MFG Wealth Management Inc. Buys Shares of 8,495 Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

MFG Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 8,495 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,041,000.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in VLO. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in Valero Energy by 9.1% during the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 223,016 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $27,340,000 after buying an additional 18,623 shares during the period. Retirement Guys Formula LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Guys Formula LLC now owns 9,652 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,183,000 after acquiring an additional 388 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,299,400 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $160,018,000 after acquiring an additional 5,811 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Inc. OK increased its stake in Valero Energy by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 10,432 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,279,000 after purchasing an additional 776 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management Co raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 96.0% during the fourth quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management Co now owns 392 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $130.95 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $130.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $136.75. 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 Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a market capitalization of $41.46 billion, a PE ratio of 15.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (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%. On average, research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 3.45%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is currently 53.30%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Tudor Pickering raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $154.46.

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.