Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA Makes New $110,000 Investment in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA bought a new position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 900 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $110,000.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Tobam bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 196.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on VLO shares. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $154.46.

Valero Energy Stock Up 2.8 %

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $136.76 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $43.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $130.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $137.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. Valero Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $116.84 and a 52-week high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. Analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 53.30%.

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.