National Pension Service Raises Stock Holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)

Key Points

• The National Pension Service increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation by 5.0%, owning 995,605 shares valued at approximately $131.49 million as of the end of the 1st quarter.
• Valero Energy reported $2.28 EPS for the last quarter, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.66, although its revenue decreased by 13.3% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, with a yield of 3.3%, and a significant dividend payout ratio of 188.33%.

National Pension Service increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 5.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 995,605 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after acquiring an additional 47,714 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service owned approximately 0.32% of Valero Energy worth $131,490,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of VLO. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $26,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 156.6% during the first quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 213 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Hemington Wealth Management raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 39.9% during the first quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $44,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. TD Cowen downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and increased their target price for the company from $118.00 to $140.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the company from $127.00 to $154.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Valero Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $159.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, July 28th. Five 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 company. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $154.47.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of VLO stock traded up $0.91 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $136.73. The stock had a trading volume of 2,037,284 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,810,699. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $139.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $130.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.48 billion, a PE ratio of 56.97, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 1.03. 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 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $155.12.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share 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 the consensus estimate of $27 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 5.76%. Valero Energy's quarterly revenue was down 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. 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.