3,985 Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Shares Sold by Avantax Planning Partners Inc.

Key Points

• Avantax Planning Partners reduced its Valero stake by 9.8%, selling 3,985 shares in the third quarter and retaining 36,482 shares worth about $14.1 million.
• Analysts’ consensus rating is Moderate Buy, with an average price target of $406.32; ratings range from Strong Buy to Sell.
• Valero reported quarterly EPS of $23.90, above the $21.17 consensus, and revenue of $46.10 billion. It also declared a $1.20 quarterly dividend.

Avantax Planning Partners Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 9.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,482 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 3,985 shares during the period. Avantax Planning Partners Inc.'s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $14,141,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Balance Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Latitude Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 57.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Valero Energy by 1,980.0% in the third quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC increased its stake in Valero Energy by 3,400.0% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 105 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Valero Energy from $455.00 to $505.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Dbs Bank downgraded Valero Energy to a "hold" rating and set a $436.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, October 19th. Freedom Broker lowered Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and set a $276.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, October 23rd. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $467.00 price target (up from $355.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Valero Energy from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $406.32.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $346.29 on Friday. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $399.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $289.61. The stock has a market cap of $99.71 billion, a PE ratio of 7.79, a PEG ratio of 0.18 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 1.72. Valero Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $159.90 and a fifty-two week high of $461.52.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The oil and gas company reported $23.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $21.17 by $2.73. The company had revenue of $46.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $42.71 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 45.90% and a net margin of 8.44%. Valero Energy's revenue was up 43.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.66 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 57.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 21st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 24th will be given a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 24th. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.80%.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is an international refiner and producer of transportation fuels and other petroleum products, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Its refining business processes crude oil and other feedstocks into products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt and petrochemical feedstocks.

The company markets and distributes fuels to wholesale customers and through branded distribution networks. Its refining operations span the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with products serving customers in North America and other markets.

Valero also produces renewable fuels, including ethanol and renewable diesel.

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