Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC Raises Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 11.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,539 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 999 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,169,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at about $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted 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 period. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter worth about $38,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on VLO shares. Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Scotiabank dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $154.46.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $134.20 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $42.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $130.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $137.33. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $116.84 and a one year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. Equities analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.29 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be given a $1.13 dividend. 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 3.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 53.30%.

Valero Energy Company 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.