GAMMA Investing LLC Lowers Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

GAMMA Investing LLC lessened its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 6.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 8,749 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 599 shares during the quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,073,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. TIAA Trust National Association raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. TIAA Trust National Association now owns 6,603 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,035,000 after buying an additional 287 shares during the period. Cozad Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at $218,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 2,681.3% in the second quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 2,976 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $467,000 after purchasing an additional 2,869 shares during the period. FineMark National Bank & Trust increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 2.6% during the second quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 19,348 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $3,033,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Foster & Motley Inc. raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 13.0% during the 2nd quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 16,868 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,644,000 after purchasing an additional 1,947 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $124.26 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $39.34 billion, a PE ratio of 11.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $131.62 and a 200-day simple moving average of $140.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. The business had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.04 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $7.49 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th were issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.44%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays cut their price objective on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Piper Sandler downgraded shares of Valero Energy from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $169.00 to $123.00 in a report on Friday, September 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $155.07.

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.