Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Downgraded by Argus to "Hold"

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) was downgraded by analysts at Argus from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat reports.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Scotiabank upped their target price on Valero Energy from $138.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. Bank of America upgraded Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a report on Friday, March 15th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $179.00 to $173.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $198.00 to $187.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $173.87.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO traded up $0.76 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $158.47. The stock had a trading volume of 2,596,274 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,177,570. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.59. The company has a 50 day moving average of $165.37 and a two-hundred day moving average of $143.33. The firm has a market cap of $51.82 billion, a PE ratio of 7.81, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.55. Valero Energy has a twelve month low of $105.66 and a twelve month high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.64. The firm had revenue of $31.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.02 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 24.82% and a net margin of 5.01%. Valero Energy's revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $8.27 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 18.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.12, for a total value of $113,846.40. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 13,314 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,105,209.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.47% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, First Foundation Advisors acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

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.