Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC Has $1.13 Million Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC cut its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,192 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 109 shares during the quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,127,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Capital Advisors Inc. OK boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 8.0% in the fourth quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 10,432 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,279,000 after buying an additional 776 shares in the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management Co boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 96.0% in the fourth quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management Co now owns 392 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $91,000. Essex Financial Services Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 40.8% during the fourth quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 4,526 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $555,000 after purchasing an additional 1,312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Private Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 18.0% during the fourth quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,251 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $276,000 after purchasing an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on VLO. Bank of America began coverage on Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. Piper Sandler raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Tudor Pickering raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. TD Cowen cut their price target on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $130.95 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $41.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $130.58 and its 200 day moving average is $136.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $116.84 and a one year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. As a group, research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.45%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 53.30%.

Valero Energy 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.