Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Raises Stock Position in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management increased its Valero Energy position by 43.3% in the second quarter, bringing its holdings to 130,799 shares valued at approximately $34.1 million. Institutional investors collectively own 78.69% of VLO’s outstanding stock.
• Valero reported strong quarterly results, with EPS of $12.54 exceeding estimates of $10.11 and revenue rising 48.8% year over year to $44.48 billion. The company also declared a $1.20 quarterly dividend, representing a $4.80 annualized payout and a 1.6% yield.
• Analysts maintain a generally favorable outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $288. However, Valero trades at a premium to the industry on trailing EBITDA, potentially limiting near-term upside.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 43.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 130,799 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after acquiring an additional 39,499 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.'s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $34,065,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in VLO. Whipplewood Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 3,400.0% during the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 105 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 134.0% in the 1st quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Valero’s completed share-repurchase program provides shareholder support, while its second-quarter and first-half 2026 results establish a strong recent operating backdrop. However, the market is weighing those benefits against the stock’s valuation. Valero Energy Buyback And Results Leave Valuation Looking Finely Balanced
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research upgraded VLO from “hold” to “strong-buy,” adding a favorable near-term analyst signal. Zacks.com
• Positive Sentiment: Additional research highlights Valero’s growth, flexible crude sourcing, potentially favorable crude costs and strong balance sheet. Wall Street’s average brokerage recommendation is also bullish, although investors should treat sell-side ratings cautiously. Why Valero Energy Is a Strong Growth Stock Is It Worth Investing in Valero Energy Based on Wall Street’s Bullish Views?
• Neutral Sentiment: Valero shares had a positive 90-day performance and exceptionally strong five-year total return, but their recent seven-day return declined, suggesting some profit-taking following the prior rally. Valero Energy Buyback And Results Leave Valuation Looking Finely Balanced
• Negative Sentiment: Valero underperformed other energy companies in the latest session, indicating weaker near-term investor demand relative to peers. Valero Energy Stock Underperforms Friday
• Negative Sentiment: Valero trades at about 6.44 times trailing EBITDA, above the industry average of 5.77 times. The premium valuation may limit further upside or prompt investors to wait for a better entry point. Valero Energy Stock Buy at a Premium or Wait for a Better Entry Point?

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:VLO opened at $297.94 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. Valero Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $130.78 and a 1 year high of $320.24. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $276.61 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $242.90. The company has a market cap of $88.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.36, a PEG ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 0.55.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $10.11 by $2.43. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%.The business had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $39.47 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.28 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 39.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, July 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 19.92%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VLO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $280.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $292.00 to $356.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Piper Sandler reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $329.00 price target on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $289.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $288.00.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

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

About Valero Energy

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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