Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Shares Purchased by Fisher Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Fisher Asset Management increased its stake in Valero Energy by 56.1% in the fourth quarter, ending with 27,339 shares valued at about $4.45 million.
• Valero reported better-than-expected quarterly results, posting earnings of $4.22 per share versus estimates of $3.16 and revenue of $32.38 billion versus expectations of $31.38 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.20 per share, equivalent to an annualized yield of about 2.0%, while analysts currently rate the stock a Moderate Buy with an average target price of $243.65.

Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 56.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 27,339 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after purchasing an additional 9,824 shares during the quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $4,451,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Torren Management LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Triumph Capital Management purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 145.3% in the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 211 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Accordant Advisory Group Inc grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 194.4% in the 4th quarter. Accordant Advisory Group Inc now owns 212 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

In related news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 8,311 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $227.69, for a total transaction of $1,892,331.59. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 42,242 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $9,618,080.98. This represents a 16.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.36% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $245.10 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $72.78 billion, a PE ratio of 17.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Valero Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $125.10 and a twelve month high of $263.75. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $242.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $206.77.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The oil and gas company reported $4.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.16 by $1.06. The business had revenue of $32.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $31.38 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 15.94% and a net margin of 3.37%.The company's revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.89 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 26.51 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be issued a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 21st. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 34.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on VLO shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Valero Energy from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 6th. Raymond James Financial upped their target price on Valero Energy from $215.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 25th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Saturday, April 4th. Scotiabank upped their target price on Valero Energy from $178.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $243.65.

Valero Energy Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company's operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.

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