Paragon Capital Management Inc. Makes New $1.75 Million Investment in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Paragon Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 14,265 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,749,000. Valero Energy makes up about 1.4% of Paragon Capital Management Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 21st biggest position.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Guidance Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $803,000. Avitas Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Avitas Wealth Management LLC now owns 40,049 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $4,910,000 after acquiring an additional 309 shares in the last quarter. One Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 24.8% during the fourth quarter. One Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,394 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $539,000 after acquiring an additional 872 shares in the last quarter. River Street Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. River Street Advisors LLC now owns 11,426 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,401,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 17,525 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,148,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on VLO shares. Barclays decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $154.46.

Valero Energy Trading Up 5.0 %

Valero Energy stock opened at $142.95 on Wednesday. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $45.26 billion, a PE ratio of 16.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.42. The business’s fifty day moving average is $130.76 and its 200 day moving average is $137.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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, sell-side analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.29 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.16%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.