Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) PT Lowered to $171.00 at Barclays

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price target decreased by Barclays from $173.00 to $171.00 in a research report report published on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

VLO has been the subject of several other research reports. UBS Group raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $167.00 to $197.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 26th. StockNews.com raised Valero Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Argus cut Valero Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 16th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $138.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 11th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $176.00 to $171.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $171.47.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE VLO opened at $158.55 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy has a 12 month low of $112.16 and a 12 month high of $184.79. The company has a market capitalization of $51.84 billion, a PE ratio of 7.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.42. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $157.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $150.88.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.64. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 24.82% and a net margin of 5.01%. The company had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $8.27 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Valero Energy will post 16.09 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 30th were paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 30th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.70%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 21.20%.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.12, for a total value of $113,846.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 13,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,105,209.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.47% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VLO. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at $33,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. First Foundation Advisors purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the first quarter worth about $39,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Valero Energy

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.