Field & Main Bank purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor purchased 6,843 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,782,000.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 3,400.0% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 105 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 134.0% during the first quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the first quarter worth $33,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy in the third quarter worth $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.
Valero Energy Stock Performance
NYSE VLO opened at $352.66 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $303.55 and its 200-day moving average is $259.07. Valero Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $150.10 and a 12-month high of $353.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm has a market cap of $101.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.55.
Valero Energy Announces Dividend
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 31st. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 19.92%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
VLO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group set a $350.00 price objective on Valero Energy in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Zacks Research raised shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, June 12th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $279.00 to $323.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Valero Energy from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $288.00.
Read Our Latest Research Report on VLO
Insider Activity at Valero Energy
In other news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 19,742 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,294,212.14. This trade represents a 27.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.36% of the stock is owned by insiders.
More Valero Energy News
Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Tight refining market supports margins: Historically low fuel inventories, limited excess refining capacity and ongoing supply disruptions are creating a favorable environment for higher crack spreads. Valero’s flexible, complex coastal refinery network is well positioned to process various crude grades and supply multiple fuel markets. Valero Energy Looks Well Placed in the Tight Global Refining Market
- Positive Sentiment: Strong second-quarter performance and estimates: Valero’s second-quarter 2026 results reportedly showed substantial year-over-year improvement in adjusted EPS and revenue. Rising consensus estimates and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicate that analysts are becoming more constructive on the company’s earnings prospects. Did Strong Q2 2026 Earnings and Refining Tailwinds Just Shift Valero Energy’s Investment Narrative?
- Positive Sentiment: Relative market strength and favorable valuation: VLO recently gained while the broader market declined. Its low PEG ratio compared with industry peers may be adding to the stock’s appeal, particularly as refining profitability expectations improve. Valero Energy Gains as Market Dips
- Negative Sentiment: One analyst downgrade: Erste Group Bank AG lowered Valero from “buy” to “hold,” which could limit upside sentiment after the stock’s strong advance and near-record trading levels. Finviz Valero Analyst Update
About Valero Energy
Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas–based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company’s operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.
In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.
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