Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Stock Sold by Axecap Investments LLC

Key Points

• Axecap Investments LLC cut its Valero Energy position by 61.5% in the third quarter, selling 4,002 shares and retaining 2,508 shares valued at approximately $972,000. Institutional investors collectively own 78.69% of Valero’s stock.
• Valero shares opened at $433.85, near their 52-week high of $461.52, after a strong rally. The company previously exceeded earnings and revenue expectations, with analysts forecasting $51.77 in full-year EPS.
• Third-quarter earnings on October 22 are the key near-term catalyst. Higher refining margins and tight fuel markets have supported optimism, although DBS Bank downgraded the stock to Hold, citing limited upside after its gains.

Axecap Investments LLC reduced its position in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 61.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,508 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 4,002 shares during the period. Axecap Investments LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $972,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Blue Zone Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 2.4% during the third quarter. Blue Zone Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,027 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $398,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust raised its stake in Valero Energy by 1.0% in the third quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 2,608 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $1,011,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 57.6% in the second quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 0.6% in the first quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 6,670 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $1,648,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bouchey Financial Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd. now owns 1,016 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $265,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Valero Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Investors are optimistic ahead of Valero’s third-quarter results, scheduled before the market opens on October 22. Higher refining margins are expected to support profitability and could reinforce the company’s strong earnings momentum. Valero Energy's Q3 Earnings Approach: Higher Refining Margins Fuel Optimism
• Positive Sentiment: Valero was included in Zacks’ Rank #1, or “Strong Buy,” growth-stock list. The designation may attract additional interest, particularly as the company trades well above its longer-term moving averages and approaches its 52-week high. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for October 19th
• Positive Sentiment: A new $8 billion federal program to help farmers offset surging diesel costs highlights tight fuel markets and supply disruptions linked to Iran. Elevated diesel prices can improve refinery economics for Valero, although the longer-term effect depends on demand and the duration of the disruption. Trump announces $8B bailout for farmers to cover diesel cost surge
• Neutral Sentiment: Preview reports are focusing on estimates for Valero’s third-quarter revenue, earnings and operating metrics, making the October 22 release the key near-term catalyst. Valero previously exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, raising the bar for another beat. Insights Into Valero Energy Q3
• Negative Sentiment: DBS Bank downgraded Valero to Hold while assigning a $436 price target, indicating limited near-term upside after the stock’s substantial rally. The call could temper bullish sentiment ahead of earnings. DBS Bank Downgrades Valero Energy to Hold

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $433.85 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $387.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $306.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $124.92 billion, a PE ratio of 18.00, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.23. Valero Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $156.26 and a fifty-two week high of $461.52.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $10.11 by $2.43. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%. The company had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.28 EPS. Valero Energy's quarterly revenue was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Valero Energy Corporation will post 51.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on VLO shares. Bank of America boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $395.00 to $414.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Raymond James Financial raised their price target on Valero Energy from $350.00 to $450.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, September 14th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $338.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $365.00 to $457.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $382.62.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is an international energy company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company's primary business is refining and marketing transportation fuels, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products used by commercial, industrial and consumer customers.

Valero operates refineries in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Its refining operations also produce asphalt, petrochemical feedstocks and other petroleum-based products. The company markets fuel through wholesale channels and branded retail networks, including Valero, Beacon and Shamrock-branded locations.

In addition to conventional refining, Valero has businesses focused on renewable fuels.

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