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VLO vs. WMB: Valero Energy vs. Williams Stock Comparison

How do Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB) 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

Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though VLO is classified under Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing while WMB falls under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
Profile ItemVLOWMB
NameValero Energy CorporationThe Williams Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Refining & MarketingOil & Gas Storage & Transportation
Market Capitalization96.62 billion USD80.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 4, 1982December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

VLO
WMB
GSPC
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB), 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 Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
Total Return (1Y)107.71%14.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)47.89%28.70%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)39.74%23.72%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

VLO
WMB
GSPC
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB), 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 Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)39.31%26.38%
Beta (5Y)0.600.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)-41.22%-23.01%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.05M7.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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VLO and WMB 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 Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.630.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)4.080.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 46.87% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Williams (WMB) at 18.31% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VLO.

VLO

Energy industry group

46.87%

Max
53.85%
VLO
46.87%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

WMB

Energy industry group

18.31%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
WMB
18.31%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Williams (WMB) at 24.66% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Valero Energy (VLO) at 8.83%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

VLO

Energy industry group

8.83%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
VLO
8.83%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

WMB

Energy industry group

24.66%

Max
56.92%
WMB
24.66%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47% and Williams (WMB) at 32.69% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

VLO

Energy industry group

20.47%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
VLO
20.47%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

WMB

Energy industry group

32.69%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
WMB
32.69%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
ROE (TTM)46.87%18.31%
ROA (TTM)17.68%4.59%
Net Margin (TTM)8.83%24.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.47%32.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)19.52%63.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Valero Energy (VLO) at -5.54% and Williams (WMB) at 13.78% 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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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Valero Energy (VLO) at -11.77% and Williams (WMB) at 17.58% 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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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
Revenue Growth (YoY)-5.54%13.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.40%2.91%
EPS Growth (YoY)-11.77%17.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-36.12%8.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Williams (WMB) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMB.

VLO

Energy industry group

1.72

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
VLO
1.72
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24

WMB

Energy industry group

0.75

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
WMB
0.75
Min
0.24
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB) at 1.58 uses more debt funding than most peers.

VLO

Energy industry group

0.35

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
VLO
0.35
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

WMB

Energy industry group

1.58

Max
1.75
WMB
1.58
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.720.75
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.351.58
Net Debt / EBITDA0.064.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% and Williams (WMB) at 3.23% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

VLO

Energy industry group

1.35%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
VLO
1.35%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMB

Energy industry group

3.23%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
WMB
3.23%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 10.76% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Williams (WMB) at 81.69% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

VLO

Energy industry group

10.76%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
VLO
10.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMB

Energy industry group

81.69%

Max
133.24%
WMB
81.69%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.35%3.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)10.76%81.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Valero Energy (VLO) at 7.88 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 25.23 sits in the richer quartile — WMB needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

VLO

Energy industry group

7.88

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
VLO
7.88
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99

WMB

Energy industry group

25.23

Max
39.54
WMB
25.23
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB) at 6.32 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

VLO

Energy industry group

0.66

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
VLO
0.66
Min
0.00

WMB

Energy industry group

6.32

WMB
6.32
Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB) at 5.11 prices even higher, above its industry range.

VLO

Energy industry group

3.45

Max
4.21
VLO
3.45
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

WMB

Energy industry group

5.11

WMB
5.11
Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Valero Energy (VLO) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Valero Energy (VLO) and Williams (WMB)
MetricVLOWMB
P/E Ratio (TTM)7.8825.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.666.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.455.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)13.02%-3.56%