Advisory Resource Group Raises Stock Position in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)

Advisory Resource Group boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 438.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 48,341 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 39,364 shares during the period. Valero Energy accounts for 1.3% of Advisory Resource Group’s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Advisory Resource Group’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $6,384,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $669,400,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Valero Energy by 16.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 34,725,700 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $4,257,024,000 after buying an additional 4,805,133 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 15,395.5% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,355,699 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $179,047,000 after buying an additional 1,346,950 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $132,469,000. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $98,376,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Stock Down 1.7%

Valero Energy stock opened at $139.42 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $123.89 and its 200 day moving average price is $127.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market cap of $43.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.99. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $99.00 and a 52 week high of $167.78.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.27). The company had revenue of $28.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 6.30% and a net margin of 0.72%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.82 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 20th were issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 20th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 159.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Wednesday. They issued an “in-line” rating and a $135.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $127.00 to $154.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $150.88.

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.