Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. Makes New $214,000 Investment in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,624 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $214,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 122.0% during the 4th quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 333 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $44,000. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $52,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Stock Up 0.4%

Valero Energy stock opened at $134.04 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. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.99. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $99.00 and a fifty-two week high of $167.78. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $122.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $127.56.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.27). The firm had revenue of $28.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.82 EPS. Analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 20th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 20th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 159.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $121.00 to $118.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Barclays boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $127.00 to $154.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $151.93.

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.