Carnival Corp vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Carnival Corp trades at $27.71 (market cap $39.71B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $324.06 (market cap $90.68B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is far larger — about 2.3× Carnival Corp's market cap, and Carnival Corp pays the higher dividend (1.55%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CCL | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $39.71B | $90.68B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $33.99 | $323.92 |
52-Week Low | $23.89 | $133.38 |
Enterprise Value | $63.63B | $94.16B |
Dividend Yield | 1.55% | 1.52% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Carnival Corporation (CCL) trades at $28.99, up 0.69% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong support at $28. The stock shows robust fundamentals, with revenue growing to $26.62B in 2025 and net income at $2.76B, while recent quarters have beaten EPS estimates. Analysts maintain a buy consensus with a $35.18 price target, and positive news highlights fleet expansion and sustainability initiatives.
The outlook for CCL is positive, driven by record travel demand, cost control, and debt reduction, offering potential upside to the consensus target. Risks include fuel price volatility, economic sensitivity, and high leverage, though improved cash flow and dividend reinstatement support investor confidence.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $298.31, down 1.54% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 29.31% ROE and trades at a P/E of 12.44, below industry averages. Recent news highlights geopolitical tensions supporting refining margins, while Q2 2026 earnings surged on strong refining and renewable diesel performance.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $324.27, implying 8.7% upside, but risks include volatile oil prices and declining revenue trends. Analyst sentiment is bullish with 55.55% buy ratings, though technical indicators suggest near-term caution amid bearish momentum signals.
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 →