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APA vs. VLO: APA vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison

How do APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though APA is classified under Oil & Gas Exploration & Production while VLO falls under Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing.

Company profile comparison for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
Profile ItemAPAVLO
NameAPA CorporationValero Energy Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Exploration & ProductionOil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Capitalization14.98 billion USD96.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1979January 4, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APA
VLO
GSPC
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
Total Return (1Y)92.90%107.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.25%47.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.68%39.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APA
VLO
GSPC
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)44.92%39.31%
Beta (5Y)0.340.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)-70.47%-41.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.66M3.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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APA and VLO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.972.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.944.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both APA (APA) at 33.32% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 46.87% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

APA

Energy industry group

33.32%

Max
53.85%
APA
33.32%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

VLO

Energy industry group

46.87%

Max
53.85%
VLO
46.87%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

APA (APA) at 23.49% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Valero Energy (VLO) at 8.83%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

APA

Energy industry group

23.49%

Max
56.92%
APA
23.49%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

VLO

Energy industry group

8.83%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
VLO
8.83%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

APA (APA) at 44.25% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

APA

Energy industry group

44.25%

Max
71.31%
APA
44.25%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

VLO

Energy industry group

20.47%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
VLO
20.47%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
ROE (TTM)33.32%46.87%
ROA (TTM)14.06%17.68%
Net Margin (TTM)23.49%8.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.25%20.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)78.98%19.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Valero Energy (VLO) at -5.54% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while APA (APA) at -8.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

APA (APA) at 75.77% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Valero Energy (VLO) at -11.77% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for APA.

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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-8.39%-5.54%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.96%-11.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)75.77%-11.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-28.73%-36.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while APA (APA) at 0.85 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for APA.

APA

Energy industry group

0.85

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
APA
0.85
Min
0.24

VLO

Energy industry group

1.72

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
VLO
1.72
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both APA (APA) at 0.42 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

APA

Energy industry group

0.42

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
APA
0.42
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

VLO

Energy industry group

0.35

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
VLO
0.35
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.851.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.420.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.530.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both APA (APA) at 2.30% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

APA

Energy industry group

2.30%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
APA
2.30%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

VLO

Energy industry group

1.35%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
VLO
1.35%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both APA (APA) at 16.26% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 10.76% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

APA

Energy industry group

16.26%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
APA
16.26%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

VLO

Energy industry group

10.76%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
VLO
10.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.30%1.35%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)16.26%10.76%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

APA (APA) at 7.26 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Valero Energy (VLO) at 7.88 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for APA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

APA

Energy industry group

7.26

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
APA
7.26
Min
2.99

VLO

Energy industry group

7.88

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
VLO
7.88
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.66 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while APA (APA) at 1.62 prices around its industry’s middle — VLO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

APA

Energy industry group

1.62

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
APA
1.62
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00

VLO

Energy industry group

0.66

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
VLO
0.66
Min
0.00
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

APA (APA) at 2.11 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Valero Energy (VLO) at 3.45 carries an above-peer premium to book — VLO is pricier on assets.

APA

Energy industry group

2.11

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
APA
2.11
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

VLO

Energy industry group

3.45

Max
4.21
VLO
3.45
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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APA (APA) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for APA (APA) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricAPAVLO
P/E Ratio (TTM)7.267.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.620.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.113.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)14.08%13.02%