VLO

Essential Insights for Valero Energy (VLO) Shareholders

It's been a great morning session for Valero Energy investors, who saw their shares rise 4.1% to a price of $157.14 per share. At these higher prices, is the company still fairly valued? If you are thinking about investing, make sure to check the company's fundamentals before making a decision.

Valero Energy's Valuation Is in Line With Its Sector Averages:

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. The company belongs to the Energy sector, which has an average price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.36 and an average price to book (P/B) ratio of 2.1. In contrast, Valero Energy has a trailing 12 month P/E ratio of 7.7 and a P/B ratio of 1.97.

When we divide Valero Energy's P/E ratio by its expected EPS growth rate of the next five years, we obtain its PEG ratio of -0.89. Since it's negative, the company has negative growth expectations, and most investors will probably avoid the stock unless it has an exceptionally low P/E and P/B ratio.

Exceptional EPS Growth and Healthy Leverage Levels:

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Revenue (M) $117,033 $108,324 $64,912 $113,977 $176,383 $144,766
Operating Margins 4% 4% -2% 2% 9% 8%
Net Margins 3% 2% -2% 1% 7% 6%
Net Income (M) $3,122 $2,422 -$1,421 $930 $11,528 $8,835
Net Interest Expense (M) $470 $454 $563 $603 $562 $592
Depreciation & Amort. (M) $52 $53 $48 $47 $45 $43
Diluted Shares (M) 428 414 407 407 396 353
Earnings Per Share $7.29 $5.84 -$3.5 $2.27 $29.04 $24.92
EPS Growth n/a -19.89% -159.93% 164.86% 1179.3% -14.19%
Avg. Price $80.88 $70.38 $50.56 $66.27 $98.73 $157.14
P/E Ratio 11.08 12.05 -14.45 29.19 3.4 6.3
Free Cash Flow (M) $3,456 $5,389 -$66 $5,859 $12,574 $9,229
EV / EBITDA 8.9 9.38 -20.94 16.91 3.0 5.41
Total Debt (M) $9,109 $9,672 $14,677 $13,870 $11,635 $11,524
Net Debt / EBITDA 1.33 1.82 -7.42 4.48 0.43 0.51
Current Ratio 1.65 1.44 1.71 1.26 1.38 1.56

Valero Energy has exceptional EPS growth and generally positive cash flows. Additionally, the company's financial statements display a decent current ratio of 1.56 and healthy leverage levels. Furthermore, Valero Energy has weak operating margins with a positive growth rate.

The above analysis is intended for educational purposes only and was performed on the basis of publicly available data. It is not to be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any buy, sell, or other recommendations mentioned in the article are direct quotations of consensus recommendations from the analysts covering the stock, and do not represent the opinions of Market Inference or its writers. Past performance, accounting data, and inferences about market position and corporate valuation are not reliable indicators of future price movements. Market Inference does not provide financial advice. Investors should conduct their own review and analysis of any company of interest before making an investment decision.

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