Level Four Advisory Services LLC Decreases Stock Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Level Four Advisory Services LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 13,667 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 143 shares during the quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,676,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Tobam purchased a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in shares of 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. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of VLO opened at $131.43 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $116.84 and a 12-month high of $184.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market capitalization of $41.40 billion, a PE ratio of 15.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.36. The business’s 50 day moving average is $133.49 and its 200 day moving average is $133.31.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 EPS 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%. Research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were given a dividend of $1.13 per share. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.44%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.30%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on VLO shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Tudor Pickering upgraded Valero Energy from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $152.67.

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.