Ninety One UK Ltd Purchases 182,272 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Ninety One UK Ltd raised its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 106.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 352,789 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after buying an additional 182,272 shares during the quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd owned about 0.10% of Valero Energy worth $45,863,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 1,676.9% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup increased their price target on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday. Barclays increased their price target on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Bank of America upgraded Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a research report on Friday, March 15th. Mizuho cut Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $150.00 to $173.00 in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Valero Energy from $167.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $173.63.

Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE VLO traded up $1.41 on Friday, reaching $163.90. 2,437,365 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,353,244. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $158.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $139.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market cap of $54.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.54. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $104.18 and a 12 month high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $35.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.76 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 31.62% and a net margin of 6.10%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $8.45 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 17.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Company 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.