Marino Stram & Associates LLC Has $1.09 Million Holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Marino Stram & Associates LLC increased its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 0.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,384 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Marino Stram & Associates LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,090,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of VLO. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 1,676.9% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the company’s stock.

Valero Energy Stock Performance

VLO stock traded down $2.68 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $167.99. The company had a trading volume of 999,768 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,365,385. Valero Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $104.18 and a 12 month high of $184.79. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $156.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $138.56. The firm has a market cap of $55.85 billion, a PE ratio of 6.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.56.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $35.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.76 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 31.62% and a net margin of 6.10%. The business’s revenue was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $8.45 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 17.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. This is a boost from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.55%. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is presently 17.31%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on VLO shares. Citigroup began coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $161.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. TD Cowen increased their price target on Valero Energy from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 1st. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Valero Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday, March 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $172.40.

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.