Morgan Stanley Issues Positive Forecast for Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Stock Price

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its target price boosted by Morgan Stanley from $175.00 to $180.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Valero Energy from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $223.00 to $217.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $195.00 target price (down from $198.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $183.33.

Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE:VLO opened at $182.95 on Tuesday. Valero Energy has a 1-year low of $99.00 and a 1-year high of $194.35. 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 firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $174.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $163.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.80 billion, a PE ratio of 38.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.77.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 5th will be paid a $1.20 dividend. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 5th. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 94.36%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 transaction of $1,728,540.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 134,196 shares of the company’s stock, 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 can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.37% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. GFG Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 70.2% during the 3rd quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 1,277.8% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 248 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the period. Finally, Global Wealth Strategies & Associates acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

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.