Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Holdings Boosted by Argyle Capital Management Inc.

Argyle Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 49.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,500 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,825 shares during the period. Argyle Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $743,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, First Foundation Advisors purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Valero Energy stock traded down $2.23 on Tuesday, reaching $130.03. 698,573 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,972,562. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $119.88 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $137.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $149.45. The stock has a market cap of $41.66 billion, a PE ratio of 11.87, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 1.39.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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. The business had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.04 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.01% and a net margin of 2.74%. The firm’s revenue was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $7.49 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 9.6 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on VLO shares. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $177.00 target price for the company. Citigroup lowered their target price on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. StockNews.com downgraded Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.53.

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.