Brokerages Set Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Price Target at $151.93

Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of "Buy" by the sixteen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $151.93.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Raymond James lowered their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 24th.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO traded up $0.54 on Friday, reaching $134.04. 3,758,276 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,033,120. Valero Energy has a fifty-two week low of $99.00 and a fifty-two week high of $167.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. The firm has a market cap of $41.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $121.69 and a 200-day moving average price of $127.60.

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

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 20th. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 159.72%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 12.0% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 38,881,222 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $5,135,043,000 after buying an additional 4,155,522 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Valero Energy by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,437,765 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $1,510,586,000 after acquiring an additional 736,533 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 276.9% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,795,436 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $1,425,754,000 after acquiring an additional 7,931,018 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 5.7% in the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 7,938,335 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $973,119,000 after purchasing an additional 429,252 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,871,229 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $844,775,000 after purchasing an additional 100,248 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.