USS Investment Management Ltd Sells 16,588 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

USS Investment Management Ltd lowered its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 68.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,512 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 16,588 shares during the period. USS Investment Management Ltd's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $921,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of VLO. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Tobam purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC boosted its position in Valero Energy by 122.0% during the 4th quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO traded up $2.27 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $129.20. 2,531,813 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,039,529. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $120.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.41. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $99.00 and a one year high of $167.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.98.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.27). The firm had revenue of $28.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. The business's quarterly revenue was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.82 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be given a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 20th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.50%. Valero Energy's payout ratio is 159.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Tudor Pickering raised Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price objective on Valero Energy from $121.00 to $118.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target 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.