Seek Returns

COP vs. VLO: ConocoPhillips vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison

How do ConocoPhillips (COP) 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

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

Company profile comparison for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
Profile ItemCOPVLO
NameConocoPhillipsValero 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 Capitalization161.12 billion USD96.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 31, 1981January 4, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COP
VLO
GSPC
Loading price history…
ConocoPhillips (COP) 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
Total Return (1Y)62.02%107.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)9.29%47.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.40%39.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COP
VLO
GSPC
Loading price history…
ConocoPhillips (COP) 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)31.63%39.31%
Beta (5Y)0.190.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.30%-41.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.60M3.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
COP 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 ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.832.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.704.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 46.87% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ConocoPhillips (COP) at 17.66% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VLO.

COP

Energy industry group

17.66%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
COP
17.66%
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%
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 16.76% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 8.83% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

COP

Energy industry group

16.76%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
COP
16.76%
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%
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 30.05% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

COP

Energy industry group

30.05%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
COP
30.05%
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%
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
ROE (TTM)17.66%46.87%
ROA (TTM)8.98%17.68%
Net Margin (TTM)16.76%8.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.05%20.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)49.01%19.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 7.67% and Valero Energy (VLO) at -5.54% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at -18.69% and Valero Energy (VLO) at -11.77% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.67%-5.54%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-9.11%-11.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)-18.69%-11.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-24.18%-36.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 1.52 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

COP

Energy industry group

1.52

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
COP
1.52
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
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
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

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

COP

Energy industry group

0.35

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
COP
0.35
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
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) 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 ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.521.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.350.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.450.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 2.48% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

COP

Energy industry group

2.48%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
COP
2.48%
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%
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 35.41% 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.

COP

Energy industry group

35.41%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
COP
35.41%
Median
25.24%
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%
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.48%1.35%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)35.41%10.76%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 14.36 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 7.88 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

COP

Energy industry group

14.36

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
COP
14.36
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
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
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) 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 ConocoPhillips (COP) at 2.34 prices around its industry’s middle — VLO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

COP

Energy industry group

2.34

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
COP
2.34
Median
1.69
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
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both ConocoPhillips (COP) at 2.44 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 3.45 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

COP

Energy industry group

2.44

Max
4.21
COP
2.44
Q3
2.38
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
Loading chart…
ConocoPhillips (COP) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ConocoPhillips (COP) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricCOPVLO
P/E Ratio (TTM)14.367.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.340.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.443.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.12%13.02%