Financial Counselors Inc. Purchases 547 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Financial Counselors Inc. raised its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 21.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,054 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the period. Financial Counselors Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $397,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1,676.9% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO stock opened at $173.54 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $104.18 and a 12-month high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $155.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $138.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.02, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.54.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.60. Valero Energy had a net margin of 6.10% and a return on equity of 31.62%. The company had revenue of $35.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.76 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $8.45 earnings per share. Valero Energy’s quarterly revenue was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 17.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 1st were given a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.47%. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is currently 17.31%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $171.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 4th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $167.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $161.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 3rd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $172.40.

Valero Energy 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.