231,804 Shares in Valero Energy Corporation $VLO Acquired by Empowered Funds LLC

Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 231,804 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $60,371,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 3,400.0% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 105 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Valero Energy by 134.0% in the first quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Torren Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO stock opened at $346.90 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $301.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $258.41. Valero Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $149.52 and a fifty-two week high of $353.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.88 billion, a PE ratio of 14.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.55.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. The firm had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 26.74% and a net margin of 5.17%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 48.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.28 EPS. Analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 40.62 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, July 31st will be given a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 31st. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.92%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group increased their price target on Valero Energy from $280.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Valero Energy from $289.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $350.00 target price on Valero Energy in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Valero Energy from $292.00 to $356.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Raymond James Financial upped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $300.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $288.00.

Valero Energy News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Tight global refining capacity, low light-product inventories and supply disruptions are supporting stronger refining margins. Valero’s flexible coastal refinery network is positioned to benefit if these conditions persist. Is Valero Energy Poised to Benefit From a Tight Refining Market?
• Positive Sentiment: Valero was included in a Zacks list of Rank #1 “Strong Buy” growth stocks, reflecting favorable earnings momentum and growth characteristics. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for August 27th
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s approximately $7.9 billion cash balance, low leverage and established capital-return program provide financial flexibility. Refinery upgrades could further improve cash generation and shareholder returns. Will Valero’s Excess Cash Translate Into Higher Shareholder Returns?
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage also points to falling Treasury yields, strong earnings trends and low debt as potential supports for VLO, while Barron’s sees additional upside after the shares more than doubled in 2026 on surging refining margins. 3 Growth Stocks to Buy as Treasury Yields Fall
• Neutral Sentiment: Valero was highlighted in several investment screens and value-oriented articles, increasing visibility but adding limited new company-specific information.
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank AG downgraded Valero from “buy” to “hold.” The move may temper enthusiasm, particularly with the stock trading close to its 52-week high after a substantial rally. Finviz Valero Energy coverage

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total transaction of $2,011,275.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 19,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,294,212.14. This represents a 27.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Company 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.