Tranquility Partners LLC Decreases Stock Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Tranquility Partners LLC decreased its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 15.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,842 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 528 shares during the period. Tranquility Partners LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $384,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Lynx Investment Advisory purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on VLO shares. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Valero Energy from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $172.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 4th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $155.86.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $144.01 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $120.21 and a 1-year high of $184.79. The company has a market cap of $45.59 billion, a PE ratio of 12.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.39. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $136.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $146.26.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 13.07%. The business had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $7.49 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 9.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be given a $1.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.97%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.39%.

Valero Energy Company Profile

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.