Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Has $2.08 Million Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lessened its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 17,000 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 1,000 shares during the quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,084,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $91,000. Essex Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 40.8% in the 4th quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 4,526 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $555,000 after acquiring an additional 1,312 shares in the last quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 18.0% in the fourth quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,251 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $276,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares during the last quarter. swisspartners Advisors Ltd raised its holdings in Valero Energy by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. swisspartners Advisors Ltd now owns 46,420 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $5,691,000 after acquiring an additional 1,890 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $110,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $135.49 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $130.47 and its 200-day moving average is $136.67. The firm has a market cap of $42.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $116.84 and a 1-year high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. Equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.34%. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is currently 53.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VLO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays lowered their price target on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Piper Sandler raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price target on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $154.46.

Valero Energy 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.