VLO— Valero Energy Corporation
NYSEEnergy · Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) stock trades at $243.68, down 0.04% on the day. With a market capitalization of $72.36 billion, VLO is a large-cap energy stock. It trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.8, a forward P/E of 11.4 and earnings per share (EPS) of $13.69. Over the most recent period the company reported 7% year-over-year revenue growth and a net profit margin of 3.6%. Below you'll find VLO's full fundamentals, fair-value estimates, dividend history, earnings and our buy, hold or avoid verdict for 2026.
Price & Performance
Performance
Analysis & Verdict
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) Stock Analysis 2026
Rule-based · Updated daily · Not financial advice
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) operates in the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing space within the Energy sector. With a market cap of $72.4B, it qualifies as a mid-cap company. Growth is moderate and the business remains profitable, offering a balanced risk/reward profile compared to high-multiple peers.
- Forward P/E (11.4×) is lower than trailing P/E (17.8×) — analysts expect earnings to improve
- Revenue growth of 7% YoY shows solid business momentum
- ROE of 15.8% shows management efficiently converts equity into profit
- Low beta of 0.55 — less volatile than the market, suitable for conservative portfolios
- Thin profit margin of 3.6% — little buffer against cost increases
- High debt-to-equity of 42.66× increases financial risk, especially with elevated interest rates
Verdict
Buy / Hold
More positives than negatives. Fundamentals support holding while monitoring key risks.
AI Insight
Powered by ClaudeAI-generated analysis for informational purposes only. Not financial advice.
Fair Value Estimates
Current price: $243.68
Graham Number
√(22.5 × EPS × Book Value)
$156.35
Benjamin Graham's intrinsic value formula. Assumes a fair stock trades at no more than 22.5× the product of EPS and book value per share.
Bazin Ceiling Price
Avg. Annual DPS (5Y) ÷ 6%
$69.07
Décio Bazin's dividend-based ceiling. The max price you should pay so that dividends alone deliver at least 6% annual yield on your cost basis.
These are simplified estimates. Not financial advice.
Buy & Hold Checklist
Quality criteria for long-term holding
8/10
89% score
Pays dividends
15Y hist.15+ years of dividend history
Dividend consistency (5Y+)
15 yrsUninterrupted dividend payments for at least 5 years
ROE above 10%
15.8%Return on equity — measures how efficiently capital is used
Positive profit margin
3.6%Net profit margin must be positive — company earns more than it spends
Revenue growth (annual)
+6.6%Annual revenue must be growing compared to the prior year
Earnings growth (annual)
Annual earnings must be growing compared to the prior year
Debt/Equity below 2×
42.66×Low financial leverage reduces risk of distress
Current ratio above 1
1.58×Short-term assets must cover short-term liabilities
Daily liquidity above $5M
$774M/dayHigh trading volume ensures easy entry and exit
Dividend yield above 0%
1.97%Stock must distribute income to shareholders
Financials
Revenue & Results
Key Statistics
Earnings
Next Earnings
Jul 30, 2026
36
days
EPS (TTM)
$13.69
P/E (TTM)
17.8
Fwd P/E
11.4
SEC Filings & Reported Financials
Earnings History
SEC EDGAR · official filings
SEC Filings
Official EDGAR documents
Insider Transactions
SEC Form 4 · officers, directors & 10% owners
Dividends & Income
Dividends
Current DY
1.97%
5Y Avg Annual
$3.8400
Last Payment
$1.2000
Ex-Date
05/21/2026
Annual dividends paid per share
| Ex-Date | Payment | Amount | Est. DY |
|---|---|---|---|
Latest05/21/2026 | 06/23/2026 | $1.2000 | 1.97% |
02/05/2026 | 03/10/2026 | $1.2000 | 1.97% |
11/20/2025 | 12/23/2025 | $1.1300 | 1.85% |
07/31/2025 | 09/02/2025 | $1.1300 | 1.85% |
05/20/2025 | 06/22/2025 | $1.1300 | 1.85% |
01/30/2025 | 03/04/2025 | $1.1300 | 1.85% |
11/20/2024 | 12/23/2024 | $1.0700 | 1.76% |
08/01/2024 | 09/03/2024 | $1.0700 | 1.76% |
Magic Number
Shares needed to self-fund your next purchase
$243.68
Price
$1.2000
Last div. (quarterly)
204
shares
Own 204 VLO shares ($49,710.72) and each quarterly dividend pays for 1 new share — the snowball runs on its own.
Investment target
$49,710.72
New shares / year
+4 shares
Tools & Simulators
If You Had Invested…
Hypothetical return based on historical prices
* Dividend reinvestment calculated at ex-date price. For informational purposes only.
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About Valero Energy Corporation
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. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. The company produces California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (CARBOB) and Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (CBOB) gasolines, CARB diesel, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, and asphalt; feedstocks; aromatics; sulfur and residual fuel oil; intermediate oils; and sulfur, sweet, and sour crude oils. It sells its refined products through wholesale rack and bulk markets; and through outlets under the Valero, Beacon, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, and Texaco brands. The company also owns and operates renewable diesel and ethanol plants, as well as produces and sells renewable diesel, renewable naphtha, and neat sustainable aviation fuel under the Diamond Green Diesel brand name. In addition, it offers ethanol and various co-products, including dry distillers grains, syrup, and inedible distillers corn oil to animal feed customers. The company was formerly known as Valero Refining and Marketing Company and changed its name to Valero Energy Corporation in August 1997. Valero Energy Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.
Sector
Energy
Industry
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Location
San Antonio, United States
Employees
9,785
VLO — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) a good stock to buy in 2026?
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) shows strengths such as a 16% return on equity, while risks include high leverage (debt/equity of 42.7). Whether VLO is a good buy in 2026 depends on your time horizon and risk tolerance — review the full bull case, bear case and fair-value estimates above. This is informational analysis, not financial advice.
What is VLO's stock price today?
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) trades at $243.68, down 0.04% on the session. Prices on this page update throughout the trading day.
Does VLO pay a dividend?
Yes. Valero Energy Corporation pays an annual dividend of $4.80 per share, a dividend yield of 1.97%. The most recent ex-dividend date was May 21, 2026. Its payout ratio is about 34% of earnings.
Is VLO overvalued?
With a P/E ratio of 17.8×, VLO trades at a roughly market-average valuation for the energy sector. Its PEG ratio is 4.08. See the Fair Value Estimates section above for Graham Number and dividend-based price targets.
What is VLO's market cap?
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) has a market capitalization of $72.36 billion, classifying it as a large-cap stock in the Energy sector.
Disclaimer: This page — including any buy/hold/avoid view, fair value or price estimate — is generated from market data for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or trading advice. Data may be delayed or inaccurate. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision.