Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Shares Sold by Highland Capital Management LLC

Highland Capital Management LLC reduced its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 2.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,651 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 540 shares during the quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $3,267,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Foster & Motley Inc. lifted its position in Valero Energy by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 22,264 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,729,000 after purchasing an additional 1,462 shares during the last quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 21.4% in the fourth quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 105,009 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $12,873,000 after purchasing an additional 18,491 shares in the last quarter. Smith Group Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,716,000. Moody Aldrich Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,694,000. Finally, Perigon Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 64.9% during the fourth quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,879 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $598,000 after purchasing an additional 1,920 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $135.36 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market cap of $42.85 billion, a PE ratio of 12.14, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42. The company’s 50-day moving average is $131.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $137.72. Valero Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $116.84 and a 1 year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. Equities analysts anticipate 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 will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 38.39%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on VLO. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Scotiabank lowered their target price on Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Piper Sandler raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 target price for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $154.54.

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.