Paradiem LLC Has $7.33 Million Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Paradiem LLC grew its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO) by 34.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 56,379 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after acquiring an additional 14,370 shares during the period. Valero Energy accounts for approximately 2.0% of Paradiem LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Paradiem LLC’s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $7,329,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth $36,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $42,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE:VLO traded down $1.33 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $165.80. The company had a trading volume of 2,065,193 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,618,982. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.13 billion, a PE ratio of 8.21, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.54. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $161.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $140.68. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $104.18 and a one year high of $184.79. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.64. The business had revenue of $31.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.02 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 5.01% and a return on equity of 24.95%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $8.27 EPS. Analysts forecast that Valero Energy Co. will post 18.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VLO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $171.00 to $184.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 4th. UBS Group increased their target price on Valero Energy from $167.00 to $197.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th. Barclays raised their target price on Valero Energy from $149.00 to $179.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Valero Energy from $161.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $130.00 to $171.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $173.63.

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.