Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Acquires 2,768 Shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 0.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,511,151 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,768 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 1.42% of Valero Energy worth $552,903,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in VLO. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $669,400,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Valero Energy by 16.1% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 34,725,700 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $4,257,024,000 after acquiring an additional 4,805,133 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $132,469,000. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its position in Valero Energy by 159.3% in the 4th quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 850,161 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $104,221,000 after acquiring an additional 522,233 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 13.6% during the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,072,188 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $499,210,000 after purchasing an additional 487,022 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $109.98 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $99.00 and a fifty-two week high of $168.85. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $125.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $130.83. The stock has a market cap of $34.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $144.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced 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 report on Friday, January 31st. Scotiabank cut their price target on Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Raymond James cut their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $152.46.

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.