Valero Energy Corporation vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? Valero Energy Corporation trades at $391.21 (market cap $110.23B), while Williams Companies Inc trades at $75.31 (market cap $92.75B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Williams Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (2.77%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VLO | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $110.23B | $92.75B |
Sector | Energy | Energy |
52-Week High | $388.95 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $156.39 | $56.51 |
Enterprise Value | $113.71B | $123.38B |
Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 2.77% |
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.
WMB trades at $75.83, up 2.27% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong analyst consensus. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings but maintains robust profitability with a 25.18% net income margin. Recent developments include the $5.5 billion acquisition of Momentum Midstream, enhancing its natural gas infrastructure, while a court ruling vacated a key permit for the NESE pipeline project.
The stock offers growth exposure to natural gas demand driven by LNG exports and AI infrastructure, with a consensus price target of $88.14 implying 16% upside. Risks include regulatory hurdles for pipeline projects and high debt levels, but strong cash flow supports dividends and expansion.
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 →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →