PepsiCo, Inc. vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? PepsiCo, Inc. trades at $137.31 (market cap $188.97B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $391.21 (market cap $110.23B). The key difference: PepsiCo, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and PepsiCo, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.28%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PEP | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $188.97B | $110.23B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Energy |
52-Week High | $170.44 | $388.95 |
52-Week Low | $134.95 | $156.39 |
Enterprise Value | $231.47B | $113.71B |
Dividend Yield | 4.28% | 1.25% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
PepsiCo (PEP) trades at $138.45, up 0.6% with bearish technical signals but strong fundamentals. The company reported consistent earnings beats in recent quarters with Q3 2026 results pending. Revenue grew to $93.93B in 2025, though net income declined to $8.24B. Analysts maintain a consensus price target of $158.79 with 33% buy ratings. Recent news highlights price adjustments on snack products and sponsorship changes.
PEP offers stable dividend income and moderate growth potential, but faces margin pressure from input costs and competitive pricing. The stock trades below analyst targets with solid cash flow generation, though technical indicators suggest near-term weakness. Key risks include consumer sensitivity to price increases and execution challenges in North American markets.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $382.85, up 3.27% today, reflecting strong momentum amid favorable refining conditions. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend, with recent earnings beats and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as of September 9, 2026. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 29.31% ROE, though revenue has declined from $176.4B in 2022 to $122.7B in 2025. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $345.55 price target, and the company maintains a solid balance sheet with $4.66B in cash.
VLO's outlook is supported by tight fuel supplies and healthy demand, with projected 2026 net income of $7.2B. Key risks include volatile energy prices and potential regulatory pressures. The stock offers growth potential but faces headwinds from revenue declines and geopolitical factors affecting the energy sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies globally. It makes, markets, and sells a slew of brands across the beverage and snack categories, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Lays, and Ruffles. The firm uses a largely integrated go-to-market model, though it does leverage third-party bottlers, contract manufacturers, and distributors in certain markets. In addition to company-owned trademarks, Pepsi manufactures and distributes other brands through partnerships and joint ventures with companies such as Starbucks. The firm segments its operations into five primary geographies, with North America (comprising Frito-Lay North America, Quaker Foods North America, and North America beverages) constituting around 60% of consolidated revenue.
Read more on PEP →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 →