Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Acquires New Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 33,432 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,098,000.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Tobam acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its position in 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 during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $131.97 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $133.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $133.58. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $116.84 and a 12-month high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market cap of $41.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.56, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. Sell-side analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.43%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 53.30%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company decreased 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 report on Friday, January 31st. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $156.08.

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.