Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 6,476 Shares of Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lessened its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 5.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 113,138 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 6,476 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $19,263,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Broadway Wealth Solutions Inc. increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 3.8% in the second quarter. Broadway Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 1,864 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $251,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Financial Advisors Network Inc. grew its stake in Valero Energy by 1.6% in the second quarter. Financial Advisors Network Inc. now owns 4,774 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $642,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp grew its stake in Valero Energy by 21.8% in the second quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 419 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC now owns 2,137 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $287,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 5,541 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $732,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $162.80 on Friday. Valero Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $99.00 and a 12-month high of $185.62. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $171.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $155.52. The firm has a market cap of $49.66 billion, a PE ratio of 33.99, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $3.66 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.15 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $32.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $28.80 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 8.69% and a net margin of 1.21%.Valero Energy’s revenue was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.14 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 20th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 20th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 94.36%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho restated a “neutral” rating and set a $192.00 target price (up from $190.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Friday, December 12th. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (down previously from $198.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $177.00 to $197.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 6th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $169.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $183.20.

Insider Buying and Selling at Valero Energy

In other news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of Valero Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total value of $1,728,540.66. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 134,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,352,787.92. This trade represents a 6.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.