Valero Energy Corporation (VLO)
Valero Energy is a massive American business that turns crude oil into petrol, diesel, and jet fuel for the global market.
Is Valero Energy Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Valero Energy is a massive American business that turns crude oil into petrol, diesel, and jet fuel for the global market.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Successful transition into renewable fuels boosts long-term profitability.
Rapid shift toward electric vehicles permanently reduces demand for petrol.
What does Valero Energy Corporation do?
Valero operates a network of large refineries that take raw oil and process it into the fuels we use every day. The profit lies in the gap between the cost of buying raw oil and the price they get for selling the finished products. What really drives Valero is the 'crack spread' — industry shorthand for refining margins — because a wide gap tends to lift its results considerably.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and growth, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.5% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 58% over the year
- Growth screens high (95/100)
- Momentum screens high (97/100)
- Income screens high (71/100)
- Dominant position in the North American refining market
- Strong track record of generating cash
- Unexpected refinery accidents or operational shutdowns
- Stricter environmental regulations increasing costs
- Global economic downturn reducing demand for transport fuels
What do Valero Energy Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Valero Energy Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Valero Energy Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Valero Energy Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 1.5% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Valero Energy Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Valero Energy Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-22 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-30 | $10.13 | $12.54 | Beat +24% |
| 2026-04-30 | $3.16 | $4.22 | Beat +33% |
| 2026-01-29 | $3.27 | $3.82 | Beat +17% |
| 2025-10-23 | $3.05 | $3.66 | Beat +20% |
| 2025-07-24 | $1.77 | $2.28 | Beat +29% |
| 2025-04-24 | $0.41 | $0.89 | Beat +117% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Valero Energy Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Kinder Morgan, Inc.What are the scenarios for Valero Energy Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Valero Energy Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Dominant position in the North American refining market
- Strong track record of generating cash
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market
- Profitability is highly dependent on volatile oil prices
- Low net profit margins mean there is little room for error
- Business model faces long-term pressure from the shift to green energy
- Unexpected refinery accidents or operational shutdowns
- Stricter environmental regulations increasing costs
- Global economic downturn reducing demand for transport fuels
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A permanent, industry-wide collapse in refining profit margins
- A major shift in company strategy away from traditional oil refining
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.