Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Key Points

• Valvoline has received an average analyst recommendation of "Moderate Buy" based on the opinions of fifteen analysts, with a consensus price target of $42.54.
• The company's recent quarterly earnings report showed a miss on earnings per share at $0.34 compared to the consensus estimate of $0.36, with a revenue of $403.20 million.
• CEO Lori Ann Flees increased her stake in Valvoline by purchasing 3,000 shares for approximately $101,340, indicating confidence in the company's future performance.

Shares of Valvoline (NYSE:VVV - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the fifteen analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $42.54.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on VVV shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Valvoline from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $40.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Valvoline from $41.00 to $39.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 9th. Piper Sandler restated an "overweight" rating and set a $44.00 target price (down from $45.00) on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Cfra Research raised Valvoline to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Valvoline from $44.00 to $42.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th.

Valvoline Price Performance

NYSE VVV opened at $35.87 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.41 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.23, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $36.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $35.96. Valvoline has a 1 year low of $31.01 and a 1 year high of $47.08.

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 for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.02). Valvoline had a net margin of 15.97% and a return on equity of 106.36%. The firm had revenue of $403.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $405.38 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.37 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Valvoline will post 1.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Valvoline

In other Valvoline news, CEO Lori Ann Flees purchased 3,000 shares of Valvoline stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 27th. The stock was bought at an average price of $33.78 per share, with a total value of $101,340.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 46,614 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,574,620.92. This trade represents a 6.88% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.66% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valvoline

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Maseco LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Valvoline in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Huntington National Bank lifted its holdings in Valvoline by 1,004.9% in the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 895 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Valvoline during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. American National Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Valvoline during the first quarter worth $40,000. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 67.5% during the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,164 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 469 shares in the last quarter. 96.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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