Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) have received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from eleven brokerages that currently cover the stock, according to recent reports. Out of these analysts, four have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating, and one has rated the stock as a strong buy. The average target price for Valvoline among these analysts is set at $44.40 over the next 12 months.

Several analysts have recently provided their insights on Valvoline's stock. Morgan Stanley confirmed its "equal weight" rating, but lowered its target price from $42.00 to $38.00. This update was detailed in a research note released on January 21st. Stifel Nicolaus recently began coverage on Valvoline, giving it a hold rating and a price target of $42.00 in their report dated December 20th. Meanwhile, Mizuho adjusted its price target from $46.00 to $42.00 while maintaining an "outperform" rating on January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada raised its target price on Valvoline from $46.00 to $48.00, endorsing the stock with an "outperform" rating in a February 7th report. Significant insights were also shared by JPMorgan Chase & Co., which increased Valvoline’s target from $37.00 to $38.00, assigning the stock a "neutral" rating on February 13th.

Valvoline Price Performance

The stock of Valvoline opened trading at $35.28. The company's financial ratios indicate a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.58, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.39. Over the past year, Valvoline has recorded a low of $33.90 and a high of $48.27. The company is valued at approximately $4.48 billion, featuring a PE ratio of 16.88 and a beta of 1.48. Current moving averages demonstrate a 50-day price of $36.86 and a 200-day price of $38.73.

Valvoline previously announced its earnings results on February 6th. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.32, surpassing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.31 by a margin. This performance highlighted Valvoline’s return on equity at 143.64% and a net profit margin of 16.34%. Analysts continue to project that Valvoline will deliver an earnings per share of approximately 1.63 for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Valvoline

In other news concerning insider activity, Julie Marie O'daniel, an insider, sold 6,000 shares of Valvoline on February 25th at an average price of $37.41, making the total sale value around $224,460. After this transaction, O'daniel retained ownership of 15,305 shares, now valued at approximately $572,560. The transaction was publicly disclosed through a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It's notable that corporate insiders hold about 0.66% of Valvoline's shares.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valvoline

Recent activity from institutional investors has influenced Valvoline's stock. MAI Capital Management increased its shares by 2.4% in the third quarter, acquiring an additional 268 shares to reach a total of 11,624 shares valued at $486,000. Cetera Investment Advisers also raised their stake by 1.3% in the fourth quarter, holding 21,425 shares worth $775,000 after buying 277 more shares. Arizona State Retirement System expanded its position by 0.8%, now owning 35,530 shares valued at $1,285,000. Similarly, Advisory Research Inc. increased its ownership by 0.7%, leading to a total of 41,045 shares with a value of $1,485,000 after acquiring 295 additional shares. Furthermore, Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake by 10.9%, owning 3,548 shares worth $128,000. Collectively, institutional and hedge funds own approximately 96.13% of Valvoline's stock.

About Valvoline

Valvoline Inc. is engaged in providing vehicle service centers and retail operations throughout the United States and Canada. The company offers various services, including fluid exchanges for motor oil, transmission fluid, and coolant, along with parts replacement for batteries and filters. Valvoline also provides safety services such as tire checks, inflation, and light bulb replacements.

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