Mizuho Lowers Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Price Target to $171.00

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price target reduced by Mizuho from $175.00 to $171.00 in a report published on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $177.00 price objective for the company. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $171.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $187.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, June 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $171.36.

Valero Energy Price Performance

VLO stock opened at $138.67 on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $145.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $155.13. The company has a market capitalization of $44.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.87, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.40. Valero Energy has a twelve month low of $119.88 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.11. Valero Energy had a net margin of 4.25% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The company had revenue of $34.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.97 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $5.40 EPS. Valero Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Valero Energy will post 12.3 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 1st were paid a $1.07 dividend. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 1st. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 21.20%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Collective Family Office LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Collective Family Office LLC now owns 4,040 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $690,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,327 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $227,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,970 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Aua Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Aua Capital Management LLC now owns 2,261 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $386,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Finally, OmniStar Financial Group Inc. increased its position in Valero Energy by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,543 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $712,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. 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.