Xponance Inc. Cuts Stock Position in Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV)

Xponance Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) by 8.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 20,260 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 1,791 shares during the quarter. Xponance Inc.’s holdings in Valvoline were worth $761,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System purchased a new stake in shares of Valvoline during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,462,000. Cerity Partners LLC purchased a new position in Valvoline in the fourth quarter worth $1,049,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Valvoline in the fourth quarter worth $229,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Valvoline in the fourth quarter worth $57,000. Finally, Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. purchased a new position in Valvoline in the fourth quarter worth $31,165,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.13% of the company’s stock.

Valvoline Stock Down 0.2 %

Valvoline stock opened at $42.52 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.02, a quick ratio of 2.14 and a current ratio of 2.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.28 and a beta of 1.44. Valvoline Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $29.15 and a fifty-two week high of $45.37. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $42.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.65.

Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.29. The company had revenue of $373.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $380.10 million. Valvoline had a return on equity of 41.83% and a net margin of 92.04%. Valvoline’s revenue was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.16 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Valvoline Inc. will post 1.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on VVV. Citigroup increased their price objective on Valvoline from $36.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Valvoline from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Valvoline from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $37.00 to $44.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Mizuho began coverage on Valvoline in a research report on Tuesday, March 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $42.75.

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.