Quantbot Technologies LP Lowers Stock Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Quantbot Technologies LP cut its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 90.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,460 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 44,220 shares during the quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $547,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. Sciencast Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $763,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth $44,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. boosted its position in Valero Energy by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 80,537 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $9,873,000 after purchasing an additional 3,912 shares during the last quarter. Boundary Creek Advisors LP bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $11,033,000. Finally, Viawealth LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Viawealth LLC now owns 12,293 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,507,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $152.67.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $133.14 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.70, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $116.84 and a one year high of $184.79. 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 business has a fifty day moving average price of $133.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $133.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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, equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s dividend 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.