Czech National Bank Grows Position in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Key Points

• The Czech National Bank increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation by 5.3% in Q2, owning 76,558 shares valued at approximately $10.29 million.
• Valero Energy reported $2.28 earnings per share for the last quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.66, despite a 13.3% year-over-year decline in revenue.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, with a current dividend yield of 2.8% and a high payout ratio of 188.33%.

Czech National Bank increased its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 5.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 76,558 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after acquiring an additional 3,844 shares during the period. Czech National Bank's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $10,291,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in VLO. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 1.4% during the first quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 5,541 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $732,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Summit Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 1,812 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $239,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC now owns 7,764 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,025,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 3,798 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $502,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,012 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $266,000 after buying an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of VLO stock traded up $0.23 on Thursday, hitting $163.90. 2,492,524 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,490,594. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $146.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $133.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.92 billion, a PE ratio of 68.29, a PEG ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.10. Valero Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $99.00 and a twelve month high of $165.65.

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

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 31st were given a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 188.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. They issued an "in-line" rating and a $135.00 target price on the stock. Raymond James Financial raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $170.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wolfe Research cut shares of Valero Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered shares of Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $118.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $160.47.

Valero Energy 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.