Banque Cantonale Vaudoise Makes New $2.08 Million Investment in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)

Key Points

• Banque Cantonale Vaudoise has invested approximately $2.08 million in Valero Energy Corporation, acquiring 15,729 shares during the first quarter.
• Valero Energy reported earnings of $2.28 per share for the last quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations by $0.62, although revenue decreased by 13.3% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.13, resulting in an annualized yield of 3.24%, with a payout ratio currently at 188.33%.

Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 15,729 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $2,078,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in Valero Energy by 5.7% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 7,938,335 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $973,119,000 after purchasing an additional 429,252 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Valero Energy by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,871,229 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $844,775,000 after purchasing an additional 100,248 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in Valero Energy by 15.9% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,850,859 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $472,077,000 after purchasing an additional 529,513 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in Valero Energy by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,864,418 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $351,151,000 after purchasing an additional 525,255 shares during the period. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG boosted its position in Valero Energy by 23.6% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,450,479 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $177,814,000 after purchasing an additional 277,092 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO traded down $4.14 on Friday, hitting $133.17. 2,250,348 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,290,427. The firm has a market cap of $41.71 billion, a PE ratio of 55.49, a P/E/G ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 1.03. Valero Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $99.00 and a twelve month high of $155.12. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $138.51 and a two-hundred day moving average of $131.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.62. The firm had revenue of $29.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 5.76%. Valero Energy's quarterly revenue was down 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is 188.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VLO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen lowered shares of Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $118.00 to $140.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Raymond James Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $155.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. They issued an "in-line" rating and a $135.00 price objective on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $154.47.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.