Lockheed Martin Corporation vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Lockheed Martin Corporation trades at $597.34 (market cap $139.20B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $323.7 (market cap $90.68B). The key difference: Lockheed Martin Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Lockheed Martin Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.29%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LMT | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $139.20B | $90.68B |
Sector | Industrials | Energy |
52-Week High | $676.70 | $323.92 |
52-Week Low | $431.56 | $133.38 |
Enterprise Value | $155.95B | $94.16B |
Dividend Yield | 2.29% | 1.52% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lockheed Martin (LMT) trades at $587.95, up 0.9% with bullish technical signals and strong institutional support. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings with a beat on EPS ($7.94 vs. $7.22 expected) but maintains a record $230B backlog. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 21.68 and ROE of 89.16%, though recent quarters saw earnings misses. Technical indicators suggest bullish momentum with key resistance at $592.
Outlook remains positive driven by defense contract wins and production expansion, but risks include execution on massive backlog and debt levels. Analyst consensus is bullish with $608 price target representing 3.4% upside. The stock offers stability through dividends ($3.45 quarterly) amid geopolitical demand for defense systems.
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
Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor globally and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since the F-35 program was awarded in 2001. Lockheed's largest segment is aeronautics, which is dominated by the massive F-35 program. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, which is mainly the Sikorsky helicopter business.
Read more on LMT →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 →