Mediolanum International Funds Ltd Buys 13,815 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Mediolanum International Funds Ltd raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 14.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 109,941 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 13,815 shares during the quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $13,116,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in VLO. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 196.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $132.85 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $130.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $137.71. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $116.84 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm has a market cap of $42.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. Sell-side analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.40%. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 38.39%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VLO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price 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 decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

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.