Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Has $51.16 Million Stock Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc decreased its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) by 4.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 417,355 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 19,358 shares during the quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc owned 0.13% of Valero Energy worth $51,164,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 123,356 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $14,751,000 after purchasing an additional 455 shares during the last quarter. Kieckhefer Group LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $1,226,000. Hudson Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Hudson Capital Management LLC now owns 31,792 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $3,897,000 after buying an additional 1,937 shares in the last quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $274,000. Finally, Patten Group Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $277,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock.

Valero Energy Trading Up 6.1%

Shares of Valero Energy stock traded up $7.55 during trading on Monday, hitting $130.48. 4,135,080 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,030,565. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.98. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $99.00 and a 1-year high of $167.78. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $120.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $128.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

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). Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. The business had revenue of $28.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.54 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.82 earnings per share. Valero Energy's revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be given a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 20th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.46%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 159.72%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $149.60.

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.