FRO vs. VLO: Frontline vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison
How do Frontline (FRO) 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
Frontline (FRO) and Valero Energy (VLO) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though FRO is classified under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation while VLO falls under Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing.
| Profile Item | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Frontline plc Ordinary Shares | Valero Energy Corporation |
| Country/Region | Cyprus | United States |
| GICS Sector | Energy | Energy |
| GICS Industry Group | Energy | Energy |
| GICS Industry | Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation | Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing |
| Market Capitalization | 10.11 billion USD | 96.62 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 6, 2001 | January 4, 1982 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 119.28% | 107.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.57% | 47.89% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 52.54% | 39.74% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 46.26% | 39.31% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.22 | 0.60 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -52.04% | -41.22% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.68M | 3.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.49 | 2.63 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.74 | 4.08 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Frontline (FRO) at 53.85% 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.
FRO
Energy industry group
53.85%
- FRO
- 53.85%
- Max
- 53.85%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Frontline (FRO) at 54.76% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Valero Energy (VLO) at 8.83%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
FRO
Energy industry group
54.76%
- Max
- 56.92%
- FRO
- 54.76%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Frontline (FRO) at 65.83% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
FRO
Energy industry group
65.83%
- Max
- 71.31%
- FRO
- 65.83%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 53.85% | 46.87% |
| ROA (TTM) | 14.25% | 17.68% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 54.76% | 8.83% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 65.83% | 20.47% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 63.03% | 19.52% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Frontline (FRO) at -4.16% 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.
EPS Growth
Both Frontline (FRO) at -23.77% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -4.16% | -5.54% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.17% | -11.40% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -23.77% | -11.77% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -8.37% | -36.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Frontline (FRO) at 1.87 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
FRO
Energy industry group
1.87
- Max
- 3.64
- Q3
- 2.21
- FRO
- 1.87
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Frontline (FRO) at 0.77 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
FRO
Energy industry group
0.77
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.93
- FRO
- 0.77
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.87 | 1.72 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.77 | 0.35 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.28 | 0.06 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% pays an industry-typical yield; Frontline (FRO) at 12.04% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
FRO
Energy industry group
12.04%
- FRO
- 12.04%
- Max
- 8.57%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Frontline (FRO) at 46.93% 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.
FRO
Energy industry group
46.93%
- Max
- 133.24%
- Q3
- 53.31%
- FRO
- 46.93%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 12.04% | 1.35% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 46.93% | 10.76% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Frontline (FRO) at 6.81 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 FRO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
FRO
Energy industry group
6.81
- Max
- 39.54
- Q3
- 21.72
- Median
- 12.19
- Q1
- 7.71
- FRO
- 6.81
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.66 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Frontline (FRO) at 3.72 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
FRO
Energy industry group
3.72
- Max
- 5.40
- FRO
- 3.72
- Q3
- 2.85
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Frontline (FRO) at 3.20 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.
FRO
Energy industry group
3.20
- Max
- 4.21
- FRO
- 3.20
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FRO | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 6.81 | 7.88 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.72 | 0.66 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.20 | 3.45 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.81% | 13.02% |