Volterra Technologies LP Takes Position in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Key Points

• Volterra Technologies LP established a new stake in Valero, buying 33,409 shares worth about $5.69 million (≈0.5% of its portfolio), joining several other institutions that have recently added VLO as institutional ownership sits around 78.7%.
• Valero raised its quarterly dividend to $1.20 (annualized $4.80, ~2.1% yield) and reported a Q4 earnings beat (EPS $3.82 vs. $3.27; revenue $30.37B), while analysts have lifted targets—Goldman Sachs to $237—producing a MarketBeat average target of $193.20 and a "Moderate Buy" consensus.
• Potential negatives include recent insider selling by SVP Eric A. Fisher and policy risk from a possible temporary Jones Act waiver, which could lower domestic fuel prices and compress refiners' margins.

Volterra Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 33,409 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $5,688,000. Valero Energy makes up approximately 0.5% of Volterra Technologies LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest position.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Woodline Partners LP raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 26,747 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $3,532,000 after acquiring an additional 7,735 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in Valero Energy by 13.0% during the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,929 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $4,725,000. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Valero Energy by 96.4% in the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 15,042 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $2,022,000 after purchasing an additional 7,384 shares during the period. Finally, Vise Technologies Inc. purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the second quarter valued at about $675,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 400 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $238.60, for a total transaction of $95,440.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on VLO. Wall Street Zen raised Valero Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Valero Energy from $203.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $217.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Mizuho restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $192.00 target price (up from $190.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Valero Energy to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $193.20.

Key Valero Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs raised its price target to $237 and kept a Buy rating, offering a near-term catalyst and institutional endorsement that can support the share price. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Valero increased its quarterly dividend to $1.20 (annualized $4.80), which strengthens the income argument for the stock and can attract yield-focused buyers. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Notable institutional accumulation has been reported (several funds adding positions), signalling conviction from longer-term investors in a refining recovery. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts are revising fair-value assumptions (example fair value moved to ~$202.72), producing mixed calls — some firms lift targets, others trim them depending on refining/crude assumptions. This creates divergent analyst signals rather than a clear consensus catalyst. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Several investor-attention and dividend-themed write-ups (Zacks/Yahoo) are increasing visibility; helpful for flows but not a direct fundamental change. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: SVP Eric A. Fisher disclosed sizable sales this week (8,311 shares at ~ $227.69 and an additional 400 shares at ~$238.60). Large insider disposals can spook short-term sentiment even though he retains a substantial holding. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Policy risk: reports that the White House is considering a temporary Jones Act waiver to ease fuel shipping could, if enacted, lower domestic fuel prices and compress refiners' margins — a material industry risk for Valero. Read More.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO opened at $230.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.64. Valero Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $99.00 and a 1-year high of $240.27. The company has a 50-day moving average of $197.83 and a 200-day moving average of $177.61. The company has a market capitalization of $68.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.18, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.70.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.27 by $0.55. The business had revenue of $30.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.20 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 12.35% and a net margin of 1.91%.The business's quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 5th were given a dividend of $1.20 per share. This is an increase from Valero Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 5th. Valero Energy's payout ratio is currently 62.83%.

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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