Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) PT Lowered to $131.00 at The Goldman Sachs Group

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price objective cut by The Goldman Sachs Group from $149.00 to $131.00 in a report released on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a sell rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on VLO. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. They issued an outperform rating and a $177.00 target price for the company. Barclays reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $171.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Valero Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $171.36.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO opened at $136.76 on Monday. Valero Energy has a 12-month low of $119.88 and a 12-month high of $184.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.40. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $145.85 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $155.24. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.60 by $0.11. Valero Energy had a net margin of 4.25% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The business had revenue of $34.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $5.40 earnings per share. Valero Energy’s revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 12.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 1st were given a $1.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 1st. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.13%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.20%.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter valued at $31,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the first quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Company 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.