Founders Capital Management Has $308,000 Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Founders Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 52.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,630 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 910 shares during the period. Founders Capital Management’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $308,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 1.9% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 33,427 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $3,394,000 after acquiring an additional 632 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 21.7% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 100,006 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $10,163,000 after acquiring an additional 17,844 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 12.5% in the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 60,730 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $6,167,000 after acquiring an additional 6,735 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the first quarter valued at about $1,253,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 21.0% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,780 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $688,000 after acquiring an additional 1,179 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.07% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 1.2 %

Valero Energy stock traded down $1.76 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $144.19. The stock had a trading volume of 1,445,465 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,088,243. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $129.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $123.71. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $97.73 and a 1-year high of $150.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.59.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The oil and gas company reported $5.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.08 by $0.32. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 42.31% and a net margin of 6.96%. The business had revenue of $34.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $11.36 EPS. Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down 33.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 24.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 3rd were given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 2nd. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 14.05%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on VLO. Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $145.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $160.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Valero Energy from $135.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $145.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their target price on Valero Energy from $150.00 to $159.00 in a research note on Friday, August 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $152.69.

Insider Buying and Selling at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, Director Joseph W. Gorder sold 75,580 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.99, for a total value of $10,278,124.20. Following the completion of 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 SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

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.