True North Advisors LLC Increases Position in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

True North Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,878 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the period. True North Advisors LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $521,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Valero Energy by 32.8% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 136,413 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $16,723,000 after acquiring an additional 33,710 shares during the last quarter. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $149,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1.0% during the first quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 38,945 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $5,143,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Central Pacific Bank Trust Division increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 315.0% during the first quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 2,897 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $383,000 after purchasing an additional 2,199 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO opened at $174.62 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $99.00 and a 52-week high of $176.02. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $148.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $135.25. The company has a market capitalization of $54.25 billion, a PE ratio of 72.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.10.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.62. Valero Energy had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 5.76%. The company had revenue of $29.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 31st were paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 31st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 188.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on VLO shares. Bank of America upgraded Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $152.00 to $179.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Citigroup cut shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $134.00 to $150.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. TD Cowen lowered shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $118.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $166.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $165.00.

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.