Valvoline (NYSE:VVV) Stock Price Down 4.9% – Should You Sell?

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV)’s share price traded down 4.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $40.24 and last traded at $40.24. 294,887 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 75% from the average session volume of 1,172,952 shares. The stock had previously closed at $42.33.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Stephens assumed coverage on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $49.00 price objective on the stock. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on shares of Valvoline in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $48.00 price objective on the stock. Baird R W upgraded shares of Valvoline to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Valvoline from $54.00 to $48.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Valvoline from $50.00 to $46.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $47.75.

Valvoline Trading Down 8.9 %

The company’s fifty day moving average price is $41.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $42.03. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.57. The firm has a market cap of $4.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.92 and a beta of 1.46.

Valvoline declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Tuesday, July 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $400.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the basic materials company to reacquire up to 7.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its position in Valvoline by 97.6% during the 1st quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 29,843 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,330,000 after buying an additional 14,739 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Valvoline by 28.8% during the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 126,232 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $5,453,000 after purchasing an additional 28,254 shares during the period. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. lifted its position in Valvoline by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 1,130,920 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $48,857,000 after purchasing an additional 68,340 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its position in Valvoline by 22.8% during the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 139,352 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $6,020,000 after purchasing an additional 25,885 shares during the period. Finally, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. lifted its position in Valvoline by 40.5% during the 2nd quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 424,327 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $18,331,000 after purchasing an additional 122,344 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.13% of the company’s stock.

About Valvoline

Valvoline Inc engages in the operation and franchising of vehicle service centers and retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company, through its service centers, provides fluid exchange for motor oil, transmission and differential fluid, and coolant; parts replacement for batteries, filters, wiper blades, and belts; and safety services, such as tire inflation and rotation, bulbs, and safety checks.