Valero Energy Corporation vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF — how do they compare? Valero Energy Corporation trades at $391.21 (market cap $110.23B), while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF trades at $701.61. The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation pays a 1.25% dividend while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF pays none, and Valero Energy Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VLO | VOO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $110.23B | — |
Sector | Energy | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $388.95 | $714.90 |
52-Week Low | $156.39 | $580.93 |
Enterprise Value | $113.71B | — |
Dividend Yield | 1.25% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
VOO trades at $704.09, down 0.56% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. Support is firm near $701, while resistance sits at $707. The ETF remains a core S&P 500 holding, with recent news highlighting its tax efficiency versus gold ETFs and strong inflows amid record ETF launches in 2026.
Long-term outlook remains positive given historical S&P 500 performance, though risks include elevated market valuations and Fed policy uncertainty. The ETF offers broad market exposure, but investors face potential volatility from macroeconomic factors and high concentration in top AI-driven companies.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →VOO is a foundational ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Index, providing exposure to 500 of the largest and most established companies in the United States. Renowned for its ultra-low expense ratio and tax efficiency, it serves as a core building block for long-term investors seeking to capture the total return of the U.S. large-cap market in a single, highly liquid vehicle.
Read more on VOO →