Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs Valero Energy (VLO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Valero Energy (VLO) has outperformed Marathon Petroleum (MPC) over the past year, gaining 159.9% versus a gain of 130.4%. Over five years, MPC leads with a +562.1% price change compared with +439.2% for VLO. Marathon Petroleum is the larger company by market cap ($124.20 billion vs $122.11 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Marathon Petroleum trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 10.0x for Valero Energy). Valero Energy offers the higher dividend yield (1.10% vs 0.90%). Marathon Petroleum converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 3.0% versus 1.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | MPC | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $442.26 | $424.10 |
| Market cap | $124.20B | $122.11B |
| 1-day change | +2.29% | +1.16% |
| YTD return | +171.38% | +160.52% |
| 1-year return | +130.42% | +159.91% |
| 5-year return | +562.07% | +439.16% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 15.31 | 17.68 |
| Forward P/E | 8.73 | 10.03 |
| EPS (TTM) | $28.88 | $23.99 |
| Dividend yield | 0.90% | 1.10% |
| Annual dividend | $4.00 | $4.66 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $132.70B | $122.69B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -4.44% | -5.54% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $4.05B | $2.35B |
| Gross margin | 9.99% | 4.43% |
| Operating margin | 6.25% | 2.59% |
| Net margin | 3.05% | 1.91% |
| 52-week high | $444.99 | $428.99 |
| 52-week low | $161.93 | $155.29 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -0.61% | -1.14% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | -12.82% | -11.64% |
| Average volume | 2.53M | 3.04M |
| Shares outstanding | 280.82M | 287.93M |
| Employees | 18,500 | 9,785 |
| Sector | Energy | Energy |
| Industry | Integrated oil Companies | Integrated oil Companies |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- VLO has outperformed MPC by 29.5 percentage points over the past year.
About Marathon Petroleum
MPC stock →Marathon Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated downstream energy company in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Refining & Marketing; Midstream; and Renewable Diesel.
Energy · Integrated oil Companies · 18,500 employees
About Valero Energy
VLO stock →Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.
Energy · Integrated oil Companies · 9,785 employees
MPC vs VLO FAQ
Which is bigger, Marathon Petroleum or Valero Energy?
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $124.20B compared with $122.11B for Valero Energy (VLO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MPC or VLO?
VLO returned +159.91% over the past 12 months, compared with +130.42% for MPC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MPC or VLO?
MPC has the lower trailing P/E at 15.3, versus 17.7 for VLO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Marathon Petroleum or Valero Energy?
Valero Energy has the higher yield at 1.10%, compared with 0.90% for Marathon Petroleum.
Are Marathon Petroleum and Valero Energy in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Integrated oil Companies industry within the Energy sector.