UniSuper Management Pty Ltd Increases Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

UniSuper Management Pty Ltd increased its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 26.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 26,987 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 5,637 shares during the period. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,308,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. Sava Infond d.o.o. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $184,000. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 19.3% in the fourth quarter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 34,430 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $4,221,000 after buying an additional 5,568 shares during the last quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 1,816.6% during the 4th quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 54,432 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $6,673,000 after buying an additional 51,592 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 6.4% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 504,221 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $62,655,000 after acquiring an additional 30,131 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Korea Investment CORP increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 23.2% in the 4th quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 251,769 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $30,864,000 after acquiring an additional 47,416 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 1.4 %

Valero Energy stock opened at $131.43 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $133.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of $133.31. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.50, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. 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 (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. As a group, research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.44%. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 53.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on VLO shares. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. One equities 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 company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $152.67.

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.