Seek Returns

SHEL vs. VLO: Shell vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison

How do Shell (SHEL) 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

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

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

Company profile comparison for Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
Profile ItemSHELVLO
NameShell plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary shares)Valero Energy Corporation
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryIntegrated Oil & GasOil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Capitalization280.59 billion USD96.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 12, 1984January 4, 1982
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SHEL
VLO
GSPC
Loading price history…
Shell (SHEL) 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 Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
Total Return (1Y)36.30%107.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.93%47.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.02%39.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SHEL
VLO
GSPC
Loading price history…
Shell (SHEL) 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 Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.60%39.31%
Beta (5Y)0.100.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.04%-41.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.01M3.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
SHEL 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 Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.362.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.994.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 46.87% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 17.43% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VLO.

SHEL

Energy industry group

17.43%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
SHEL
17.43%
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 10.18% 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.

SHEL

Energy industry group

10.18%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
SHEL
10.18%
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 18.76% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

SHEL

Energy industry group

18.76%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
SHEL
18.76%
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
ROE (TTM)17.43%46.87%
ROA (TTM)7.67%17.68%
Net Margin (TTM)10.18%8.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.76%20.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.93%19.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Shell (SHEL) at -6.13% 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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Shell (SHEL) at 18.58% 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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.13%-5.54%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.21%-11.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.58%-11.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-19.31%-36.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 1.38 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.38

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
SHEL
1.38
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 0.38 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.38

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
SHEL
0.38
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…
Shell (SHEL) 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 Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.381.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.380.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.590.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 1.54% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.54%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
SHEL
1.54%
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 26.24% 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.

SHEL

Energy industry group

26.24%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
SHEL
26.24%
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.54%1.35%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.24%10.76%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 8.60 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.

SHEL

Energy industry group

8.60

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
SHEL
8.60
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 0.87 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.

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.87

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
SHEL
0.87
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Shell (SHEL) at 1.43 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Valero Energy (VLO) at 3.45 carries an above-peer premium to book — VLO is pricier on assets.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.43

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
SHEL
1.43
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…
Shell (SHEL) vs. Valero Energy (VLO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Valero Energy (VLO)
MetricSHELVLO
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.607.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.870.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.433.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.35%13.02%