Modera Wealth Management LLC Grows Stock Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Modera Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 36.6% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,371 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 635 shares during the period. Modera Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $291,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of VLO. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Tobam purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 196.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Trading Down 4.5 %

Shares of VLO opened at $121.81 on Thursday. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $116.84 and a one year high of $184.79. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $132.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $134.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. The company has a market capitalization of $38.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were given a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 53.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VLO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Mizuho reduced 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 report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

About Valero Energy

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.