Compare NRG Energy Inc (NRG) vs Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
NRG Energy Inc vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? NRG Energy Inc trades at $120.7 (market cap $24.83B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $331.85 (market cap $93.27B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is far larger — about 3.8× NRG Energy Inc's market cap, and NRG Energy Inc pays the higher dividend (1.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NRG | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $24.83B | $93.27B |
Sector | Utilities | Energy |
52-Week High | $184.03 | $330.21 |
52-Week Low | $117.04 | $135.82 |
Enterprise Value | $48.79B | $96.74B |
Dividend Yield | 1.61% | 1.48% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
NRG Energy trades at $120.37, down 1.23% with a bearish technical signal. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $1.49 EPS versus $1.69 expected, though revenue grew 11% year-over-year. The company is advancing a 1.2 GW Texas data-center power project to capitalize on AI-driven electricity demand, supported by a 69% analyst buy rating and a $207.83 consensus price target. Cash flow from operations was $1.91B in 2025, but net income margin compressed to 2.56%.
Outlook is mixed: growth initiatives in data center power present upside, but execution risks and rising interest costs pressure margins. The stock offers a 1.6% dividend yield, yet high debt-to-asset ratio of 56.42% in 2025 warrants caution. Near-term support lies at $119, with resistance at $122.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $329.99, up 4.78% on the day, reflecting strong momentum after recent earnings beats. The stock shows bullish technical signals with moving averages supporting upward trends, while fundamentals indicate robust profitability with a 29.31% ROE and a P/E of 13.51. Recent news highlights refining strength and geopolitical factors benefiting the sector.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus favoring a Buy rating and a $324.27 price target. Key risks include volatile oil prices and refining margin pressures, but disciplined capital allocation and renewable diesel growth offer upside potential for investors seeking energy exposure.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About NRG Energy Inc
NRG Energy is one of the largest retail energy providers in the U.S., with 7 million customers, including its 2021 acquisition of Direct Energy. It also is one of the largest U.S. independent power producers, with 16 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power generation capacity primarily in Texas. Since 2018, NRG has divested its 47% stake in NRG Yield, among other renewable energy and conventional generation investments. NRG exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity in December 2003.
Read more on NRG →About Valero Energy Corporation
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 →
