Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) Releases Earnings Results

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The oil and gas company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.50, Zacks reports. Valero Energy had a net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 13.07%.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VLO traded down $0.48 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $137.87. 691,486 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,876,064. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $131.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $137.72. Valero Energy has a 12 month low of $116.84 and a 12 month high of $184.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.65 billion, a PE ratio of 12.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This is a positive change from Valero Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energy’s payout ratio is 38.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VLO has been the topic of several analyst reports. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $173.00 to $141.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 9th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.54.

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.