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Valero Energy vs Exxon Mobil: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Valero Energy carrying a narrow edge on stability. Exxon Mobil still has the edge on stability, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is broadly comparable for both — no clear directional signal from price behavior. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels. Both peer scores are relative to the S&P 500 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-05-17

Stability points more clearly toward Exxon Mobil Corporation, even if the broader score still leans toward Valero Energy Corporation.

Trajectory Similarity
0.78
Similar
Peer-set rank: #8
within Valero Energy Corporation's functional peer set

These two companies are linked by measured long-term financial trajectory similarity within the selected peer universe.

This level of similarity signals a strong structural match, even though some dimensions still separate the two companies.

Most of the shared profile comes through recent revenue growth and margin trend.

Similarity drivers
recent revenue growthmargin trend
How to read the score
0.85–1.00 · Very similar0.70–0.84 · Similar0.55–0.69 · Moderately similarbelow 0.55 · Loose match
Peer-Relative Score
VLO
Valero Energy Corporation
56
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500
vs
XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation
54
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in stability.

Dimension spread: VLO vs XOM Profitability 49 51 Stability 50 73 Valuation 73 56 Growth 48 38 VLO XOM
Gap Ranking
#1 Stability +23
#2 Valuation +17
#3 Growth +10
#4 Profitability +2
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for VLO and XOM Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer VLOXOM Relative valuation Structural strength

The structural gap is limited here, but current pricing still leans against Exxon Mobil Corporation.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Entry today — historical context

Where VLO and XOM each sit in their own 5-year price and valuation history.

BASED ON 5-YEAR HISTORY VLO Elevated · above norm 0th 50th 100th 0 pct gap XOM Elevated · above norm 0th 50th 100th 99th 99th
VLO (99th percentile) and XOM (99th percentile) both sit in the upper portion of their own 5-year ranges. The historical entry context is broadly similar for both. This reflects entry timing, not which company is structurally stronger.

Describes historical entry positioning only. Descriptive — not investment advice.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Stability
Both look solid on stability, though Exxon Mobil Corporation still holds the stronger peer position.
Valuation
On valuation, the edge still sits with Valero Energy Corporation, even though both profiles look solid.
Stability — Dominant Gap
VLO
50
XOM
73
Gap+23in favour of XOM

The clearest distance comes from a steadier profile over time.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Exxon Mobil Corporation still carries lower volatility exposure — that difference is real enough to prevent the comparison from becoming one-sided.

What this means for the comparison

Stability is the clearest driver of the lead, with valuation adding further support — though stability still provides a real counterweight.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the VLO vs XOM comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

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Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how VLO and XOM each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.