Sharp Financial Services LLC Purchases 1,138 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Sharp Financial Services LLC raised its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 39.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,000 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 1,138 shares during the period. Sharp Financial Services LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $490,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,293,589 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $174,673,000 after buying an additional 22,571 shares during the period. Kieckhefer Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,226,000. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 89,762 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $12,121,000 after purchasing an additional 6,278 shares during the period. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $274,000. Finally, Occidental Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $319,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 3.2 %

NYSE:VLO opened at $135.00 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $116.84 and a one year high of $184.79. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $131.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $137.98. The company has a market cap of $42.74 billion, a PE ratio of 12.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.04 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 13.07%. Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $7.49 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.35%. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is currently 38.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VLO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays reduced their price target on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. TD Cowen cut 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. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 4th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.57.

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.