Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) Shares Purchased by Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund boosted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 101.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,107 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 9,621 shares during the quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,342,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VLO. Creative Planning grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 3.8% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 84,573 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $11,420,000 after acquiring an additional 3,097 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 7.4% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,540 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,153,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $334,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 132.7% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,643 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $357,000 after purchasing an additional 1,507 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 6.5% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 813,274 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $109,816,000 after purchasing an additional 49,884 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Up 3.4 %

VLO stock opened at $135.49 on Tuesday. 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 capitalization of $42.89 billion, a PE ratio of 15.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $130.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $136.15. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $116.84 and a 12 month 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 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. Equities analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.30%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VLO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays reduced 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 report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their target price 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

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.