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Valero Energy CorporationNYSE: VLO

Energy · Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

$236.40

-1.41%

Vol: 2.6M

Research Digest

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Neutral

No significant overnight updates

No material news in the last 48 hours.

Price 50d 200d

Previous Market Intelligence

13 days
Jun 17No significant overnight updatesNeutral

No material news in the last 48 hours.

Jun 16No significant overnight updatesNeutral

No material news in the last 48 hours.

Jun 15No significant overnight updatesNeutral

No material news in the last 48 hours.

Jun 14No significant overnight updatesNeutral

No material news in the last 48 hours.

May 21Valero Energy shares dropped 3.05% on May 20 ahead of ex-dividend date amid broader energy volatilityMixed

VLO fell 3.05% on May 20, 2026, closing at $254.60 after trading between $251.78 and $263.75. The decline preceded the ex-dividend date of May 21, 2026 for the increased $1.20 quarterly dividend (up from $1.13). North Dakota State Investment Board disclosed a new position in VLO via its latest 13F filing. Despite the day's decline, the stock is up roughly 14.3% over the past month, supported by strong Q1 2026 results showing adjusted earnings of $1.3 billion versus $282 million a year earlier. Analysts maintain a Buy consensus and forecast 166.4% EPS growth for the year.

May 20Valero shares rose 3.1% on May 18 to $258.52 as strong refining margins drive a 58.8% YTD gain, with Morgan Stanley lifting its target to $232.Positive

Valero Energy shares climbed 3.1% on May 18, 2026 to $258.52, extending a stunning 58.8% year-to-date rally fueled by robust refining margins and Q1 results that crushed estimates. On April 30, VLO reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $4.22 (beating by $1.06) and revenue of $32.4B (up 7% YoY, $2.5B above consensus), with the refining segment swinging to $1.8B in operating income from a $530M loss a year earlier. The board raised the quarterly dividend 6% to $1.20 per share (payable June 23 to holders of record May 21), and Valero returned $938M to shareholders via dividends and buybacks. Two directors purchased 1,381 shares each on May 6, a confidence signal. Morgan Stanley raised its target to $232 and Zacks issued a Strong Buy (#1) rating amid large upward earnings revisions. The 17-analyst consensus is Buy. Senior VP Eric A. Fisher announced his retirement effective around July 1, and the $230M St. Charles FCC optimization project remains on track for Q3 startup.

May 19No significant overnight updatesNeutral

No material news in the last 48 hours.

May 18Valero Energy returned to profitability with Q1 net income of $1.3B ($4.22 EPS vs $3.16 est), hiked dividend 6% to $1.20, and BMO raised price target to $290 on May 13.Positive

Valero Energy reported Q1 2026 net income of $1.3 billion, or $4.22 per share, beating $3.16 EPS consensus by 33.54%, compared to a net loss of $595 million in Q1 2025. Revenue reached $32.38 billion, up 7% YoY, benefiting from wide crack spreads. The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.20 per share (up 6%), payable June 23 to stockholders of record May 21, and returned $938 million to shareholders. BMO Capital Markets raised its price target to $290 from $270 on May 13, 2026 (Outperform). Morgan Stanley also lifted its PT to $232, while Zacks assigned a Rank #1 Strong Buy following large upward earnings revisions. Two Valero directors each acquired 1,381 shares on May 6, signaling insider confidence. SVP Eric A. Fisher announced May 7 intent to retire on or about July 1, 2026. The 2026 annual meeting was held May 7 with all director nominees re-elected. Shares up 80.3% over the past year.

May 15Valero's $1.20 quarterly dividend goes ex on May 21 as Wall Street consensus highlights $258 analyst price target.Neutral

Valero Energy's $1.20/share regular quarterly dividend goes ex-dividend on May 21, 2026, payable June 23. Wall Street analysts have spotlighted a $258 price target with positive recommendation reaffirmed. Securian Asset Management disclosed selling 6,693 VLO shares per a May 13 filing. Recent Q1 2026 results were strong with $4.22 EPS and $30.66B revenue, supporting capital returns. Average analyst rating Buy. Risk: refining margin volatility and slip-related operational risk noted after prior refinery explosion.

May 14Valero declares $1.20 quarterly dividend payable June 23 and announces SVP Eric Fisher retirement effective July 1 as Q1 swung to a $1.3B profitPositive

On May 7, Valero held its 2026 annual meeting where shareholders re-elected all directors with 94-99% support, and SVP Eric A. Fisher informed the company he intends to retire around July 1 as part of the succession plan. The board declared a $1.20 per share quarterly dividend, payable June 23 to holders of record May 21. Q1 2026 net income swung to $1.3B or $4.22 per share (beating $3.16 consensus) versus a $595M loss a year ago, with revenue of $32.4B versus $31.4B expected, driven by refining margin recovery. On May 6, directors Fred M. Diaz and Eric D. Mullins each acquired 1,381 shares, a positive insider-buying signal. Risk: refining margins are highly cyclical and the executive transition adds modest operational continuity uncertainty.

May 13Valero swung to Q1 profit of $1.3B ($4.22 EPS) and declared a $1.20 quarterly dividend, with directors buying shares on May 6.Positive

Valero reported a Q1 2026 turnaround with net income of $1.3B ($4.22 EPS) versus a $595M loss in Q1 2025, beating the $3.16 EPS estimate as refining margins normalized. Revenue rose to $30.66B (vs $28.75B). The board declared a $1.20 quarterly cash dividend payable June 23. Directors Fred M. Diaz and Eric D. Mullins each acquired shares on May 6, signaling insider confidence. SVP Eric A. Fisher (Product Supply, Trading & Wholesale) announced retirement around July 1 as part of succession planning. Average analyst target is ~$238. Shares trade near $248.

May 12Valero declared $1.20 quarterly dividend and saw insider buying after Weiss upgrade as Q1 swung to $1.3B profit ($4.22 EPS) from prior-year loss.Positive

Valero Energy declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.20 per share on May 7. The same day, two directors purchased 1,381 shares each, with Weiss Ratings upgrading VLO from Hold to Buy on May 4. Senior VP Eric A. Fisher (Product Supply, Trading and Wholesale) announced his planned retirement around July 1, 2026. At the 2026 annual meeting all directors were re-elected with 94.6%–99.6% support, and each non-employee director received a $200,000 stock unit award vesting in 2027. Q1 2026 net income was $1.3B ($4.22 EPS), reversing a $595M loss ($1.90/share) in Q1 2025.

May 11Valero directors bought 2,762 shares on May 8 signaling insider confidence after a 100% one-year rally and SVP Eric Fisher's planned July retirement.Positive

Two Valero Energy directors each acquired 1,381 shares on May 6 (2,762 total) as insider buying signaled confidence following a 100% one-year stock rally. The board declared a $1.20 quarterly dividend payable June 23 to holders of record May 21. At the May 7 annual meeting, all directors were re-elected with 94.59%-99.55% support, and SVP Eric A. Fisher informed the company he intends to retire on or about July 1, 2026 as part of Valero's succession plan. Q1 2026 results showed EPS of $4.22 (vs $3.16 est) and revenue of $32.38B with net income swinging to $1.26B from a $595M loss a year earlier. UBS lifted its price target to $280 from $215 with a Buy rating, though shares fell 6.4% over the past week. Risk: refining margins remain cyclical and the recent pullback suggests profit-taking after the strong rally.

Sector Peers

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MPCMARATHON$242.87-0.71%-7.7%10.0x0.52$70.9B
VLOVALERO$236.40-1.41%-10.0%11.1x0.55$70.2B
PSXPHILLIPS$165.72-0.87%-8.9%9.6x0.67$66.6B
XOMEXXON$137.64-2.20%-15.2%12.9x0.15$571.2B
CVXCHEVRON$173.45-2.33%-12.0%13.8x0.47$345.8B
COPCONOCOPHILLIPS$107.75-3.11%-13.9%11.7x0.11$131.3B

Key Fundamentals

Market Cap$70.2B
P/E (TTM)17.3
Forward P/E11.1
Beta0.55
Div Yield197.00%
Prev Close$239.77

RSI (14-Day)

40Neutral
0305070100

52-Week Range

$130.78$236.40$265.61
From High-11.0%
From Low+80.8%

Moving Averages

50d SMA
$241.96-2.3%
200d SMA
$189.46+24.8%

Price between 50d and 200d. Testing 50d support.

Historical Returns

1W
-6.8%
1M
+0.9%
3M
+17.8%
6M
+29.1%
1Y
+82.5%
YTD
+43.9%

Volume

Today2.6M
20d Avg2.9M
Ratio0.91x