Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Shares Purchased by Foundations Investment Advisors LLC

Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 18.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 42,599 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 6,601 shares during the quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $5,222,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 196.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $50,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:VLO opened at $141.40 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm has a market cap of $44.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $131.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $137.82. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $116.84 and a 1-year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.20%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 38.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VLO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Mizuho decreased their target price on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. TD Cowen lowered 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. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $154.54.

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.