Courier Capital LLC Reduces Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Courier Capital LLC lowered its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 15.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 13,291 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 2,350 shares during the quarter. Courier Capital LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,629,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in Valero Energy by 196.8% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at $50,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Stock Up 5.0 %

NYSE:VLO traded up $6.34 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $133.49. The company had a trading volume of 5,177,947 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,759,177. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $116.84 and a 12-month high of $184.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.97, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $130.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $138.89.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.04 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $7.49 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th were given a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.21%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target for the company. Piper Sandler lowered Valero Energy from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $169.00 to $123.00 in a research report on Friday, September 20th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $154.57.

About Valero Energy

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.