Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) Shares Gap Down to $44.21

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report)'s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $44.21, but opened at $40.20. Valvoline shares last traded at $42.32, with a volume of 647,167 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on VVV shares. Citigroup boosted their price target on Valvoline from $36.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Valvoline from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Mizuho started coverage on Valvoline in a report on Tuesday, March 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Valvoline from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $37.00 to $44.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $42.75.

Valvoline Stock Performance

The business's 50 day simple moving average is $43.21 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $38.40. The company has a current ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.47 billion, a PE ratio of 5.24 and a beta of 1.45.

Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.29. The firm had revenue of $373.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $380.10 million. Valvoline had a net margin of 92.04% and a return on equity of 41.83%. Valvoline's revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.16 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Valvoline Inc. will post 1.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Valvoline

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VVV. Advisors Preferred LLC purchased a new position in Valvoline in the first quarter valued at about $1,636,000. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 41,132 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,833,000 after buying an additional 4,800 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Valvoline by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 69,300 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $3,089,000 after purchasing an additional 4,326 shares during the period. Qsemble Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Valvoline in the first quarter worth about $286,000. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Valvoline during the first quarter worth approximately $237,000. 96.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Valvoline Company Profile

Valvoline Inc engages in the operation and franchising of vehicle service centers and retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company, through its service centers, provides fluid exchange for motor oil, transmission and differential fluid, and coolant; parts replacement for batteries, filters, wiper blades, and belts; and safety services, such as tire inflation and rotation, bulbs, and safety checks.