Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Shares Sold by Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH decreased its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 18.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 384,986 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 86,483 shares during the quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $65,548,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $827,390,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 16.7% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,141,511 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,089,897,000 after buying an additional 1,164,217 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 162.5% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 523,692 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $70,395,000 after buying an additional 324,174 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 2.5% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,724,707 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,576,035,000 after buying an additional 286,942 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 17.7% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,706,187 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $286,076,000 after acquiring an additional 256,373 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the company’s 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. This represents a 6.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO stock opened at $188.21 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $57.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.29, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.77. The business has a 50 day moving average of $174.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $162.03. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $99.00 and a 52 week high of $193.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

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

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 20th were paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 20th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 94.36%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $195.00 price objective (down from $198.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $197.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Valero Energy from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Valero Energy from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Erste Group Bank started coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Monday, November 10th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $183.00.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.