Strategic Family Wealth Counselors L.L.C. Makes New $335,000 Investment in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO

Strategic Family Wealth Counselors L.L.C. bought a new position in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 2,055 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $335,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in VLO. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Torren Management LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Cypress Capital Management LLC WY purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Triumph Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 145.3% in the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 211 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $244.55 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $72.61 billion, a PE ratio of 17.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 0.58. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $238.49 and its 200-day moving average price is $201.34. Valero Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $125.10 and a twelve month high of $258.43.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The oil and gas company reported $4.22 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.16 by $1.06. Valero Energy had a net margin of 3.37% and a return on equity of 15.94%. The business had revenue of $32.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.38 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.89 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 28.02 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be given a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 21st. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 34.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on VLO shares. TD Cowen upped their price target on Valero Energy from $255.00 to $276.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, May 4th. Argus raised Valero Energy to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Wolfe Research restated an “underperform” rating and set a $203.00 target price on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, April 4th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $178.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $237.94.

Insider Activity at Valero Energy

In related news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 400 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.60, for a total value of $95,440.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Valero Energy Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.