Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Given New $200.00 Price Target at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price objective hoisted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $197.00 to $200.00 in a research note released on Thursday,Benzinga reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently weighed in on VLO. Erste Group Bank initiated coverage on Valero Energy in a research note on Monday, November 10th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Tuesday. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, January 3rd. Finally, Mizuho reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $192.00 target price (up previously from $190.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Friday, December 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $183.00.

Valero Energy Trading Up 4.1%

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $191.46 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $58.40 billion, a PE ratio of 39.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.77. Valero Energy has a 1 year low of $99.00 and a 1 year high of $192.00. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $172.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $159.00.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $3.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $32.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.80 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 8.69% and a net margin of 1.21%.The business’s revenue was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.14 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Valero Energy will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 20th were issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 20th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 94.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Valero Energy

In related news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total value of $1,728,540.66. Following the completion of the sale, 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hoey Investments Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. GFG Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 70.2% in the third quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 1,277.8% in the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 248 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 230 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Key Valero Energy News

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target to $200 and kept an overweight rating, signaling incremental analyst confidence and adding upside narrative for investors. JPMorgan Raises PT on VLO (Benzinga)
• Positive Sentiment: Reports that Venezuelan oil shipments to the U.S. may resume indefinitely and that sanctions could be eased have driven bullish flows into refiners that can process heavy crude — a direct tailwind for Valero’s complex refinery footprint. Valero Stock Climbs On Reports Of Indefinite Venezuelan Oil Flows (Benzinga)
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and research pieces highlight Valero’s operational flexibility — its ability to shift product yields and process varied crude grades — which positions it to capture wider refining margins if Venezuelan heavy crude becomes available. How Valero’s Operational Flexibility Drives Profitability (Zacks)
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays and other brokers maintain buy/positive views (and BMO kept a buy in recent coverage), reinforcing analyst support for shares amid the Venezuela narrative. Barclays Remains a Buy on Valero Energy
• Neutral Sentiment: White‑house outreach: Top oil firms are meeting with President Trump to discuss rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry — a process that could create eventual opportunities but carries geopolitical and timing uncertainty. Trump to Meet With Chevron and Other Oil Companies on Venezuela (Barron’s)
• Neutral Sentiment: Operational update: Valero will boost fuel imports to Northern California after the Benicia refinery closure, indicating management is maintaining market supply while reshaping asset footprint — important for regional volumes but not an earnings shock. Valero to keep importing gasoline after Benicia refinery closure (Reuters)
• Negative Sentiment: Major-company caution: U.S. oil firms say they need “serious guarantees” from Washington before making large Venezuela investments — this raises execution risk and suggests a gradual, uncertain path to any material benefit for refiners. US oil companies say they need guarantees to invest in Venezuela (Reuters)
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst adjustments and skepticism: Piper Sandler trimmed its price target (though it kept an overweight rating), and some commentary (e.g., Seeking Alpha) warns the Venezuela story may be overhyped — both factors add downside risk if the situation stalls. Valero Energy: Sell The Venezuela Hype (Seeking Alpha)
• Negative Sentiment: Elevated hedging / bearish bets: Unusual put option volume was reported recently, indicating some investors are hedging or speculating on near‑term downside, which can increase volatility. (Options flow reported 1/7/2026.)

About Valero Energy

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.