Citigroup Cuts Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) Price Target to $38.00

Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) had its target price lowered by investment analysts at Citigroup from $41.00 to $38.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "neutral" rating on the basic materials company's stock. Citigroup's target price points to a potential upside of 12.14% from the company's current price.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Valvoline from $44.00 to $42.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $38.00 target price (down previously from $42.00) on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Valvoline from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. TD Cowen started coverage on Valvoline in a research note on Friday, April 4th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $40.00 target price for the company. Finally, TD Securities began coverage on Valvoline in a research report on Friday, April 4th. They set a "buy" rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $42.67.

Valvoline Price Performance

VVV traded up $0.13 on Tuesday, reaching $33.89. The company had a trading volume of 130,156 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,376,649. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $34.70 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.39, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.70. The company has a market cap of $4.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.24 and a beta of 1.32. Valvoline has a 52-week low of $31.02 and a 52-week high of $48.27.

Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.01. Valvoline had a return on equity of 143.64% and a net margin of 16.34%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valvoline will post 1.63 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Valvoline

In related news, insider Julie Marie O'daniel sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.41, for a total value of $224,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 15,305 shares in the company, valued at $572,560.05. This trade represents a 28.16 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.66% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valvoline

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Valvoline in the 4th quarter worth approximately $54,114,000. Fiduciary Management Inc. WI boosted its holdings in Valvoline by 35.1% in the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Management Inc. WI now owns 4,221,275 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $152,726,000 after acquiring an additional 1,096,486 shares in the last quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Valvoline by 11.1% in the fourth quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 10,818,256 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $391,405,000 after acquiring an additional 1,080,114 shares during the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 653.5% during the fourth quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 1,147,254 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $41,508,000 after acquiring an additional 994,988 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Champlain Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valvoline in the 4th quarter worth about $35,051,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.13% of the company's stock.

About Valvoline

Valvoline Inc engages in the operation and franchising of vehicle service centers and retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company, through its service centers, provides fluid exchange for motor oil, transmission and differential fluid, and coolant; parts replacement for batteries, filters, wiper blades, and belts; and safety services, such as tire inflation and rotation, bulbs, and safety checks.