Valero Energy Corporation vs Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF — how do they compare? Valero Energy Corporation trades at $391.21 (market cap $110.23B), while Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF trades at $83.75. The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation pays a 1.25% dividend while Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF pays none, and Valero Energy Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VLO | VOOG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $110.23B | — |
Sector | Energy | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $388.95 | $85.69 |
52-Week Low | $156.39 | $65.32 |
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.
VOOG trades at $84.08, down 0.5% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The ETF focuses on S&P 500 growth stocks, offering exposure to large-cap leaders with a low expense ratio of 0.07% (Vanguard, 2026). Recent news highlights strong long-term performance, including over 400% total returns in the past decade (The Motley Fool, 2026-09-07).
Outlook remains positive for growth-oriented investors, supported by institutional buying and media optimism. Key risks include tech sector concentration and market volatility. Analysts favor VOOG for its cost efficiency and historical outperformance, though valuation sensitivity persists amid economic uncertainties.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →VOOG is an index-based ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, composed of the growth-oriented companies within the S&P 500. It selects constituents based on three key metrics—sales growth, the ratio of earnings change to price, and momentum—offering a highly liquid and low-cost way to capture the high-performing 'growth slice' of the broader U.S. large-cap market.
Read more on VOOG →