Caprock Group LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Caprock Group LLC boosted its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 23.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,050 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,508 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,600,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in shares of 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 worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $38,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of Valero Energy stock opened at $132.85 on Monday. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $130.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $137.52. The firm has a market cap of $42.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.91, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.40%. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on VLO. TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 target price on the stock. Barclays cut their price target on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Finally, Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

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.