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EC vs. VLO: Ecopetrol vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison

How do Ecopetrol (EC) 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

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

Valero Energy (VLO) trades as ordinary local shares, while Ecopetrol (EC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
Profile ItemECVLO
NameEcopetrol S.A. Sponsored ADRValero Energy Corporation
Country/RegionColombiaUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryIntegrated Oil & GasOil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Capitalization31.97 billion USD96.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateSeptember 18, 2008January 4, 1982
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EC
VLO
GSPC
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Ecopetrol (EC) 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 Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
Total Return (1Y)64.75%107.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)23.69%47.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.32%39.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EC
VLO
GSPC
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Ecopetrol (EC) 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 Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)40.27%39.31%
Beta (5Y)0.450.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.60%-41.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.62M3.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EC 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 Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.502.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.384.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 46.87% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ecopetrol (EC) at 15.95% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VLO.

EC

Energy industry group

15.95%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
EC
15.95%
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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Ecopetrol (EC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ecopetrol (EC) at 10.23% 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.

EC

Energy industry group

10.23%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
EC
10.23%
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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Ecopetrol (EC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Ecopetrol (EC) at 0.00% operates in the bottom quartile.

EC

Energy industry group

0.00%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
EC
0.00%
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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Ecopetrol (EC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
ROE (TTM)15.95%46.87%
ROA (TTM)7.31%17.68%
Net Margin (TTM)10.23%8.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)0.00%20.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)37.10%19.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Valero Energy (VLO) at -5.54% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Ecopetrol (EC) at -10.23% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both Ecopetrol (EC) at -39.54% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-10.23%-5.54%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-9.15%-11.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)-39.54%-11.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-35.34%-36.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ecopetrol (EC) at 1.51 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

EC

Energy industry group

1.51

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
EC
1.51
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
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Ecopetrol (EC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.35 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ecopetrol (EC) at 0.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.

EC

Energy industry group

0.96

Max
1.75
EC
0.96
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
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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Ecopetrol (EC) 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 Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.511.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.960.35
Net Debt / EBITDA--0.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ecopetrol (EC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Valero Energy (VLO) reports a yield of 1.35%, ranking against industry peers normally.

EC

Energy industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecopetrol (EC) at 36.09% 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.

EC

Energy industry group

36.09%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
EC
36.09%
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%
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Ecopetrol (EC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.35%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.09%10.76%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecopetrol (EC) at 8.45 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.

EC

Energy industry group

8.45

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
EC
8.45
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
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Ecopetrol (EC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

A sales-based read is only available for Valero Energy (VLO), whose P/S ratio of 0.66 ranks against industry peers; Ecopetrol (EC) reports no figure this period.

EC

Energy industry group

--

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
EC
--

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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Ecopetrol (EC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): EC does not report P/S ratio, so it has no value marker; VLO is benchmarked against the Energy industry group.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ecopetrol (EC) at 0.01 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Valero Energy (VLO) at 3.45 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

EC

Energy industry group

0.01

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecopetrol (EC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricECVLO
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.457.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)--0.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.013.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)38,006.99%13.02%