Essential Planning LLC. Buys Shares of 15,275 Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Essential Planning LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 15,275 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,044,000.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Tobam acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of Valero Energy by 196.8% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 276 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of VLO opened at $125.35 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. Valero Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $116.84 and a twelve month high of $184.79. The company has a 50 day moving average of $132.97 and a 200-day moving average of $134.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.50. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.13% and a return on equity of 9.58%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.61%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.30%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on VLO shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. 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 research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Tudor Pickering upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $156.08.

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.