Stiles Financial Services Inc Purchases 3,104 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Stiles Financial Services Inc lifted its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 35.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,884 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 3,104 shares during the quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,863,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Lynx Investment Advisory purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the second quarter worth $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Stock Up 3.5 %

Shares of NYSE:VLO traded up $4.92 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $146.73. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,359,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,981,545. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $150.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $155.71. Valero Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $119.88 and a 52 week high of $184.79. The company has a market capitalization of $47.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.04.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $34.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.97 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 21.01% and a net margin of 4.25%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.40 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 12.86 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 1st. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.92%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.20%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the topic of several analyst reports. Mizuho raised shares of Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $165.00 to $175.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $178.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Scotiabank raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Wolfe Research began coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $177.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Valero Energy from $171.00 to $165.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $174.00.

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.