Cambridge Financial Group Inc. Lowers Stock Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Cambridge Financial Group Inc. trimmed its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 15.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 42,580 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 7,550 shares during the quarter. Valero Energy accounts for about 2.8% of Cambridge Financial Group Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Cambridge Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $5,535,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of VLO traded down $0.50 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $156.84. The stock had a trading volume of 2,356,803 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,689,989. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.59. The firm has a market cap of $52.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.77, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.55. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $104.18 and a 12 month high of $184.79. The business has a fifty day moving average of $163.15 and a 200 day moving average of $141.82.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.64. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 24.82% and a net margin of 5.01%. The business had revenue of $31.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $8.27 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 18.02 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Bank of America upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday, March 15th. Citigroup increased their target price on Valero Energy from $160.00 to $192.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Valero Energy from $167.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Valero Energy from $130.00 to $171.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, March 22nd. Finally, Mizuho cut shares of Valero Energy from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their target price for the company from $150.00 to $173.00 in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $174.40.

Valero Energy 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.