Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $173.2667.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Friday. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $216.00 price target for the company. Raymond James Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $181.00 price target (up previously from $177.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Friday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $135.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $166.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $160.10 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $49.73 billion, a PE ratio of 66.71, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $156.56 and a 200 day moving average of $139.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.62. Valero Energy has a one year low of $99.00 and a one year high of $178.43.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.62. The company had revenue of $29.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 5.76%. The firm’s revenue was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in Valero Energy by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC now owns 16,535 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,815,000 after purchasing an additional 369 shares during the last quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 2,507 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $427,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Nicholas Wealth LLC. boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. Nicholas Wealth LLC. now owns 10,805 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,840,000 after acquiring an additional 1,397 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 17.7% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,706,187 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $286,076,000 after acquiring an additional 256,373 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 16,361 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,786,000 after acquiring an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. 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.