Public Sector Pension Investment Board Cuts Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Public Sector Pension Investment Board lessened its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 1.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 56,047 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 900 shares during the quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $7,568,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of VLO. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the second quarter worth about $27,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased 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 valued at approximately $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 0.3 %

VLO opened at $139.02 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $120.21 and a 1-year high of $184.79. The company has a market capitalization of $44.01 billion, a PE ratio of 12.47, a PEG ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.39. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $136.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $145.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 last year, the firm earned $7.49 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be paid 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 3.08%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on VLO. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 16th. Scotiabank cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 10th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 4th. Citigroup cut their price target 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. Finally, Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $155.86.

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.