Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Price Target Raised to $485.00

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price objective upped by Wells Fargo & Company from $389.00 to $485.00 in a report issued on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

A number of other research firms have also commented on VLO. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $467.00 price target on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $395.00 to $414.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $300.00 to $434.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $401.00 to $394.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $382.62.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO opened at $445.15 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $128.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.32, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.59. Valero Energy has a 52 week low of $156.16 and a 52 week high of $461.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $383.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $303.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.64.

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 3,400.0% during the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 105 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the period. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 57.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 134.0% during the 1st quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Finally, University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 157.0% during the 4th quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. now owns 203 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect third-quarter earnings to surge approximately 480.1% year over year, supported by strong refining margins and tight fuel markets. Valero is scheduled to report on October 22. Valero Energy Gears Up to Report Q3 Earnings: What’s in the Cards?
• Positive Sentiment: Valero’s ability to process discounted heavy sour crude, including Canadian and potentially Venezuelan supplies, could support stronger capture rates and refining profitability by lowering feedstock costs. Can Valero’s Heavy Crude Advantage Support Stronger Refining Margins?
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks added VLO to its Rank #1, or Strong Buy, growth-stock list. Wells Fargo raised its price target to $485 from $389, while Citigroup lifted its target to $485 and cited long-term refinery capture potential and wider heavy-crude discounts. Wells Fargo Adjusts Price Target on Valero Energy
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation analysts raised their fair-value estimate from about $360 to roughly $402 as margin and capital-return expectations improved, but ratings remain mixed and the stock’s recent run has been unusually strong. Valero Energy Stock Fair Value Rises
• Negative Sentiment: Rising crude costs could reduce refining margins, and analysts caution that VLO may be fully priced after its sharp rally. The stock also declined in the prior session while the broader market gained, highlighting profit-taking and sensitivity to earnings expectations. Valero Energy Stock Looks Fully Priced

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.