Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) Director Charles M. Sonsteby Purchases 10,000 Shares

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) Director Charles M. Sonsteby bought 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $39.50 per share, for a total transaction of $395,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 26,437 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,044,261.50. This represents a 60.84 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Valvoline Stock Performance

Shares of VVV opened at $38.79 on Wednesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $41.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $41.85. Valvoline Inc. has a 12-month low of $33.86 and a 12-month 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 firm has a market cap of $4.98 billion, a PE ratio of 23.94 and a beta of 1.46.

Valvoline announced that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, July 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $400.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the basic materials company to purchase up to 7.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Valvoline

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VVV. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co boosted its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 5.2% in the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 101,282 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,515,000 after acquiring an additional 5,002 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in Valvoline by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 554,316 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $24,707,000 after purchasing an additional 34,467 shares in the last quarter. Caxton Associates LP acquired a new position in Valvoline during the first quarter worth $309,000. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its position in Valvoline by 97.6% during the first quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 29,843 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,330,000 after purchasing an additional 14,739 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vista Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Valvoline in the first quarter valued at $203,000. 96.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Valvoline from $50.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Valvoline from $52.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Baird R W upgraded shares of Valvoline to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Valvoline from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, Stephens began coverage on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $49.00 price objective on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $46.25.

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.