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MPC vs. VLO: Marathon Petroleum vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison

How do Marathon Petroleum (MPC) 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

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO) are both classified in the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing sub-industry within the broader Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
Profile ItemMPCVLO
NameMarathon Petroleum Corp.Valero Energy Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Refining & MarketingOil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Capitalization101.49 billion USD96.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 24, 2011January 4, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MPC
VLO
GSPC
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) 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 Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
Total Return (1Y)104.94%107.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)42.97%47.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)45.42%39.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.53%39.31%
Beta (5Y)0.560.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.75%-41.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.56M3.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MPC 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 Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.682.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)4.104.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 60.46% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Valero Energy (VLO) at 46.87% also sits in the top quartile.

MPC

Energy industry group

60.46%

MPC
60.46%
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%
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 8.34% 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.

MPC

Energy industry group

8.34%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
MPC
8.34%
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 17.98% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

MPC

Energy industry group

17.98%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
MPC
17.98%
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
ROE (TTM)60.46%46.87%
ROA (TTM)13.75%17.68%
Net Margin (TTM)8.34%8.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.98%20.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)16.20%19.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at -4.44% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 31.15% 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 MPC.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.44%-5.54%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-9.23%-11.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)31.15%-11.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-22.24%-36.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 1.45 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

MPC

Energy industry group

1.45

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
MPC
1.45
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) 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 Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 1.15 uses more debt funding than most peers.

MPC

Energy industry group

1.15

Max
1.75
MPC
1.15
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) 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 Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.451.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.150.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.880.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 1.09% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

MPC

Energy industry group

1.09%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
MPC
1.09%
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 7.93% 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.

MPC

Energy industry group

7.93%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
MPC
7.93%
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.09%1.35%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)7.93%10.76%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 7.39 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 MPC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

MPC

Energy industry group

7.39

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
MPC
7.39
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 0.58 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.66 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

MPC

Energy industry group

0.58

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
MPC
0.58
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Valero Energy (VLO) at 3.45 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 4.42 prices even higher, above its industry range.

MPC

Energy industry group

4.42

MPC
4.42
Max
4.21
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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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricMPCVLO
P/E Ratio (TTM)7.397.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.580.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.423.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)16.00%13.02%