Valero price target raised to $174 from $170 at Mizuho

Mizuho analyst Nitin Kumar raised the firm’s price target on Valero to $174 from $170 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares ahead of the Q1 results. The analyst says Valero is its preferred Buy-rated stock in the U.S. refining sub-sector given its "operational excellence." The firm expects the company’s Q1 results to underscore this advantage compared to peers.