Caption Management LLC Decreases Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Caption Management LLC lowered its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 91.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,800 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 88,500 shares during the period. Caption Management LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $956,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Tobam purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 122.0% in the 4th quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on VLO shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $115.00 to $127.00 in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $144.00 to $140.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $121.00 to $118.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $149.53.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of VLO traded up $6.67 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $129.60. The stock had a trading volume of 1,765,497 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,486,387. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $99.00 and a 52 week high of $167.78. The company's fifty day moving average is $120.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $128.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.98.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.27). The firm had revenue of $28.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. Valero Energy's quarterly revenue was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.82 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 20th. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 159.72%.

Valero Energy Profile

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.