Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Stock: Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. Grows Holdings

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 114.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,614 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,397 shares during the period. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,013,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Balance Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Latitude Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 57.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1,980.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the period. Finally, Signature Equity Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 126.8% in the 3rd quarter. Signature Equity Partners LLC now owns 127 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy Trading Up 3.1%

NYSE:VLO opened at $374.96 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.33. Valero Energy Corporation has a one year low of $159.90 and a one year high of $461.52. The company has a market cap of $104.57 billion, a PE ratio of 8.43, a PEG ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 0.58. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $399.72 and a 200-day moving average of $293.11.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The oil and gas company reported $23.90 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $21.17 by $2.73. The business had revenue of $46.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $42.71 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 8.44% and a return on equity of 45.90%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 43.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.66 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 58.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 24th will be paid a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 24th. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 10.80%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Erste Group Bank lowered Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Valero Energy from $455.00 to $505.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $339.00 to $439.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Valero Energy from $441.00 to $443.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Valero Energy from $411.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $406.32.

Valero Energy Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is an international refiner and producer of transportation fuels and other petroleum products, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Its refining business processes crude oil and other feedstocks into products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt and petrochemical feedstocks. The company markets and distributes fuels to wholesale customers and through branded distribution networks. Its refining operations span the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with products serving customers in North America and other markets.