Evoke Wealth LLC Sells 158 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Evoke Wealth LLC decreased its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 3.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,269 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 158 shares during the period. Evoke Wealth LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $523,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Horizon Investments LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 5,362 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $652,000 after buying an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Valero Energy by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 80,820 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $9,908,000 after buying an additional 992 shares in the last quarter. Kennondale Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $714,000. RD Lewis Holdings Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth $305,000. Finally, Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. now owns 8,157 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,000,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on VLO shares. Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 7th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $156.08.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of VLO opened at $131.97 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $133.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is $133.58. The company has a market capitalization of $41.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. 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 fifty-two week low of $116.84 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79.

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 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%. Research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were given a dividend of $1.13 per share. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.30%.

About Valero Energy

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.