United Capital Management of KS Inc. Boosts Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

United Capital Management of KS Inc. increased its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 3.7% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 75,721 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,679 shares during the quarter. Valero Energy comprises 1.7% of United Capital Management of KS Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. United Capital Management of KS Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $9,283,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $1,176,000. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,585 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $754,000 after acquiring an additional 301 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,497 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $3,443,000 after acquiring an additional 304 shares in the last quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 16.6% during the 3rd quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd now owns 2,088 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $282,000 after acquiring an additional 298 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC grew its holdings in Valero Energy by 13.1% during the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 17,583 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,374,000 after acquiring an additional 2,036 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 2.7 %

VLO stock opened at $129.20 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $133.12 and a 200 day moving average of $133.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.70 billion, a PE ratio of 15.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $116.84 and a 52 week high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.50%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.30%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on VLO. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $156.08.

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.