Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Buys 3,825 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 27.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 17,640 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,825 shares during the period. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,330,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. World Investment Advisors lifted its position in Valero Energy by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 4,323 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $530,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Silver Coast Investments LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Silver Coast Investments LLC now owns 5,070 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $622,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its position in Valero Energy by 6.6% during the fourth quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 1,514 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $186,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Providence Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Providence Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,878 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,086,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KCM Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,497 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $674,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Trading Up 1.6%

VLO stock traded up $2.09 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $134.02. The stock had a trading volume of 2,398,194 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,036,894. The firm has a market cap of $41.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $99.00 and a 1-year high of $167.78. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $121.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $127.64.

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

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 20th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.37%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 159.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $127.00 to $154.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $151.93.

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.