Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Acquires 270 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC increased its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 2.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,298 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 270 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,391,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $142.34 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $119.88 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The company has a market capitalization of $45.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.13, a PEG ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.39. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $141.01 and its 200 day moving average is $152.80.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.11. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 21.01% and a net margin of 4.25%. The firm had revenue of $34.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.40 EPS. Valero Energy’s quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 1st were given a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 1st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.46%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised Valero Energy from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $172.00 to $165.00 in a report on Wednesday. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 4th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $146.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $162.60.

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.