Uptick Partners LLC Invests $316,000 in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Key Points

• Uptick Partners LLC has invested $316,000 in Valero Energy Corporation by acquiring 2,350 shares, reflecting growing interest from institutional investors in the company's stock.
• Valero Energy reported a $2.28 EPS for the last quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.66, with quarterly revenue reaching $29.89 billion.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, with an annualized yield of 2.8%, although its dividend payout ratio is notably high at 188.33%.

Uptick Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 2,350 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $316,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. Hoey Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $26,000. GFG Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $27,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 156.6% in the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 213 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the period. Finally, Ransom Advisory Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 0.5%

Valero Energy stock opened at $162.19 on Wednesday. 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 $178.43. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $154.47 and a 200 day simple moving average of $138.35. The company has a market cap of $50.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 67.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.05.

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

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 31st were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 188.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Bank of America raised Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $152.00 to $179.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wolfe Research cut Valero Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Citigroup lowered shares of Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $134.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, September 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $169.80.

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.

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