Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Reaches New 1-Year High - What's Next?

Key Points

• Valero Energy's stock (NYSE:VLO) reached a new 52-week high of $162.14, with a significant trading volume of 125,251 shares.
• Analyst ratings have varied, with Mizuho projecting a target price of $166.00 and Wolfe Research downgrading the stock to a "peer perform" rating, indicating mixed perceptions of its performance.
• The company reported earnings of $2.28 per share for its latest quarter, exceeding estimates and highlighting a revenue of $29.89 billion, though down 13.3% year-over-year.

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $161.63 and last traded at $162.14, with a volume of 125251 shares. The stock had previously closed at $157.36.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VLO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Mizuho raised their target price on Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Barclays increased their price target on Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Wolfe Research downgraded Valero Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. UBS Group raised their target price on Valero Energy from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI began coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. They issued an "in-line" rating and a $135.00 target price for the company. Two 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $156.40.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $143.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $132.17. The stock has a market cap of $50.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 67.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.10.

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

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 31st were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. Valero Energy's payout ratio is 188.33%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of VLO. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $181,000. Ethic Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 223.6% in the fourth quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 7,223 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $885,000 after buying an additional 4,991 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 34,199 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $4,222,000 after buying an additional 13,915 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC NC increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 9.6% in the fourth quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC NC now owns 1,979 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $243,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the period. Finally, Investment Management Corp of Ontario increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario now owns 21,724 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $2,663,000 after buying an additional 343 shares during the period. 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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