Securian Asset Management Inc. Lowers Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Securian Asset Management Inc. decreased its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 18,802 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 1,249 shares during the quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,947,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in VLO. RFG Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 10.1% during the 4th quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 2,277 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $296,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 34.1% during the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,023 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,823,000 after buying an additional 3,564 shares during the last quarter. Aspiriant LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $223,000. Financial Counselors Inc. raised its position in Valero Energy by 21.8% in the 4th quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 3,054 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $397,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in Valero Energy by 94.1% in the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 58,782 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $7,642,000 after acquiring an additional 28,501 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of VLO stock traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $151.36. 672,912 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,027,010. The company has a market capitalization of $48.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.42. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $152.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $155.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.48. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $119.88 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.11. Valero Energy had a net margin of 4.25% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The company had revenue of $34.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.40 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 13.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 1st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.20%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $156.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $171.00 to $165.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $187.00 to $169.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 14th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $174.00.

Valero Energy Profile

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.