Grimes & Company Inc. Has $533,000 Stock Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Grimes & Company Inc. grew its stake in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 9.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,350 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after buying an additional 361 shares during the period. Grimes & Company Inc.’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $533,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $34,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position 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 buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter worth about $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of VLO opened at $139.80 on Friday. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $116.84 and a 12-month high of $184.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.54, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $131.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $137.93. 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 earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. The business had revenue of $32.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $7.49 EPS. Valero Energy’s quarterly revenue was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 7.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 30th. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.23%. Valero Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 38.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on VLO shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Mizuho cut their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Valero Energy from $192.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $154.57.

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.