Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Stock Rating Cut to “Sell” at Freedom Broker

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) was downgraded by analysts at Freedom Broker from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note issued on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a $276.00 price objective on the oil and gas company’s stock. Freedom Broker‘s price target would indicate a potential downside of 31.69% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other analysts also recently commented on VLO. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $329.00 to $435.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. Mizuho increased their price target on Valero Energy from $300.00 to $434.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Erste Group Bank cut shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $467.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $379.94.

Valero Energy Trading Down 5.3%

NYSE VLO opened at $404.04 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 stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $392.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $279.72. Valero Energy has a twelve month low of $159.90 and a twelve month high of $461.52. The company has a market capitalization of $116.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.05, a PEG ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.59.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The oil and gas company reported $23.90 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $21.17 by $2.73. The firm had revenue of $46.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $42.71 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 47.50% and a net margin of 8.44%. The business’s revenue was up 43.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.66 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 54.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. SYM FINANCIAL Corp grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. SYM FINANCIAL Corp now owns 2,788 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,081,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at $264,000. Black Diamond Financial LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the third quarter worth $216,000. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $338,000. Finally, DMC Group LLC lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 1.5% during the third quarter. DMC Group LLC now owns 5,300 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,054,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks added VLO to its Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth-stocks list, citing favorable growth characteristics and improving earnings expectations. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for October 27th
• Positive Sentiment: Additional Zacks analysis points to solid growth attributes and positive earnings-estimate revisions, which could support further share-price strength. Why Valero Energy Might Be Well Poised for a Surge
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street analysts collectively rate Valero “Moderate Buy,” providing a supportive backdrop for investor sentiment. Valero Energy Stock Rated Moderate Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: An investment analysis describes VLO as a potential hedge, but emphasizes trade-offs associated with refining-cycle exposure and market volatility. Valero: A Potential Hedge, But Not Without Trade-Offs
• Negative Sentiment: Freedom Broker downgraded Valero from Hold to Sell, adding direct pressure to the investment case. Freedom Broker Downgrades Valero Energy
• Negative Sentiment: Michael Burry said he is considering selling, reducing or donating long-held positions, including Valero, because valuations have become stretched. Michael Burry Eyes the Exit on Valero
• Negative Sentiment: Despite record third-quarter results driven by strong refining margins, lighter fourth-quarter guidance, potential Russian diesel imports and crude-price pressure are raising concerns about whether earnings can remain elevated. Valero’s Windfall Quarter Meets Washington’s Push for Cheaper Diesel

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is an international energy company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company’s primary business is refining and marketing transportation fuels, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products used by commercial, industrial and consumer customers.

Valero operates refineries in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Its refining operations also produce asphalt, petrochemical feedstocks and other petroleum-based products. The company markets fuel through wholesale channels and branded retail networks, including Valero, Beacon and Shamrock-branded locations.

In addition to conventional refining, Valero has businesses focused on renewable fuels.