Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Shares Sold by Sapient Capital LLC

Sapient Capital LLC lowered its position in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 54.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,135 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 5,025 shares during the quarter. Sapient Capital LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $556,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VLO. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 1.4% during the first quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 5,541 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $732,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the period. Summit Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 1,812 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $239,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC now owns 7,764 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,025,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 3,798 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $502,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,012 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $266,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO stock opened at $163.45 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market capitalization of $50.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 68.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.10. Valero Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $165.65. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $146.08 and a two-hundred day moving average of $133.52.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.62. The firm had revenue of $29.89 billion during 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%. Valero Energy's revenue for the quarter was down 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $166.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Evercore ISI began coverage on Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. They issued an "in-line" rating and a $135.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Citigroup cut Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $134.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $160.47.

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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