Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) Shares Purchased by LPL Financial LLC

Key Points

• LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation by 3.3%, owning approximately 472,863 shares valued at $62.45 million as of its latest SEC filing.
• Valero reported an EPS of $2.28 for the last quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $1.66, although its revenue decreased by 13.3% year-over-year to $29.89 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, representing an annualized dividend yield of 3.3% with a high payout ratio of 188.33%.

LPL Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 3.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 472,863 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after acquiring an additional 15,323 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC owned about 0.15% of Valero Energy worth $62,451,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of VLO. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth $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. acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $44,000. Finally, North Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $58,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Trading Down 1.6%

NYSE VLO opened at $137.11 on Friday. 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 $167.78. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $138.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $131.18. The company has a market capitalization of $42.94 billion, a PE ratio of 57.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 1.00.

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, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 31st. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 188.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on VLO shares. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $127.00 to $154.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Scotiabank reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $154.47.

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.

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