Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Given New $172.00 Price Target at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its target price cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $178.00 to $172.00 in a research report report published on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

Several other analysts have also commented on VLO. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $171.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday. StockNews.com raised shares of Valero Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $184.00 to $179.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 6th. Argus downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 16th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Valero Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a report on Friday, March 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $171.47.

Valero Energy Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $157.96 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $157.19 and a 200-day moving average of $150.68. The firm has a market cap of $51.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy has a twelve month low of $112.16 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.64. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.01% and a return on equity of 24.82%. The business had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $8.27 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Valero Energy will post 16.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 30th were issued a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.71%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.20%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Valero Energy

In other news, Director Kimberly S. Greene sold 720 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.12, for a total value of $113,846.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 13,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,105,209.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.47% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, First Foundation Advisors bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Company Profile

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.