VLO

Energy

Valero Energy Corporation · Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing · $73B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
46.4
Below Average

Valero Energy Corporation scores 46.4/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Energy Sector
VLO
46.4
Sector avg
43.5
Quality
Neutral
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Good
Valuation
Attractive

What is Valero Energy Corporation?

Valero Energy Corporation is one of the largest independent petroleum refiners in the world, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1982, it operates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other international markets.

Valero converts crude oil into transportation fuels and petrochemical products through its refining network. It also produces renewable diesel and ethanol, selling finished products through wholesale channels and roughly seven thousand branded retail outlets. Revenue is tied closely to refining margins — the spread between crude input costs and refined product prices.

Valero was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

  • Gasoline and diesel fuels (conventional, premium, CARB-compliant)
  • Jet fuel, blendstocks, and distillates
  • Renewable diesel and ethanol
  • Petrochemicals, lubricants, and asphalt

Is VLO a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates VLO as Below Average overall.

Valero's strongest pillar scores fall in Risk and Valuation, suggesting the stock is not trading at a stretched premium relative to its fundamentals and carries a manageable risk profile compared to sector peers.

The Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars all register as Weak, reflecting the commodity-driven nature of refining and limited durable competitive advantages.

See the full pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics by signing up for a Pro account at UQS Score. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does VLO pay dividends?

Yes — Valero Energy Corporation pays a dividend.

Valero pays a regular dividend, consistent with its position as a large-cap energy company generating substantial cash flow through refining cycles. The dividend reflects management's commitment to returning capital to shareholders even amid commodity price volatility.

When does VLO report earnings?

Valero Energy reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.

Refining margins are the primary driver of Valero's quarterly results, meaning earnings can swing significantly with crude oil spreads and fuel demand. Investors should monitor segment performance across Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol for a complete picture.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit Valero Energy's investor relations page directly.

VLO Price History

+240.9% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Valero Energy Corporation?

$
Today it would be worth
$40,405
That's a +304% total return, or +32.2% annualized.

Based on Valero Energy Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Valero Energy do?

Valero Energy refines crude oil into transportation fuels — including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel — and also produces renewable diesel and ethanol. It sells products through wholesale markets and thousands of branded retail outlets across North America and internationally.

Does VLO pay dividends?

Yes, Valero pays a regular dividend. The company has historically prioritized returning cash to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, supported by cash flows generated during favorable refining margin environments.

When does VLO report earnings?

Valero reports on a standard quarterly schedule. For exact dates, check the investor relations section of Valero's official website, as our data source does not provide specific upcoming earnings dates.

Is VLO a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates VLO as Below Average overall. While Risk and Valuation score relatively well, weak Quality, Moat, and Growth ratings reflect the commodity-driven, low-differentiation nature of petroleum refining. Pro members can view the complete pillar breakdown.

Is VLO overvalued?

VLO's Valuation pillar is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. Refining stocks can appear inexpensive during margin downturns, so context across all five pillars matters.

What is VLO's market cap bracket?

Valero Energy is classified as a large-cap company, placing it among the bigger publicly traded refiners in the energy sector.

Is VLO a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, VLO's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak ratings in Quality, Moat, and Growth — signals meaningful structural challenges. Commodity refining margins are cyclical, and the business lacks the durable competitive advantages typically associated with high long-term quality scores.

What sector does VLO belong to?

Valero Energy operates in the Energy sector, specifically within petroleum refining and marketing. It also has growing exposure to renewable fuels through its Renewable Diesel and Ethanol segments.

Unlock Full VLO Analysis

Sign in to unlock the detailed analysis behind the UQS Score.

  • View exact UQS pillar scores across Quality, Moat, Growth, Risk, and Valuation
  • Access underlying financial metrics driving each pillar rating
  • Compare VLO against Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, and other peers
  • Screen the energy sector by UQS Score to find higher-quality alternatives
Analyze VLO in Detail →

Pro Analysis

VLO — Score History

3540455055Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 18 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 19, 202646.050.520.029.967.781.70.0
May 11, 202646.051.120.028.167.783.3+3.0
May 7, 202643.038.620.027.074.179.2+0.2
May 5, 202642.838.620.027.074.177.4-0.3
May 4, 202643.139.720.027.074.177.4-0.5
May 3, 202643.639.720.029.974.177.2-0.2
May 1, 202643.839.720.029.974.178.6+0.1
Apr 26, 202643.739.720.029.574.178.5+0.4
Apr 21, 202643.339.720.026.474.179.7-0.2
Apr 19, 202643.539.720.027.874.179.5+0.3

VLO — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

51.1/100 (25%)

Valero Energy Corporation has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Moderate

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityStrong

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityWeak

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsWeak

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

29.9/100 (20%)

Valero Energy Corporation faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

67.7/100 (15%)

Valero Energy Corporation maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.

Financial LeverageModerate

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioModerate

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageModerate

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

83.5/100 (15%)

Valero Energy Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorModerate

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

20/100 (25%)

Valero Energy Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for VLO.

Score Composition

Quality
51.1×25%12.8
Growth
29.9×20%6.0
Risk
67.7×15%10.2
Valuation
83.5×15%12.5
Moat
20.0×25%5.0
Total
46.4Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the VLO UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Valero Energy Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Valero Energy Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Valero Energy Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.