Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) Shares Sold by Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC

Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC lessened its holdings in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 26.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 40,295 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 14,407 shares during the quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $5,322,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $58,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.2%

NYSE VLO opened at $144.87 on Friday. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $99.00 and a 52 week high of $167.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $136.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $129.92. The firm has a market cap of $45.37 billion, a PE ratio of 51.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.00.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.27). Valero Energy had a return on equity of 6.30% and a net margin of 0.72%. The company had revenue of $28.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $28.54 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.82 EPS. The firm's revenue was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.12%. Valero Energy's payout ratio is 159.72%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Raymond James Financial raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $155.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday. TD Cowen decreased 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. 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 research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Scotiabank decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $153.94.

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.

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