Heartland Advisors Inc. Sells 16,138 Shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)

Key Points

• Heartland Advisors Inc. significantly reduced its stake in Valero Energy Corporation by 37.8% in the first quarter, now holding 26,574 shares valued at approximately $3.51 million.
• Several institutional investors have adjusted their holdings as well, with many increasing their stakes, indicating a mixed sentiment among large investors regarding Valero Energy.
• Analysts have provided varied outlooks for Valero, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $153.87, while TD Cowen recently changed its rating from "buy" to "hold."

Heartland Advisors Inc. decreased its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 37.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,574 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 16,138 shares during the quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,510,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 18.5% during the first quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 22,402 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $2,959,000 after purchasing an additional 3,503 shares in the last quarter. Sendero Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 11.0% during the first quarter. Sendero Wealth Management LLC now owns 20,198 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $2,668,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC now owns 178,293 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $21,857,000 after purchasing an additional 5,203 shares during the last quarter. AlTi Global Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 18.2% during the fourth quarter. AlTi Global Inc. now owns 64,793 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $8,585,000 after buying an additional 9,963 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trexquant Investment LP boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 1,930.4% in the 4th quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 113,603 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $13,927,000 after purchasing an additional 108,008 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Evercore ISI assumed 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 for the company. Citigroup cut shares of Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $134.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $127.00 to $154.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $154.47.

Valero Energy Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:VLO traded down $0.06 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $144.69. 3,230,769 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,381,605. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Valero Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $99.00 and a 1-year high of $167.78. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $137.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.00. The firm has a market cap of $45.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 60.29, a PEG ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 1.00.

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

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.12%. Valero Energy's payout ratio is presently 188.33%.

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.