Entropy Technologies LP Acquires Shares of 7,030 Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Entropy Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 7,030 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $949,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VLO. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.8 %

NYSE:VLO opened at $139.55 on Thursday. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $120.21 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $135.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $146.80.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.04 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $7.49 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 9.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be given a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 20th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler lowered Valero Energy from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $169.00 to $123.00 in a research report on Friday, September 20th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $155.86.

Valero Energy 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.