Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Buys 3,517 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 34.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,815 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 3,517 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,694,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 196.8% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on VLO. Citigroup lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 9th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Mizuho decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $154.57.

Valero Energy Stock Up 1.3 %

NYSE VLO opened at $141.21 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $131.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $138.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $116.84 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.70 billion, a PE ratio of 12.66, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. The firm had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $7.49 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is 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 3.20%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 38.39%.

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.