Freeport-McMoRan Inc vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Freeport-McMoRan Inc trades at $72.7 (market cap $103.19B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $442.67 (market cap $122.11B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Valero Energy Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.13%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Freeport-McMoRan Inc for 69 Days and Valero Energy Corporation for 56 Days on average.
| FCX | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $103.19B | $122.11B |
Volume | 11,744,911 | 1,826,747 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Energy |
52-Week High | $79.91 | $443.80 |
52-Week Low | $38.65 | $156.39 |
Typical Hold Time | 69 Days | 56 Days |
Enterprise Value | $109.47B | $125.59B |
Dividend Yield | 0.83% | 1.13% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
FCX trades at $71.13, down 1.98% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $72.27. The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q3 2026 results pending. Strong operating cash flow of $5.61 billion in 2025 supports ongoing expansion projects amid favorable copper demand trends.
The outlook for FCX is positive, driven by robust copper demand from AI and data center growth, but risks include rising production costs and a legal investigation. Wall Street sentiment is bullish with 61% buy ratings, though the stock faces near-term resistance at $72.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $443.80, up 5.86% today and near its 52-week high, supported by bullish technical signals and strong earnings beats. Recent quarters have exceeded EPS expectations, with Q2 2026 EPS of $12.54 beating the $10.11 forecast. The stock shows robust profitability with a 29.31% ROE and trades at a P/E of 17.69, below the sector average. Positive news flow highlights refining margin strength and institutional interest.
The outlook remains positive given earnings momentum and favorable analyst sentiment, though risks include potential diesel export policy changes and volatile energy markets. Revenue is projected to rebound to $139.4B in 2026, driving net income higher. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against sector-specific headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
Freeport-McMoRan Inc is an international mining company. It operates geographically diverse assets with proven and probable mineral reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum. The company's portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia
Read more on FCX →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 →