Fulcrum Equity Management Cuts Stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Fulcrum Equity Management lessened its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 14.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,264 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 1,396 shares during the period. Fulcrum Equity Management’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,116,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter worth $27,000. Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the third quarter worth $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Triad Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO opened at $133.32 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $136.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $143.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm has a market cap of $42.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.96, a PEG ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 1.39. Valero Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $120.21 and a 1-year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. The firm had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $7.49 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.21%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 38.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on VLO. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $131.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Mizuho dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price objective for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $155.50.

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.