S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC Sells 504 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC decreased its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,989 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 504 shares during the period. Valero Energy accounts for 1.4% of S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $4,289,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Moseley Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Moseley Investment Management Inc. now owns 15,089 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,850,000 after acquiring an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 20.6% during the fourth quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 4,679 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $574,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 121.0% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 220,387 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $27,017,000 after purchasing an additional 120,652 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,787 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,445,000 after purchasing an additional 917 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Community Trust & Investment Co. lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 7.4% in the fourth quarter. Community Trust & Investment Co. now owns 21,919 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,687,000 after buying an additional 1,514 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE VLO opened at $134.18 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.03, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $116.84 and a 52 week high of $184.79. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $131.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $138.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 EPS 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $7.49 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th were given a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.19%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 20th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 38.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on VLO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Scotiabank decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently 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.