Carnival Corp vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Carnival Corp trades at $26.56 (market cap $36.30B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $301.98 (market cap $89.50B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is far larger — about 2.5× Carnival Corp's market cap, and Carnival Corp pays the higher dividend (1.7%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CCL | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.30B | $89.50B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $33.99 | $301.43 |
52-Week Low | $23.89 | $131.77 |
Enterprise Value | $60.22B | $95.26B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 1.59% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Carnival Corporation (CCL) trades at $26.61, down 0.82% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamental improvement with revenue growth to $26.62 billion in 2025 and net income of $2.76 billion, supported by three consecutive quarterly EPS beats. Positive analyst sentiment is evident with a $35.00 consensus price target and 59.57% buy ratings, while recent news highlights fleet expansion and strong bookings.
The outlook remains positive due to robust demand and cost controls, but risks include geopolitical tensions impacting fuel costs and softer European demand. The stock's current valuation metrics, such as a P/E of 11.99, suggest potential upside if execution continues, though investors must weigh debt levels and macroeconomic headwinds.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $295.79, up 5.38% in the last session, reflecting strong momentum amid bullish technical signals and positive earnings surprises. The stock's valuation metrics, including a P/E of 20.5 and P/S of 0.69, appear reasonable relative to historical levels, while profitability remains solid with a 17.72% ROE. Recent news highlights VLO's exposure to elevated refining margins and strong fuel demand, particularly benefiting its Gulf Coast operations.
The outlook for VLO is supported by robust refining fundamentals and a favorable analyst consensus, though risks include volatile energy markets and declining revenue trends. Upside potential exists if the company continues to exceed earnings expectations and capitalizes on tight product supplies, but investors should monitor margin pressures and macroeconomic headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Carnival is the largest global cruise company, with 91 ships in its fleet in October 2022, with eight of its nine brands set to be fully redeployed by the end of 2022. Its portfolio of brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America.
Read more on CCL →Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 14 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 14 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 700 million gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Read more on VLO →