Champlain Investment Partners LLC Raises Stock Position in Valvoline $VVV

Key Points

• Champlain Investment Partners LLC increased its stake in Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) by 23.0%, acquiring an additional 223,073 shares during the first quarter, bringing their total to approximately 1.19 million shares valued at $41.49 million.
• The stock is currently rated a "Moderate Buy" by analysts, with a consensus target price of $42.31, following various rating adjustments from firms like Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley.
• Valvoline reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $0.47, slightly beating analyst expectations, with a year-over-year revenue increase of 4.2% to $439 million.

Champlain Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Free Report) by 23.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,191,872 shares of the basic materials company's stock after buying an additional 223,073 shares during the quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC owned approximately 0.94% of Valvoline worth $41,489,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in Valvoline by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 21,425 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $775,000 after buying an additional 277 shares during the period. Isthmus Partners LLC grew its position in Valvoline by 4.2% during the first quarter. Isthmus Partners LLC now owns 9,544 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $332,000 after buying an additional 387 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Valvoline by 2.5% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 16,773 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $607,000 after buying an additional 409 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC grew its position in Valvoline by 7.4% during the fourth quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 6,033 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $218,000 after buying an additional 416 shares during the period. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in Valvoline by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 22,124 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $800,000 after buying an additional 438 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.13% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Cfra Research upgraded shares of Valvoline to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $44.00 price target (down from $45.00) on shares of Valvoline in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Valvoline from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Zacks Research upgraded Valvoline to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Valvoline from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Valvoline currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $42.31.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Valvoline news, CFO J Kevin Willis purchased 12,725 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 14th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $39.41 per share, for a total transaction of $501,492.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 12,725 shares of the company's stock, valued at $501,492.25. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.66% of the company's stock.

Valvoline Price Performance

VVV traded down $0.39 on Friday, reaching $38.67. 1,527,090 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,664,197. The stock has a market cap of $4.92 billion, a PE ratio of 17.99 and a beta of 1.17. Valvoline has a twelve month low of $31.01 and a twelve month high of $43.74. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $37.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $36.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.37, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.60.

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

Valvoline 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.