Groupama Asset Managment Raises Stake in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Groupama Asset Managment grew its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 9.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 156,852 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 14,107 shares during the period. Groupama Asset Managment owned 0.05% of Valero Energy worth $21,126,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in VLO. Hancock Whitney Corp grew its position in Valero Energy by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 46,474 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $6,138,000 after buying an additional 3,790 shares during the last quarter. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth $766,000. FORA Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth $866,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 11.2% in the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 560,495 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $74,025,000 after acquiring an additional 56,274 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 8.5% during the second quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. now owns 30,152 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $4,053,000 after acquiring an additional 2,372 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO stock opened at $174.59 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $169.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $151.01. The stock has a market cap of $53.25 billion, a PE ratio of 36.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.01. Valero Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $99.00 and a 1 year high of $185.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.60.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $3.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.51. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 8.69% and a net margin of 1.21%.The company had revenue of $32.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.80 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.14 earnings per share. Valero Energy’s revenue was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 20th will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 20th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 94.36%.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of Valero Energy stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total transaction of $1,728,540.66. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 134,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,352,787.92. The trade was a 6.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on VLO shares. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $183.00 price objective on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Mizuho boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $166.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $195.00 price target (up from $181.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Valero Energy from $177.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $182.00.

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.