Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Trims Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 25,255 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 242 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,096,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Tobam acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 196.8% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO stock opened at $130.59 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $41.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.40, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $132.06 and a 200-day moving average of $135.14. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $116.84 and a 12-month high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS 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, equities analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.46%. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 53.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on VLO. Piper Sandler raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

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.