L3Harris Technologies Inc vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? L3Harris Technologies Inc trades at $280.33 (market cap $52.27B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $312.69 (market cap $93.03B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and L3Harris Technologies Inc pays the higher dividend (1.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LHX | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $52.27B | $93.03B |
Sector | Industrials | Energy |
52-Week High | $378.48 | $313.31 |
52-Week Low | $263.09 | $131.77 |
Enterprise Value | $63.03B | $98.79B |
Dividend Yield | 1.78% | 1.53% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
LHX trades at $280.57, down 0.51% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.72, beating estimates, and maintains robust cash flow. Recent contracts include a U.S. Space Force satellite deal and U.S. Army radio orders, supporting growth. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 30.62 and P/S of 2.36, with revenue rising to $21.87B in 2025.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $367.50, implying 31% upside, driven by defense spending and execution. Risks include debt levels and geopolitical volatility. Analysts are 75% buy-rated, but technical indicators suggest near-term caution amid bearish moving averages.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $314.81, up 1.67% on the day, with strong technical momentum and bullish moving averages. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.22 surpassing expectations of $3.16. Revenue declined to $122.69 billion in 2025, but net income margin held at 3.37%, supported by robust refining margins. Recent news highlights strong fuel demand and elevated crack spreads benefiting Valero's outlook.
The outlook remains positive given earnings beats, analyst buy ratings (55.55%), and refining margin tailwinds. However, declining revenue trends, high RSI levels suggesting overbought conditions, and exposure to volatile energy markets pose risks. The consensus price target of $276.22 implies potential downside from current levels, requiring careful monitoring of Q2 2026 earnings.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
L3Harris Technologies was created in 2019 from the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris, two defense contractors that provide products for the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) market. The firm also has smaller operations serving the civil government, particularly the Federal Aviation Administration's communication infrastructure, and produces various avionics for defense and commercial aviation.
Read more on LHX →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 →