Barclays Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Stock

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its target price raised by investment analysts at Barclays from $279.00 to $323.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “overweight” rating on the oil and gas company’s stock. Barclays‘s price target suggests a potential upside of 3.33% from the company’s previous close.

VLO has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Weiss Ratings raised Valero Energy from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $178.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Mizuho boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $222.00 to $289.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Valero Energy from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on Valero Energy from $292.00 to $338.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $269.29.

Valero Energy Trading Up 3.7%

NYSE VLO opened at $312.60 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.58. The firm has a market cap of $92.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.72, a PEG ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 0.55. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $269.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $238.16. Valero Energy has a one year low of $130.78 and a one year high of $320.24.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $10.13 by $2.41. The firm had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 3.37% and a return on equity of 15.94%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.28 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy will post 36.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of Valero Energy stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total transaction of $2,011,275.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 19,742 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,294,212.14. The trade was a 27.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Friedenthal Financial purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $954,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 24.7% in the 4th quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 565,171 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $92,004,000 after purchasing an additional 112,118 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. boosted 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 during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,079,000. Finally, Sierra Summit Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 2,325.2% in the fourth 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.

Key Stories Impacting Valero Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Record earnings significantly exceeded expectations. Valero reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $12.54 per share, above the $10.13 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 48.8% year over year to $44.48 billion. Net income reached $3.7 billion, or $12.62 per share, compared with $714 million a year earlier. Valero Energy beats quarterly profit estimates on higher refining margins
• Positive Sentiment: Refining performance was the main catalyst. Higher margins, sturdy fuel demand and increased U.S. fuel exports—partly supported by Middle East tensions—boosted profitability. Management also highlighted gains in renewable diesel and ethanol, strengthening both earnings and cash flow. Valero Energy Q2 2026 earnings call transcript
• Positive Sentiment: Lower-cost feedstocks provided an additional margin benefit. Reports noted that access to less-expensive Venezuelan feedstocks aided the quarter’s profitability, contributing to Valero’s highest-ever second-quarter profit. Valero posts highest-ever Q2 profit
• Positive Sentiment: Shareholder returns remain supportive. Valero reaffirmed its quarterly dividend of $1.20 per share, payable August 31 to shareholders of record July 31. Analysts also continue to identify VLO as a beneficiary of tight fuel supplies, steady demand and improving refining-sector earnings. Valero dividend analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst estimates for fiscal 2026 are being updated following the earnings beat, but the stock’s valuation reflects strong, potentially cyclical refining profits. Future performance will depend heavily on margins, fuel demand and export conditions. Analysts issue Valero Energy FY2026 forecasts
• Negative Sentiment: Management said tax-credit changes and registration hurdles have slowed biofuel imports, complicating compliance with renewable-fuel blending mandates and creating uncertainty for the renewable fuels business. Valero discusses biofuel import hurdles

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.