Vontobel Holding Ltd. Has $2.54 Million Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 2.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,564 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 487 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,543,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth about $28,000. Quarry LP increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 1,676.9% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the period. Finally, FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 2.9 %

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $162.49 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $104.18 and a 1 year high of $184.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm has a market cap of $54.02 billion, a PE ratio of 6.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $158.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $139.11.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released 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 firm had revenue of $35.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.76 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $8.45 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 17.31 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $130.00 to $171.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. Mizuho downgraded Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $150.00 to $173.00 in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Citigroup raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Bank of America raised Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday, March 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $173.63.

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.