Investors with significant funds have taken a bearish position in Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO), a development that retail traders should be aware of.
This was brought to our attention today through our monitoring of publicly accessible options data at Benzinga. The exact nature of these investors remains a mystery, but such a major move in VLO usually indicates foreknowledge of upcoming events.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner identified 19 options transactions for Valero Energy. This is an unusual occurrence. The sentiment among these large-scale traders is mixed, with 42% being bullish and 52% bearish. Of all the options we discovered, 18 are puts, valued at $2,668,353, and there was a single call, worth $38,885.
What's The Price Target?
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $85.0 to $170.0 for Valero Energy over the last 3 months.
Insights into Volume & Open Interest
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Valero Energy options trades today is 845.73 with a total volume of 3,141.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Valero Energy's big money trades within a strike price range of $85.0 to $170.0 over the last 30 days.
Valero Energy Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview
Largest Options Trades Observed:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLO | PUT | TRADE | BULLISH | 06/20/25 | $21.05 | $20.15 | $20.5 | $125.00 | $541.2K | 3.3K | 0 |
| VLO | PUT | TRADE | BULLISH | 06/20/25 | $22.6 | $21.55 | $21.95 | $125.00 | $471.9K | 3.3K | 735 |
| VLO | PUT | TRADE | BULLISH | 06/20/25 | $23.2 | $22.3 | $22.45 | $125.00 | $336.7K | 3.3K | 486 |
| VLO | PUT | TRADE | BULLISH | 06/20/25 | $23.0 | $21.95 | $22.25 | $125.00 | $293.7K | 3.3K | 667 |
| VLO | PUT | SWEEP | NEUTRAL | 01/16/26 | $12.7 | $12.65 | $12.65 | $100.00 | $185.3K | 1.0K | 318 |
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 US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 12 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.6 billion gallons a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which can produce 1.2 billion gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Valero Energy's Current Market Status
- Currently trading with a volume of 4,573,702, the VLO's price is down by -8.0%, now at $105.15.
- RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be oversold.
- Anticipated earnings release is in 20 days.
What The Experts Say On Valero Energy
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $144.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Piper Sandler keeps a Overweight rating on Valero Energy with a target price of $144.
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.
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