Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Shares Purchased by WASHINGTON TRUST Co

WASHINGTON TRUST Co raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 218.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 656 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 450 shares during the period. WASHINGTON TRUST Co’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $85,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Quarry LP grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1,676.9% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $170.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.90, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.53. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $145.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $135.75. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $104.18 and a 12 month high of $172.46.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.60. Valero Energy had a net margin of 6.10% and a return on equity of 31.62%. The business had revenue of $35.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.76 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $8.45 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 16.2 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 31st. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.51%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 17.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on VLO. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $130.00 to $171.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. Mizuho downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $150.00 to $173.00 in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $167.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a research report on Friday, March 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $165.69.

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.