Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd Purchases New Shares in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)

Key Points

• Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired 6,409 shares of Valero Energy Corporation for approximately $846,000 in the first quarter, indicating growing institutional interest in the stock.
• Valero Energy's recent quarterly earnings report showed $2.28 earnings per share (EPS), surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.66, despite a 13.3% year-over-year revenue decline.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, with a dividend yield of 3.18%, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to return value to shareholders.

Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 6,409 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $846,000.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Guidance Capital Inc. grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 17.2% during the 1st quarter. Guidance Capital Inc. now owns 7,678 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,014,000 after acquiring an additional 1,128 shares in the last quarter. Clifford Swan Investment Counsel LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $203,000. Gries Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 5.5% in the 1st quarter. Gries Financial LLC now owns 1,966 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $260,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $345,000. Finally, Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 156.6% in the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 213 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on VLO. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. They issued an "in-line" rating and a $135.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Raymond James Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $155.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $153.87.

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.2%

Valero Energy stock opened at $142.03 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $44.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 59.18, a PEG ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The company's 50-day moving average price is $137.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $130.81. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $99.00 and a 52 week high of $167.78.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.62. The company had revenue of $29.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $27 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 5.74%. The business's revenue was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be paid a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.18%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 159.72%.

Valero Energy 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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