Symmetry Partners LLC Has $1.61 Million Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Symmetry Partners LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 18.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 13,733 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 3,014 shares during the quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,611,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VLO. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $216,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in Valero Energy by 64.7% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,785 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $389,000 after acquiring an additional 1,094 shares in the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth $318,000. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 469,536 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $64,186,000 after purchasing an additional 23,915 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 126.4% in the 4th quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 11,756 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,491,000 after purchasing an additional 6,564 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.07% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

In related news, Director Joseph W. Gorder sold 75,580 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.99, for a total value of $10,278,124.20. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 621,872 shares in the company, valued at $84,568,373.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on VLO shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, August 17th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $150.00 to $159.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating and set a $160.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $139.00 to $142.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $135.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $152.69.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO traded up $1.32 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $146.80. The company had a trading volume of 593,411 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,086,830. The business has a fifty day moving average of $128.37 and a 200-day moving average of $123.56. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The firm has a market cap of $51.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.04, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.66. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $97.73 and a 12 month high of $150.39.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The oil and gas company reported $5.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.08 by $0.32. Valero Energy had a net margin of 6.96% and a return on equity of 42.31%. The firm had revenue of $34.51 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.37 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $11.36 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 33.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 24.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 3rd were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.78%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 2nd. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 14.05%.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. The company produces California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending and Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending gasolines, CARB diesel, diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt; aromatics; and sulfur crude oils.