Brokerages Set Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Target Price at $154.46

Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $154.46.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on VLO shares. Bank of America started coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $130.95 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy has a 1-year low of $116.84 and a 1-year high of $184.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $130.58 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $136.75.

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, topping 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%. Equities analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 7.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.45%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 53.30%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brookstone Capital Management increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 16.7% in the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 7,383 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $997,000 after acquiring an additional 1,057 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd grew its stake in Valero Energy by 8.6% in the third quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 7,479 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,010,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. Hudson Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Hudson Capital Management LLC now owns 29,855 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $4,031,000 after purchasing an additional 981 shares in the last quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC now owns 10,298 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,391,000 after buying an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 24.0% in the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 2,104 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $284,000 after buying an additional 407 shares in the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is 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.