Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Sets New 1-Year High After Analyst Upgrade

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)’s share price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday after UBS Group raised their price target on the stock from $355.00 to $450.00. UBS Group currently has a buy rating on the stock. Valero Energy traded as high as $381.46 and last traded at $381.5960, with a volume of 315686 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $370.72.

A number of other equities analysts have also issued reports on VLO. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $279.00 to $323.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $356.00 to $389.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $289.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $259.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $301.76.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

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

Key Valero Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target on Valero from $355 to $450 and upgraded the shares to “Buy.” The new target suggests additional upside from recent trading levels, providing a fresh catalyst for the stock. UBS raises Valero price target and upgrades shares
• Positive Sentiment: Valero was included in Zacks’ Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth-stock list for September 9, alongside BP and Monday.com. The ranking may increase attention from momentum- and growth-focused investors. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for September 9
• Positive Sentiment: Energy stocks gained amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, which can raise expectations for tighter crude markets and support refining-sector sentiment. Valero was also highlighted as a low-beta candidate, potentially appealing to investors seeking lower volatility. Premarket movers: Energy stocks rise on Iran tensions

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 57.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 104 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 0.6% during the first quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 6,670 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,648,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd. now owns 1,016 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $265,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Ridgecrest Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Ridgecrest Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,054 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $275,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, M.E. Allison & CO. Inc. raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 5.8% in the second quarter. M.E. Allison & CO. Inc. now owns 916 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $239,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Price Performance

The company’s fifty day moving average is $322.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $269.17. The firm has a market cap of $112.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.64.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.11 by $2.43. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.17% and a return on equity of 26.74%. The business had revenue of $44.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $39.47 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.28 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 48.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 41.15 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 31st. Investors of record on Friday, July 31st were paid a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 31st. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.92%.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation is an international energy company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Its primary business is refining crude oil into transportation fuels and other products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, lubricants and petrochemical feedstocks.

Valero operates refineries and related facilities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and markets its products through wholesale and commercial channels in North America and other international markets.