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IMO vs. VLO: Imperial Oil vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison

How do Imperial Oil (IMO) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
Profile ItemIMOVLO
NameImperial Oil LimitedValero Energy Corporation
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryIntegrated Oil & GasOil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Capitalization58.92 billion USD96.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSE AmericanNYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980January 4, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IMO
VLO
GSPC
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Imperial Oil (IMO) 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
Total Return (1Y)35.68%107.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.62%47.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)32.18%39.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.00%39.31%
Beta (5Y)0.580.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.72%-41.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)573.33K3.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IMO 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.052.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.514.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 25.24% 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

25.24%

Max
53.85%
IMO
25.24%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 10.88% 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

10.88%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
IMO
10.88%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 21.36% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

IMO

Energy industry group

21.36%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
IMO
21.36%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
ROE (TTM)25.24%46.87%
ROA (TTM)10.93%17.68%
Net Margin (TTM)10.88%8.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.36%20.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)20.08%19.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Valero Energy (VLO) at -5.54% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Imperial Oil (IMO) at -7.42% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at -28.24% 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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-7.42%-5.54%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.56%-11.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)-28.24%-11.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-17.26%-36.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 1.30 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

IMO

Energy industry group

1.30

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
IMO
1.30
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Imperial Oil (IMO) at 0.17 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.35 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

IMO

Energy industry group

0.17

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
IMO
0.17
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.301.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.170.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.130.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 2.65% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

IMO

Energy industry group

2.65%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
IMO
2.65%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 26.49% 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

26.49%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
IMO
26.49%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.65%1.35%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.49%10.76%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 13.78 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

13.78

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
IMO
13.78
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
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Imperial Oil (IMO) 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) at 1.06 prices around its industry’s middle — VLO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

IMO

Energy industry group

1.06

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
IMO
1.06
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 3.38 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

3.38

Max
4.21
IMO
3.38
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
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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricIMOVLO
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.787.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.060.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.383.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.90%13.02%