Rakuten Investment Management Inc. Takes Position in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Rakuten Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 26,627 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,534,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Norges Bank bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $827,390,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 16.7% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,141,511 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,089,897,000 after buying an additional 1,164,217 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 162.5% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 523,692 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $70,395,000 after buying an additional 324,174 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Valero Energy by 2.5% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,724,707 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,576,035,000 after buying an additional 286,942 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Valero Energy by 17.7% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,706,187 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $286,076,000 after acquiring an additional 256,373 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $186.92 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $174.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $162.20. Valero Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $99.00 and a twelve month high of $193.33. The company has a market capitalization of $57.01 billion, a PE ratio of 39.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $3.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.51. The firm had revenue of $32.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.80 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 8.69% and a net margin of 1.21%.The company’s quarterly revenue was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.14 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 5th will be issued a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 5th. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 94.36%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Erste Group Bank started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Monday, November 10th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Zacks Research lowered shares of Valero Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $183.00.

Valero Energy News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Board raises regular quarterly dividend from $1.13 to $1.20 (annualized $4.80), payable Mar 9, boosting yield and returning cash to shareholders — a clear shareholder-friendly move that tends to support the stock. Valero Energy Corporation Increases Regular Cash Dividend on Common Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Valero bought a Venezuelan crude cargo under Washington’s deal with Caracas — could provide discounted feedstock and near-term refining margin upside if crude comes in at favorable economics. This also signals access to additional crude sources for Gulf Coast operations. Exclusive: Valero buys Venezuelan oil cargo as part of Washington’s deal with Caracas
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst / market commentary highlights VLO as an oil/refining play (VanEck mention) and Zacks pieces note that softer crude prices can improve refining margins — both items can support expectations for stronger downstream profitability. VanEck spotlights SLB, HAL, BKR, PSX, and VLO as oil plays
• Positive Sentiment: Pre-earnings coverage: analysts expect earnings growth and a potential beat next week — if results and guidance come in above consensus this could lift the stock. Valero Energy (VLO) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week’s Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces examine VLO’s S&P 500 role and longer-term positioning in refining scale — informative for strategic investors but unlikely to move the stock immediately. Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) s&p 500 Index Role In Refining Scale
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation pieces send mixed signals (P/E vs. DCF), leaving upside contingent on margins and earnings delivery rather than valuation rerating alone. A Look At Valero Energy (VLO) Valuation As P/E And DCF Send Mixed Signals
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research downgraded Valero from “strong-buy” to “hold,” which can increase short-term selling pressure or temper buy-side enthusiasm ahead of earnings. Zacks.com
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the positive headlines, the stock is trading lower today on lighter-than-average volume, suggesting investors are waiting for the upcoming earnings print and details on margins and guidance before adding positions.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Valero Energy news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total value of $1,728,540.66. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 134,196 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $23,352,787.92. This trade represents a 6.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.04% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.