Sei Investments Co. Grows Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Sei Investments Co. raised its position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 6.0% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 219,606 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 12,425 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $26,924,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $134,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 10,335 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,395,000 after buying an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 34.6% during the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 110,660 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $14,942,000 after acquiring an additional 28,441 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 71.9% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 5,117 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $691,000 after acquiring an additional 2,141 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 3,597 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $486,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VLO stock opened at $132.02 on Wednesday. Valero Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $116.84 and a 52-week high of $184.79. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $133.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $133.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.58 billion, a PE ratio of 15.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS 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%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a $1.13 dividend. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.42%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 53.30%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Tudor Pickering raised Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. 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 research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average 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.