B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG Buys 18,256 Shares of Valvoline $VVV

Key Points

• B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG increased its stake in Valvoline by 16.9%, acquiring an additional 18,256 shares, bringing their total holding to 126,398 shares valued at approximately $4.4 million.
• Several institutional investors, including Boston Partners and Mawer Investment Management Ltd., have significantly boosted their positions in Valvoline, leading to institutional ownership of 96.13% of the company's stock.
• Analysts have recently upgraded their ratings on Valvoline, with the stock receiving multiple "overweight" ratings and a projected average target price of $42.31.

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG grew its stake in shares of Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Free Report) by 16.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 126,398 shares of the basic materials company's stock after buying an additional 18,256 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG owned approximately 0.10% of Valvoline worth $4,400,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VVV. Boston Partners bought a new position in Valvoline during the first quarter worth about $82,748,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its holdings in Valvoline by 653.5% during the fourth quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 1,147,254 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $41,508,000 after buying an additional 994,988 shares during the last quarter. Channing Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Valvoline during the first quarter worth about $25,985,000. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in Valvoline by 144.6% during the first quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,224,420 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $42,622,000 after buying an additional 723,938 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC bought a new position in Valvoline during the first quarter worth about $21,756,000. Institutional investors own 96.13% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on VVV shares. Zacks Research upgraded Valvoline to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Stephens lifted their price objective on Valvoline from $40.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Cfra Research upgraded Valvoline to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Valvoline from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Valvoline from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $40.00 to $45.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $42.31.

Valvoline Trading Up 0.8%

NYSE VVV opened at $39.65 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.44 and a beta of 1.17. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $37.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $36.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.37, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.73. Valvoline has a 52 week low of $31.01 and a 52 week high of $43.74.

Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The basic materials company reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $439.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $436.35 million. Valvoline had a return on equity of 84.85% and a net margin of 16.43%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.45 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Valvoline will post 1.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO J Kevin Willis bought 12,725 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 14th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $39.41 per share, for a total transaction of $501,492.25. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer owned 12,725 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $501,492.25. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.66% of the company's stock.

Valvoline Company Profile

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.

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