Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Barclays Analyst Says

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price objective upped by analysts at Barclays from $323.00 to $441.00 in a report released on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “overweight” rating on the oil and gas company’s stock. Barclays‘s target price would suggest a potential upside of 4.13% from the company’s current price.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $338.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $401.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Zacks Research raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $259.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Valero Energy from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $357.25.

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.0%

Valero Energy stock opened at $423.50 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm has a market cap of $121.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.59. The business has a fifty day moving average of $363.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of $294.13. Valero Energy has a twelve month low of $155.29 and a twelve month high of $428.99.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. The business had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%.The business’s revenue was up 48.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.28 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 49.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 5,033,310 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,243,630,000 after purchasing an additional 516,975 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Valero Energy by 9.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,969,320 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $733,660,000 after purchasing an additional 254,604 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 18.4% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,842,339 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $702,285,000 after buying an additional 442,177 shares during the last quarter. Amundi raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 45.3% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 2,584,976 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $638,695,000 after buying an additional 806,018 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 33.9% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,058,341 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $536,074,000 after buying an additional 520,642 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Valero Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Positive analyst actions: BMO Capital maintained a Buy rating and set a $455 price target, citing robust refining margins, a strong third-quarter earnings outlook and Valero’s cash-generative capital allocation. Barclays also raised its target to $441 and retained an Overweight rating. Valero Secures Buy Rating on Robust Refining Margins, Strong Q3 Earnings Outlook, and Cash-Generative Capital Allocation
• Positive Sentiment: Earnings optimism: Zacks lists VLO among stocks expected to beat bottom-line estimates in upcoming reports. That outlook is supported by expectations for healthy refining profitability and continued strength in energy markets. Looking for Earnings Beat? Buy These 5 Top-Ranked Stocks
• Positive Sentiment: Policy support for fuel markets: A temporary allowance for highway use of dyed diesel and a deferral of the federal fuel tax helped lift refiner stocks, including VLO, by potentially supporting fuel demand and easing near-term market pressures. VLO, MPC, SUN, PSX Stocks Climb Overnight After Trump Allows Temporary Highway Use of Dyed Diesel
• Neutral Sentiment: Momentum is attracting attention: VLO has reached a fresh 52-week high, prompting investors to assess whether fundamentals can support additional gains. Its strong earnings history and improving profitability are constructive, but the elevated share price raises the bar for future results. Valero Energy Corporation Hits Fresh High: Is There Still Room to Run?
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and cycle risks: A Seeking Alpha analysis argues that strong earnings and the benefits of a powerful refining cycle may already be reflected in VLO’s valuation, limiting upside if margins normalize. Valero Energy: Strong Earnings, But the Stock Already Prices In a Strong Refining Cycle
• Negative Sentiment: Potential margin pressure: The G7’s planned release of up to 100 million barrels of emergency oil and diesel inventories is intended to reduce fuel prices. Lower diesel and refined-product prices could weigh on Valero’s refining margins, although cheaper crude feedstock may partly offset the impact. G7 Releases 100 Million Barrels as Diesel Tops $6 a Gallon

About Valero Energy

Valero Energy Corporation is an international petroleum refining, renewable fuels and marketing company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1980, the company processes crude oil and other feedstocks into transportation fuels and other products used by commercial, industrial and consumer customers.

Valero’s refined products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, lubricants and petrochemical feedstocks. The company also produces and markets ethanol and renewable diesel, including through its Diamond Green Diesel joint venture with Darling Ingredients.