Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Price Target Raised to $355.00 at UBS Group

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its target price lifted by UBS Group from $280.00 to $355.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. UBS Group currently has a buy rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on VLO. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $329.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Wall Street Zen upgraded Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, April 4th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $279.00 to $323.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $259.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $292.00 to $338.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $277.47.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of VLO opened at $312.89 on Friday. Valero Energy has a fifty-two week low of $130.78 and a fifty-two week high of $320.24. The company has a market capitalization of $92.91 billion, a PE ratio of 12.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 0.55. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $270.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $238.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.58.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $10.11 by $2.43. The business had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 27.11% and a net margin of 5.17%.The business’s revenue was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.28 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 36.64 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced 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 dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 31st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.92%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 19,742 shares in the company, valued at $5,294,212.14. This represents a 27.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Friedenthal Financial purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $954,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its holdings in Valero Energy by 24.7% during the 4th quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 565,171 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $92,004,000 after purchasing an additional 112,118 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 212,104 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,812,000 after purchasing an additional 5,694 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,079,000. Finally, Sierra Summit Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of 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 buying an additional 34,878 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Record earnings significantly exceeded expectations. Valero reported second-quarter net income of $3.7 billion, or $12.62 per share, versus $714 million, or $2.28 per share, a year earlier. Adjusted EPS of $12.54 surpassed consensus estimates near $9.87-$10.13, while revenue rose 48.8% to $44.48 billion. Valero Energy beats quarterly profit estimates on higher refining margins
• Positive Sentiment: Refining conditions were particularly favorable. Higher refining margins, sturdy fuel demand and increased U.S. fuel exports—partly supported by heightened Middle East tensions—boosted profitability. Lower-cost Venezuelan feedstocks also aided results. Valero posts highest-ever Q2 profit
• Positive Sentiment: Renewables and capital discipline added support. Gains in renewable diesel and ethanol contributed to stronger profits and cash flow, while management emphasized disciplined capital allocation and ongoing shareholder returns. VLO Q2 Earnings Call Highlights Refining Strength
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised their outlooks. Wells Fargo increased its price target from $292 to $356 and retained an “overweight” rating. Barclays lifted its target from $279 to $323 and also rated the stock “overweight,” reinforcing the positive reaction to the earnings report.
• Positive Sentiment: The dividend remains a key attraction. Valero reaffirmed its $1.20-per-share quarterly dividend, payable August 31 to shareholders of record July 31, supporting the investment case based on cash returns. Valero Energy Corp’s Dividend Analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Valero’s strong quarter improves its value profile, but the stock’s rally leaves less upside to some analyst targets and increases sensitivity to future refining-margin normalization.
• Negative Sentiment: Management said tax-credit changes and registration hurdles have slowed biofuel imports, creating challenges for renewable-fuel compliance and potentially limiting near-term benefits in the company’s renewables business. Tax-credit overhaul slows biofuel imports

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.