Metis Global Partners LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Metis Global Partners LLC grew its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 13.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,583 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 2,036 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,374,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of VLO opened at $140.16 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $120.21 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $135.71 and a two-hundred day moving average of $146.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. The company has a market capitalization of $44.37 billion, a PE ratio of 12.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.39.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. The firm had revenue of $32.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $7.49 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 9.1 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be paid a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 20th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Valero Energy from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $172.00 to $165.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Piper Sandler cut shares of Valero Energy from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $169.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 target price for the company. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $155.86.

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.