Evercore ISI Initiates Coverage on Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO)

Equities research analysts at Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) in a report released on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage set an "in-line" rating and a $135.00 price target on the oil and gas company's stock. Evercore ISI's price objective indicates a potential downside of 4.82% from the stock's previous close.

Several other brokerages have also weighed in on VLO. Barclays lifted their price objective on Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Scotiabank lowered 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. Mizuho raised their price objective 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. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $127.00 to $154.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $150.88.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $141.83 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $44.42 billion, a PE ratio of 50.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.56. Valero Energy has a 52-week low of $99.00 and a 52-week high of $167.78. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $123.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of $127.50.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.27). Valero Energy had a return on equity of 6.30% and a net margin of 0.72%. The company had revenue of $28.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.54 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.82 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 30.0% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,595 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $808,000 after buying an additional 1,523 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. raised its position in Valero Energy by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 25,034 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $3,069,000 after purchasing an additional 749 shares in the last quarter. Bfsg LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 8.5% during the fourth quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 2,464 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $302,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $89,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 12.8% during the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 5,697 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $698,000 after purchasing an additional 645 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.