Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI Buys 1,999 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 30.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 8,598 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,999 shares during the period. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,029,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of VLO. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 27.0% during the 3rd quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 1,859 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $251,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 239,632 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $32,358,000 after purchasing an additional 14,143 shares during the period. National Pension Service lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 929,214 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $125,472,000 after purchasing an additional 37,160 shares during the period. Finally, Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,118,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Barclays lowered their price objective 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. Finally, Mizuho lowered 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO stock opened at $127.69 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. The company has a market capitalization of $40.42 billion, a PE ratio of 15.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $132.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $134.75. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $116.84 and a one year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.54%. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 53.30%.

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.