Capital Investment Advisors LLC Has $6.34 Million Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Capital Investment Advisors LLC decreased its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 31.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 48,012 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 22,055 shares during the period. Capital Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $6,341,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Tobam bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 122.0% in the 4th quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy Trading Up 1.2%

VLO opened at $128.35 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $99.00 and a fifty-two week high of $167.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.14, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.99. The company's 50 day moving average price is $120.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.75.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.27). The firm had revenue of $28.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.82 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 20th. Valero Energy's payout ratio is 159.72%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $127.00 to $154.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.93.

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.

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