International Private Wealth Advisors LLC Increases Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

International Private Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 18.0% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 2,251 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 343 shares during the period. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $276,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Tobam purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 196.8% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on VLO. Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $154.46.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $136.76 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $130.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $137.05. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a market capitalization of $43.30 billion, a PE ratio of 16.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its 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 return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. Research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 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.