Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) Receives Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the fourteen brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, nine have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $42.54.

VVV has been the subject of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Valvoline from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $40.00 to $45.00 in a report on Tuesday. TD Securities started coverage on shares of Valvoline in a report on Friday, April 4th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $40.00 price target for the company. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $44.00 price target (down previously from $45.00) on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Valvoline from $41.00 to $38.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Valvoline from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th.

Valvoline Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:VVV opened at $36.51 on Friday. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $34.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.39, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.70. Valvoline has a one year low of $31.02 and a one year high of $48.27. The firm has a market cap of $4.64 billion, a PE ratio of 17.47 and a beta of 1.20.

Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The basic materials company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.36 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $403.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $405.38 million. Valvoline had a return on equity of 143.64% and a net margin of 16.34%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.37 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Valvoline will post 1.63 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Valvoline

In related news, CEO Lori Ann Flees acquired 3,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $33.78 per share, for a total transaction of $101,340.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 46,614 shares in the company, valued at $1,574,620.92. The trade was a 6.88% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.66% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valvoline by 15.7% during the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 124,071 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $4,319,000 after buying an additional 16,865 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its stake in Valvoline by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 487,609 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $16,974,000 after acquiring an additional 20,947 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in Valvoline during the 1st quarter worth about $299,000. Caxton Associates LLP purchased a new stake in Valvoline during the 1st quarter valued at about $1,656,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in Valvoline by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 858,584 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $29,887,000 after purchasing an additional 37,657 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.13% of the company's stock.

About Valvoline

Valvoline Inc engages in the operation and franchising of vehicle service centers and retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company, through its service centers, provides fluid exchange for motor oil, transmission and differential fluid, and coolant; parts replacement for batteries, filters, wiper blades, and belts; and safety services, such as tire inflation and rotation, bulbs, and safety checks.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.