Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Stock Price Target Raised at Wells Fargo & Company

Key Points

• Wells Fargo raised Valero’s price target to $485 from $389 and maintained an “overweight” rating, implying 6.72% potential upside from the reported share price.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive but mixed: Valero has a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average target of $382.62, with recent targets ranging as high as $485.
• Valero reported quarterly EPS of $12.54, exceeding the $10.11 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 48.8% year over year to $44.48 billion. Institutional investors own approximately 78.69% of the company.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by stock analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $389.00 to $485.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an "overweight" rating on the oil and gas company's stock. Wells Fargo & Company's price objective would indicate a potential upside of 6.72% from the company's current price.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Raymond James Financial increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $350.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 14th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Valero Energy from $395.00 to $414.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $467.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Zacks Research upgraded Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $382.62.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Valero Energy stock traded down $1.99 on Wednesday, hitting $454.47. The stock had a trading volume of 436,122 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,317,468. Valero Energy has a 52-week low of $155.29 and a 52-week high of $461.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The stock has a market cap of $130.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.59. The company's 50 day moving average price is $374.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $299.88.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. The firm had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 48.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.28 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy will post 51.31 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VLO. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,195,943,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 2,635.7% during the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 950,527 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $154,736,000 after buying an additional 915,782 shares during the last quarter. Amundi grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 45.3% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 2,584,976 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $638,695,000 after buying an additional 806,018 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 33.9% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,058,341 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $536,074,000 after buying an additional 520,642 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LP purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $59,917,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Valero Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup sharply raises price target: Citigroup lifted its target for Valero from $302 to $485, implying additional upside from the recent trading level, although it retained a “Neutral” rating. The substantial target increase was the clearest immediate catalyst for investor interest. Citigroup raises Valero price target
• Positive Sentiment: Higher earnings expectations: Erste Group Bank raised its FY2026 EPS forecast for Valero to $51.71 from $48.02, above the consensus estimate of $51.31. It also increased its FY2027 forecast to $42.23 from $36.86, signaling improved expectations for the refining company’s profitability. Erste still rates the shares “Hold.”
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks adds VLO to its Strong Buy growth list: Valero was included among Zacks’ top growth stocks for October 14, potentially attracting additional momentum-oriented buying. Zacks Strong Buy growth stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst signals: Mizuho raised its Valero target to $434, while DBS maintained a “Hold” rating. These actions suggest analysts recognize improving fundamentals but remain cautious after the stock’s strong run.
• Negative Sentiment: Oil-market uncertainty remains: Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure could support crude prices, but OPEC’s softer demand outlook and a new U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve release could pressure prices. For Valero, shifting crude costs and refining margins create both upside potential and downside risk. Oil stocks and conflicting crude market signals

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is an international petroleum refining, renewable fuels and marketing company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1980, the company processes crude oil and other feedstocks into transportation fuels and other products used by commercial, industrial and consumer customers.

Valero's refined products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, lubricants and petrochemical feedstocks. The company also produces and markets ethanol and renewable diesel, including through its Diamond Green Diesel joint venture with Darling Ingredients.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.