Candriam S.C.A. Decreases Position in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Candriam S.C.A. cut its stake in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 63.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 39,363 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 69,559 shares during the period. Candriam S.C.A.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $5,291,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 27.9% during the first quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 110,102 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $14,541,000 after acquiring an additional 24,046 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in Valero Energy by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 45,918 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $6,064,000 after purchasing an additional 1,202 shares in the last quarter. Denali Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 9.8% during the 1st quarter. Denali Advisors LLC now owns 4,500 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $594,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,253,000. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 18.5% during the first quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 22,402 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,959,000 after buying an additional 3,503 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $151.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $177.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Valero Energy from $181.00 to $194.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $135.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $181.00.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of VLO opened at $181.63 on Friday. Valero Energy Corporation has a one year low of $99.00 and a one year high of $183.93. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $166.75 and its 200-day moving average is $147.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.01.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $3.66 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.15 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $32.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.80 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 1.21% and a return on equity of 8.69%. Valero Energy’s revenue was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 20th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 20th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 94.36%.

Valero Energy Company Profile

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.