Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) Stock Holdings Lifted by Townsquare Capital LLC

Key Points

• Townsquare Capital LLC increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation by 7.9%, acquiring a total of 26,561 shares valued at $3.5 million.
• Analysts have shown confidence in Valero Energy, with multiple upgrades in price targets, including a boost from Goldman Sachs from $127 to $154 and from Raymond James to $172.
• Valero Energy reported a net margin of 0.62% and earnings per share of $2.28 for the last quarter, exceeding estimates significantly.

Townsquare Capital LLC increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 7.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,561 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,938 shares during the quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,508,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.1%

VLO traded up $1.47 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $133.24. 1,812,282 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,969,480. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $139.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $130.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $99.00 and a fifty-two week high of $155.12. The stock has a market cap of $41.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 1.03.

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

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be paid a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. Valero Energy's payout ratio is 188.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VLO has been the topic of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted 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. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. TD Cowen cut shares of Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $118.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded 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. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $154.47.

About Valero Energy

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.