13,963 Shares in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Bought by United Capital Financial Advisors LLC

United Capital Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 13,963 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,636,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sierra Summit Advisors LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 2,325.2% during the 4th quarter. Sierra Summit Advisors LLC now owns 36,378 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $5,922,000 after purchasing an additional 34,878 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 846.9% in the 4th quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 14,752 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,401,000 after purchasing an additional 13,194 shares during the period. North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,743,000. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 192,430 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $47,546,000 after buying an additional 7,702 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ethic Inc. raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 10.2% during the fourth quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 45,008 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $7,327,000 after buying an additional 4,153 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.8%

Shares of VLO opened at $352.66 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The business has a fifty day moving average of $303.55 and a 200 day moving average of $259.07. The company has a market cap of $101.54 billion, a PE ratio of 14.63, a P/E/G ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.55. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $150.10 and a 52-week high of $353.00.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.17% and a return on equity of 26.74%. The business had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $39.47 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.28 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 48.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 40.62 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.20 per share. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 31st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 19.92%.

Key Headlines Impacting Valero Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Tight refining market supports margins: Historically low fuel inventories, limited excess refining capacity and ongoing supply disruptions are creating a favorable environment for higher crack spreads. Valero’s flexible, complex coastal refinery network is well positioned to process various crude grades and supply multiple fuel markets. Valero Energy Looks Well Placed in the Tight Global Refining Market
• Positive Sentiment: Strong second-quarter performance and estimates: Valero’s second-quarter 2026 results reportedly showed substantial year-over-year improvement in adjusted EPS and revenue. Rising consensus estimates and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicate that analysts are becoming more constructive on the company’s earnings prospects. Did Strong Q2 2026 Earnings and Refining Tailwinds Just Shift Valero Energy’s Investment Narrative?
• Positive Sentiment: Relative market strength and favorable valuation: VLO recently gained while the broader market declined. Its low PEG ratio compared with industry peers may be adding to the stock’s appeal, particularly as refining profitability expectations improve. Valero Energy Gains as Market Dips
• Negative Sentiment: One analyst downgrade: Erste Group Bank AG lowered Valero from “buy” to “hold,” which could limit upside sentiment after the stock’s strong advance and near-record trading levels. Finviz Valero Analyst Update

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 19,742 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,294,212.14. This represents a 27.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on VLO. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $329.00 price target on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. UBS Group lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $280.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $292.00 to $356.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Valero Energy from $286.00 to $357.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $288.00.

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.