Emerald Investment Advisers LLC Acquires 4,224 Shares of Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Key Points

• Emerald Investment Advisers increased its Valero Energy stake by 88.3% in the second quarter, purchasing 4,224 shares and bringing its total holdings to 9,006 shares valued at approximately $2.35 million. Institutional investors collectively own 78.69% of the company.
• Valero reported strong quarterly results, with earnings of $12.54 per share and revenue of $44.48 billion, exceeding analyst estimates; revenue rose 48.8% year over year.
• Valero declared a quarterly dividend of $1.20 per share, or $4.80 annualized, representing a 1.4% yield. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus, although the average price target of $288 is below the stock’s reported $349.27 opening price.

Emerald Investment Advisers LLC raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 88.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,006 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,224 shares during the quarter. Emerald Investment Advisers LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,346,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 3,400.0% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 105 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $27,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $28,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 134.0% during the first quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Torren Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 19,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,294,212.14. This trade represents a 27.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.36% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $349.27 on Friday. The business's fifty day moving average is $292.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $253.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market cap of $100.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.55. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $140.13 and a 52 week high of $352.70.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%.The company had revenue of $44.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.28 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 48.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 40.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 19.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $292.00 to $356.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $280.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $289.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Raymond James Financial boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $300.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $279.00 to $323.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $288.00.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company's operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.

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