Community Trust & Investment Co. lessened its position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO – Free Report) by 20.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 15,328 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 4,038 shares during the quarter. Community Trust & Investment Co.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,992,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,111,542,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $275,239,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Valero Energy by 2,635.7% during the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 950,527 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $154,736,000 after purchasing an additional 915,782 shares in the last quarter. Amundi boosted its position in Valero Energy by 45.3% during the first quarter. Amundi now owns 2,584,976 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $638,695,000 after purchasing an additional 806,018 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 49.3% in the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,696,811 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $276,224,000 after purchasing an additional 560,116 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several brokerages have recently weighed in on VLO. Mizuho upped their target price on Valero Energy from $289.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $292.00 to $356.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $280.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $279.00 to $323.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $338.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $288.00.
Key Headlines Impacting Valero Energy
Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Valero’s completed share-repurchase program provides shareholder support, while its second-quarter and first-half 2026 results establish a strong recent operating backdrop. However, the market is weighing those benefits against the stock’s valuation. Valero Energy Buyback And Results Leave Valuation Looking Finely Balanced
- Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research upgraded VLO from “hold” to “strong-buy,” adding a favorable near-term analyst signal. Zacks.com
- Positive Sentiment: Additional research highlights Valero’s growth, flexible crude sourcing, potentially favorable crude costs and strong balance sheet. Wall Street’s average brokerage recommendation is also bullish, although investors should treat sell-side ratings cautiously. Why Valero Energy Is a Strong Growth Stock Is It Worth Investing in Valero Energy Based on Wall Street’s Bullish Views?
- Neutral Sentiment: Valero shares had a positive 90-day performance and exceptionally strong five-year total return, but their recent seven-day return declined, suggesting some profit-taking following the prior rally. Valero Energy Buyback And Results Leave Valuation Looking Finely Balanced
- Negative Sentiment: Valero underperformed other energy companies in the latest session, indicating weaker near-term investor demand relative to peers. Valero Energy Stock Underperforms Friday
- Negative Sentiment: Valero trades at about 6.44 times trailing EBITDA, above the industry average of 5.77 times. The premium valuation may limit further upside or prompt investors to wait for a better entry point. Valero Energy Stock Buy at a Premium or Wait for a Better Entry Point?
Insider Buying and Selling at Valero Energy
In related news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total transaction of $2,011,275.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 19,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,294,212.14. The trade was a 27.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.
Valero Energy Stock Down 1.7%
Shares of VLO opened at $297.94 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $276.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $242.90. Valero Energy Corporation has a one year low of $130.78 and a one year high of $320.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $88.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.36, a PEG ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 0.55.
Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%.The company had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.28 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 39.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Valero Energy Announces Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be paid a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.92%.
Valero Energy Company Profile
Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.
In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.
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