Gotham Asset Management LLC Sells 24,954 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Gotham Asset Management LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 21.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 90,695 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 24,954 shares during the quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC's holdings in Valero Energy were worth $11,118,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $669,400,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 16.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 34,725,700 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $4,257,024,000 after purchasing an additional 4,805,133 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $132,469,000. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in Valero Energy by 15.9% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,850,859 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $472,077,000 after buying an additional 529,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 22.5% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,864,418 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $351,151,000 after buying an additional 525,255 shares in the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.8%

Valero Energy stock traded up $1.01 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $135.33. 2,243,222 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,036,897. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.39 billion, a PE ratio of 15.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $120.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $99.00 and a 52 week high of $167.78.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.27). The firm had revenue of $28.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. Valero Energy's quarterly revenue was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.82 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 20th. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 159.72%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on VLO shares. UBS Group reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $127.00 to $154.00 in a report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $121.00 to $118.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.93.

About Valero Energy

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.