Total Wealth Planning & Management Inc. Purchases New Shares in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Total Wealth Planning & Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 2,822 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $346,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Tobam acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO traded down $3.86 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $126.85. 3,123,225 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,041,487. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $120.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $128.41. The company has a market cap of $39.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.96, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $99.00 and a 52 week high of $167.78.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.27). Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. The firm had revenue of $28.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.54 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.82 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company 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 dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.56%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 20th. Valero Energy's payout ratio is currently 159.72%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $121.00 to $118.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the company from $127.00 to $154.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $151.93.

Valero Energy Company 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.