Piper Sandler Cuts Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Price Target to $144.00

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) had its price objective lowered by Piper Sandler from $149.00 to $144.00 in a research report report published on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the oil and gas company’s stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Mizuho decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $156.08.

Valero Energy Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of VLO opened at $127.00 on Friday. Valero Energy has a 1 year low of $116.84 and a 1 year high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $132.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $134.34. The stock has a market cap of $40.21 billion, a PE ratio of 14.98, a PEG 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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.56%. This is an increase from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 53.30%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Tobam acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC raised its stake in Valero Energy by 196.8% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

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.