Benjamin Edwards Inc. Acquires 2,111 Shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)

Key Points

• Benjamin Edwards Inc. increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation by 15.5%, acquiring an additional 2,111 shares, bringing its total to 15,749 shares valued at approximately $2.08 million.
• Analysts have reacted positively, with several brokerages raising target prices for Valero Energy, including a move from $127 to $154 by Goldman Sachs, and a current consensus price target of $154.47.
• Valero Energy recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, with an annualized dividend yield of 3.4% and a payout ratio of 188.33%.

Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 15.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 15,749 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,111 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc.'s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,080,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its position in Valero Energy by 156.6% during the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 213 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Hemington Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 39.9% in the 1st quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on VLO. Barclays increased their target price on Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $127.00 to $154.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. UBS Group increased their target price on Valero Energy from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Wolfe Research lowered Valero Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on Valero Energy from $159.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $154.47.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO opened at $131.80 on Tuesday. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $139.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $130.83. 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 Corporation has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $155.12. The company has a market cap of $40.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 1.03.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.62. The business had revenue of $29.89 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 5.76% and a net margin of 0.62%. The company's revenue was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

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

About Valero Energy

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.

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