8,385 Shares in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Purchased by BNP Paribas

Key Points

• BNP Paribas purchased 8,385 Valero shares worth approximately $2.2 million in the second quarter, while institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 78.69% of VLO.
• Valero reported strong quarterly results: EPS reached $12.54 versus a $10.11 consensus estimate, revenue rose 48.8% year over year to $44.48 billion, and refining-market conditions remain favorable.
• Analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $288, although Erste Group downgraded the stock to “hold.” Valero also declared a quarterly dividend of $1.20 per share.

BNP Paribas bought a new stake in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 8,385 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $2,200,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its position in Valero Energy by 2.8% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 743,997 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $194,174,000 after buying an additional 20,234 shares during the period. Field & Main Bank purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,782,000. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $4,855,000. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,390,000. Finally, Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $413,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Valero Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Tight refining market supports margins: Historically low fuel inventories, limited excess refining capacity and ongoing supply disruptions are creating a favorable environment for higher crack spreads. Valero’s flexible, complex coastal refinery network is well positioned to process various crude grades and supply multiple fuel markets. Valero Energy Looks Well Placed in the Tight Global Refining Market
• Positive Sentiment: Strong second-quarter performance and estimates: Valero’s second-quarter 2026 results reportedly showed substantial year-over-year improvement in adjusted EPS and revenue. Rising consensus estimates and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicate that analysts are becoming more constructive on the company’s earnings prospects. Did Strong Q2 2026 Earnings and Refining Tailwinds Just Shift Valero Energy’s Investment Narrative?
• Positive Sentiment: Relative market strength and favorable valuation: VLO recently gained while the broader market declined. Its low PEG ratio compared with industry peers may be adding to the stock’s appeal, particularly as refining profitability expectations improve. Valero Energy Gains as Market Dips
• Negative Sentiment: One analyst downgrade: Erste Group Bank AG lowered Valero from “buy” to “hold,” which could limit upside sentiment after the stock’s strong advance and near-record trading levels. Finviz Valero Analyst Update

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $280.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Valero Energy from $259.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Piper Sandler reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $329.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank lowered Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $288.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 19,742 shares in the company, valued at $5,294,212.14. The trade was a 27.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.36% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO stock opened at $352.66 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The firm has a market cap of $101.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.63, a PEG ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.55. The stock's 50-day moving average is $303.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $259.07. Valero Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $150.10 and a fifty-two week high of $353.00.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $10.11 by $2.43. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.17% and a return on equity of 26.74%. The company had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.28 EPS. Valero Energy's quarterly revenue was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Valero Energy Corporation will post 40.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, July 31st will be paid a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 31st. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 19.92%.

Valero Energy Profile

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.

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