Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. Acquires Shares of 2,893 Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 2,893 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $386,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Greenleaf Trust grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 6,647 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $898,000 after acquiring an additional 582 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 11,318.9% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,076,349 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $145,339,000 after acquiring an additional 1,066,923 shares in the last quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 34.6% in the 3rd quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 478 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 76.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,333 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,125,000 after acquiring an additional 3,598 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Silver Oak Securities Incorporated grew its position in shares of Valero Energy by 306.0% in the 3rd quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 6,070 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $825,000 after acquiring an additional 4,575 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Trading Down 3.2 %

Shares of VLO stock opened at $134.67 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. Valero Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $116.84 and a 1 year high of $184.79. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $131.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $135.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.63 billion, a PE ratio of 15.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. As a group, research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 53.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on VLO shares. Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Citigroup decreased their target price 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. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. 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 given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

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.