Diversified Trust Co Sells 125 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Diversified Trust Co cut its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 0.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,047 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 125 shares during the quarter. Diversified Trust Co’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,193,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 3.4% in the second quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 46,220 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $7,245,000 after buying an additional 1,520 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 522.8% in the 2nd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 11,210 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,757,000 after acquiring an additional 9,410 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 2,213 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $347,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares during the period. Choreo LLC boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 120.9% during the second quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 12,625 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,994,000 after purchasing an additional 6,911 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hutchinson Capital Management CA grew its stake in Valero Energy by 0.4% in the second quarter. Hutchinson Capital Management CA now owns 58,567 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $9,181,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $123.94 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $131.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $139.46. 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 cap of $39.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $116.84 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 13.07%. The company had revenue of $32.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior 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. On average, analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th were issued a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.45%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 20th. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is currently 38.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $171.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $155.07.

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.