Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC Has $2.32 Million Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 10.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,899 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,794 shares during the quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,317,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Stephens Inc. AR boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 60,757 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $7,448,000 after buying an additional 5,125 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 224,782 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $27,556,000 after acquiring an additional 2,511 shares in the last quarter. Westbourne Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Valero Energy by 14.6% during the fourth quarter. Westbourne Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 55,045 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $6,748,000 after purchasing an additional 7,014 shares during the last quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Valero Energy by 8.2% during the fourth quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,134 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $875,000 after purchasing an additional 543 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Shepherd Financial Partners LLC grew its stake in Valero Energy by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC now owns 28,666 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $3,514,000 after purchasing an additional 672 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company dropped 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, January 31st. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $154.46.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $136.90 on Wednesday. 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 $43.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $130.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $136.90. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $116.84 and a one year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, beating 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, equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. 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 3.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 53.30%.

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.