Morgan Stanley Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) Stock Price

Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) had its target price lowered by Morgan Stanley from $46.00 to $42.00 in a report released on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Valvoline from $50.00 to $46.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Stephens began coverage on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $49.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $48.00 price objective on the stock. Baird R W raised shares of Valvoline to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Valvoline from $54.00 to $48.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $46.25.

Valvoline Stock Up 0.0 %

Valvoline stock opened at $38.57 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.77. The firm has a market cap of $4.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.81 and a beta of 1.46. The business has a fifty day moving average of $41.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.91. Valvoline has a twelve month low of $33.86 and a twelve month high of $48.26.

Valvoline announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, July 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $400.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the basic materials company to buy up to 7.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in VVV. Tidal Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 97.6% during the first quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 29,843 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,330,000 after buying an additional 14,739 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Valvoline by 28.8% during the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 126,232 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $5,453,000 after acquiring an additional 28,254 shares during the period. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. grew its stake in Valvoline by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 1,130,920 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $48,857,000 after purchasing an additional 68,340 shares during the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp increased its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 22.8% in the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 139,352 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $6,020,000 after purchasing an additional 25,885 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 8.1% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 422,989 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $17,702,000 after purchasing an additional 31,661 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.13% of the company’s stock.

Valvoline Company Profile

Valvoline Inc engages in the operation and franchising of vehicle service centers and retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company, through its service centers, provides fluid exchange for motor oil, transmission and differential fluid, and coolant; parts replacement for batteries, filters, wiper blades, and belts; and safety services, such as tire inflation and rotation, bulbs, and safety checks.