,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at $286,000. Tema ETFs LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 10.2% during the second quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 6,270 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,633,000 after acquiring an additional 580 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HRC Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter valued at $208,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

More Valero Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Record earnings significantly exceeded expectations. Valero reported second-quarter net income of $3.7 billion, or $12.62 per share, versus $714 million, or $2.28 per share, a year earlier. Adjusted EPS of $12.54 surpassed consensus estimates near $9.87-$10.13, while revenue rose 48.8% to $44.48 billion. Valero Energy beats quarterly profit estimates on higher refining margins
• Positive Sentiment: Refining conditions were particularly favorable. Higher refining margins, sturdy fuel demand and increased U.S. fuel exports—partly supported by heightened Middle East tensions—boosted profitability. Lower-cost Venezuelan feedstocks also aided results. Valero posts highest-ever Q2 profit
• Positive Sentiment: Renewables and capital discipline added support. Gains in renewable diesel and ethanol contributed to stronger profits and cash flow, while management emphasized disciplined capital allocation and ongoing shareholder returns. VLO Q2 Earnings Call Highlights Refining Strength
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised their outlooks. Wells Fargo increased its price target from $292 to $356 and retained an “overweight” rating. Barclays lifted its target from $279 to $323 and also rated the stock “overweight,” reinforcing the positive reaction to the earnings report.
• Positive Sentiment: The dividend remains a key attraction. Valero reaffirmed its $1.20-per-share quarterly dividend, payable August 31 to shareholders of record July 31, supporting the investment case based on cash returns. Valero Energy Corp’s Dividend Analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Valero’s strong quarter improves its value profile, but the stock’s rally leaves less upside to some analyst targets and increases sensitivity to future refining-margin normalization.
• Negative Sentiment: Management said tax-credit changes and registration hurdles have slowed biofuel imports, creating challenges for renewable-fuel compliance and potentially limiting near-term benefits in the company’s renewables business. Tax-credit overhaul slows biofuel imports

About Valero Energy

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.