Entropy Technologies LP Sells 13,772 Shares of Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Entropy Technologies LP lowered its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 56.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,724 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 13,772 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,746,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Torren Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. AXS Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 32.9% in the fourth quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 206 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 4.5%

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $247.12 on Tuesday. Valero Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $130.78 and a twelve month high of $265.61. The company has a market cap of $73.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The company’s 50 day moving average is $245.57 and its 200 day moving average is $213.33.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The oil and gas company reported $4.22 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.16 by $1.06. Valero Energy had a net margin of 3.37% and a return on equity of 15.94%. The business had revenue of $32.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.38 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.89 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 26.83 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be paid a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 21st. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 34.88%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on VLO shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold (c)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $178.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $220.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Finally, Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $222.00 to $289.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $245.59.

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.