Moody's Corporation vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Moody's Corporation trades at $491.03 (market cap $88.28B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $311.08 (market cap $93.03B). The key difference: Moody's Corporation and Valero Energy Corporation are close in size by market cap, and Valero Energy Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.53%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MCO | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $88.28B | $93.03B |
Sector | Financials | Energy |
52-Week High | $539.61 | $313.31 |
52-Week Low | $412.23 | $131.77 |
Enterprise Value | $94.08B | $98.79B |
Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 1.53% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
MCO trades at $505.12, down 1.12% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings near 76. The company shows strong fundamentals with Q1 2026 EPS beating estimates at $4.33, revenue growth to $7.72B in 2025, and robust profitability margins including a 31.69% net income margin. Recent news highlights AI integration initiatives and dividend sustainability, with a $1.03 dividend paid in June 2026.
Outlook remains positive given analyst consensus of $551.17 price target and 56% buy ratings, though valuation multiples like P/E of 36.65 pose risks if growth slows. Key risks include high debt levels and market sensitivity to credit cycles, but institutional support and recurring revenue model provide stability for long-term investors.
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
Moody's, along with S&P Ratings, is a leading provider of credit ratings on fixed income securities. Moody's ratings segment, known as Moody's Investors Service or MIS, includes corporates, structured finance, financial institutions, and public finance ratings. MIS represents a majority of the firm's revenue and profits. Moody's other segment is Moody's Analytics and consists of Research, Data, and Analytics or RD&A and Enterprise Risk Solutions or ERS. RD&A's products include credit research, quantitative credit scores, economic research, business intelligence, know your customer (KYC) tools, commercial real estate data and analytical tools, and training services. ERS includes risk management software solutions to financial institutions.
Read more on MCO →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 →