Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Price Target Raised to $200.00

Key Points

• Valero Energy's price target has been raised by Piper Sandler from $171.00 to $200.00, indicating a potential upside of 25.70% from current levels.
• The company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from analysts, with a consensus target price of $158.87.
• Valero Energy's recent quarterly earnings showed a net margin of 0.62% and revenue of $29.89 billion, surpassing estimates, despite a 13.3% decline year-over-year.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) had its target price upped by stock analysts at Piper Sandler from $171.00 to $200.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "overweight" rating on the oil and gas company's stock. Piper Sandler's target price points to a potential upside of 25.70% from the company's current price.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. TD Cowen downgraded Valero Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and increased their target price for the company from $118.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. They set an "in-line" rating and a $135.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Bank of America raised Valero Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the company from $152.00 to $179.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Valero Energy from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $158.87.

Valero Energy Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of Valero Energy stock traded up $0.61 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $159.11. The company had a trading volume of 379,015 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,219,128. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 66.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a 50 day moving average of $144.69 and a 200 day moving average of $132.56. Valero Energy has a 52-week low of $99.00 and a 52-week high of $163.02.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.62. The company had revenue of $29.89 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 5.76% and a net margin of 0.62%.The firm's quarterly revenue was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in 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 worth $5,135,043,000 after purchasing an additional 4,155,522 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 2.5% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,724,707 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,576,035,000 after purchasing an additional 286,942 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 276.9% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,795,436 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,425,754,000 after purchasing an additional 7,931,018 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 16.7% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,141,511 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,089,897,000 after purchasing an additional 1,164,217 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the second quarter worth about $827,390,000. 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.

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