Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Hits New 12-Month High After Analyst Upgrade

Shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday after Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on the stock from $389.00 to $485.00. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Valero Energy traded as high as $450.22 and last traded at $445.6490, with a volume of 375,738 shares. The stock had previously closed at $436.00.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on VLO. Citigroup increased their target price on Valero Energy from $302.00 to $485.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Valero Energy from $255.00 to $411.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, September 14th. Raymond James Financial lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $350.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 14th. Zacks Research upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $401.00 to $394.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $382.62.

Valero Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target to $485 from $389 and maintained an Overweight rating. The new target implies approximately 5.5% upside from the referenced share price, reinforcing the bullish analyst momentum. Wells Fargo Adjusts Price Target on Valero Energy to $485 From $389
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup sharply increased its price target to $485 from $302. Although Citi retained a Neutral rating, the substantial target revision reflects improved expectations for Valero’s earnings and refining outlook. Valero Energy Surges as Citigroup Sharply Hikes Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised its FY2026 EPS estimate to $51.71 from $48.02 and its FY2027 estimate to $42.23 from $36.86. The upgrades support the view that strong fuel demand and tighter refined-product supply can sustain profitability, despite the firm’s Hold rating.
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks included VLO among its top-ranked growth stocks and identified it as a potential low-beta energy stock for navigating volatile oil markets. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for October 14th
• Neutral Sentiment: Valero is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on Thursday. The report could provide a fresh catalyst, with investors focused on refinery margins, fuel demand, utilization rates and management’s outlook. Valero Energy Set to Announce Quarterly Earnings on Thursday
• Negative Sentiment: VLO’s proximity to its 52-week high and the mixed crude-market backdrop—including changing demand expectations, geopolitical risks and potential supply releases—could limit further gains or increase volatility if earnings or guidance disappoint.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Moore Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter worth approximately $13,193,000. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lifted its stake in shares of 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 worth $47,546,000 after acquiring an additional 7,702 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 58,558 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $15,251,000 after acquiring an additional 3,037 shares during the period. TrueMark Investments LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $8,921,000. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in Valero Energy by 377.1% in the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 413,437 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $102,152,000 after acquiring an additional 326,777 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 0.7%

The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $377.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $301.37. The company has a market cap of $132.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. The firm had revenue of $44.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.17% and a return on equity of 26.74%. The business’s revenue was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.28 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 51.77 EPS for the current year.

About Valero Energy

Valero Energy Corporation is an international petroleum refining, renewable fuels and marketing company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1980, the company processes crude oil and other feedstocks into transportation fuels and other products used by commercial, industrial and consumer customers.

Valero’s refined products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, lubricants and petrochemical feedstocks. The company also produces and markets ethanol and renewable diesel, including through its Diamond Green Diesel joint venture with Darling Ingredients.