Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Upgraded by Tudor Pickering to “Strong-Buy” Rating

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) was upgraded by Tudor Pickering from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report issued on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.46.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VLO opened at $140.54 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $130.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $137.31. The stock has a market cap of $44.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.57, a PEG ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.42. Valero Energy has a fifty-two week low of $116.84 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 9.58% and a net margin of 2.13%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy will post 8.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VLO. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Tobam bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 196.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

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.