What the Options Market Tells Us About Valero Energy

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Valero Energy VLO.

And retail traders should know.

We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.

Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with VLO, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.

So how do we know what these investors just did?

Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for Valero Energy.

This isn't normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 55% bullish and 44%, bearish.

Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $146,575, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $235,559.

Projected Price Targets

Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $70.0 to $165.0 for Valero Energy over the last 3 months.

Insights into Volume & Open Interest

Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Valero Energy's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Valero Energy's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $70.0 to $165.0 over the preceding 30 days.

Valero Energy Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days

Significant Options Trades Detected:

About Valero Energy

Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 15 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 12 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 1.2 billion gallons per year of renewable diesel.

In light of the recent options history for Valero Energy, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.

Where Is Valero Energy Standing Right Now?

• Trading volume stands at 1,158,113, with VLO's price down by -1.3%, positioned at $137.09.
• RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.
• Earnings announcement expected in 84 days.

What Analysts Are Saying About Valero Energy

A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $152.0.

• An analyst from Barclays has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Valero Energy, which currently sits at a price target of $149.
• An analyst from Raymond James has decided to maintain their Strong Buy rating on Valero Energy, which currently sits at a price target of $155.

Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Valero Energy options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.