Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Shares Down 4.4% – What’s Next?

Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) was down 4.4% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $122.01 and last traded at $121.96. Approximately 1,136,370 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 59% from the average daily volume of 2,770,970 shares. The stock had previously closed at $127.61.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Valero Energy Stock Up 2.1 %

The stock’s fifty day moving average is $132.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $134.60. 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 company has a market capitalization of $40.71 billion, a PE ratio of 15.14, 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 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. As a group, analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.52%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 53.30%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $28,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Tobam bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 196.8% during 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. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.