Gabelli Funds LLC Has $19.97 Million Stake in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Gabelli Funds LLC cut its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 2.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 76,683 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 1,850 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $19,971,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 3,400.0% during the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 105 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 134.0% in the 1st quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Torren Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Trading Up 2.3%

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $349.27 on Friday. Valero Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $140.13 and a twelve month high of $352.70. The stock has a market cap of $100.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The company’s fifty day moving average is $292.93 and its 200-day moving average is $253.69.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $10.11 by $2.43. The business had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%.Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.28 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy Corporation will post 40.62 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 19.92%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on VLO shares. Citigroup increased their price objective on Valero Energy from $259.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $292.00 to $356.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Valero Energy from $286.00 to $357.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. TD Cowen raised their price target on Valero Energy from $338.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Valero Energy from $279.00 to $323.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $288.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 19,742 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,294,212.14. This represents a 27.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.36% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.