Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Stock Position Trimmed by Fourpath Capital Management LLC

Fourpath Capital Management LLC decreased its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 7.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 22,723 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 1,825 shares during the period. Fourpath Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,786,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at about $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 196.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Trading Up 2.4 %

NYSE VLO opened at $136.22 on Tuesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $130.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $137.43. The stock has a market cap of $43.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.06, a PEG ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. Equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.29 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.32%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 53.30%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on VLO. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Scotiabank decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $154.46.

About Valero Energy

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.