Sonora Investment Management Group LLC Has $19.85 Million Stock Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Sonora Investment Management Group LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 161,950 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,397 shares during the period. Valero Energy accounts for 1.5% of Sonora Investment Management Group LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Sonora Investment Management Group LLC owned 0.05% of Valero Energy worth $19,853,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the third quarter worth $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 196.8% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $50,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VLO has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Scotiabank reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $154.54.

Valero Energy Stock Down 3.0 %

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $135.36 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $116.84 and a 12-month high of $184.79. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $131.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $137.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.85 billion, a PE ratio of 12.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. As a group, analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm 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 $1.13 dividend. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.34%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 38.39%.

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.