Sovereign Financial Group Inc. Has $538,000 Stock Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Sovereign Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 80.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,153 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,401 shares during the period. Sovereign Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $538,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Collective Family Office LLC raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1.5% in the first quarter. Collective Family Office LLC now owns 4,040 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $690,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in Valero Energy by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,327 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $227,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Aua Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Aua Capital Management LLC now owns 2,261 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $386,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. United Community Bank boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. United Community Bank now owns 3,416 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $444,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marino Stram & Associates LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Marino Stram & Associates LLC now owns 8,384 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,090,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.12, for a total value of $113,846.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 13,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,105,209.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $184.00 to $179.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 6th. StockNews.com downgraded Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, June 23rd. Bank of America raised Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $156.00 to $210.00 in a report on Friday, March 15th. Mizuho dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $176.00 to $171.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 20th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $172.00.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $154.04 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.37 billion, a PE ratio of 7.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $157.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $149.83. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $112.16 and a twelve month high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.64. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.01% and a return on equity of 24.82%. The company had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.02 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $8.27 EPS. Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 16.75 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 30th will be given a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.78%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.20%.

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.