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STOCK COMPARISON

Marathon Petroleum vs Valero Energy: Fair Value & Quality

Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Valero Energy (VLO) compare, as of Oct 19, 2026.

As of Oct 19, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Valero Energy as the less overvalued of the two: Marathon Petroleum trades at $478 versus a fair value of $110 (−77.0%), while Valero Energy trades at $445 versus $131 (−70.5%).
Marathon Petroleum
MPC · USD · Energy
−77.0%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$478
Fair Value$110
Quality61/100
Valero Energy
VLO · USD · Energy
−70.5%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$445
Fair Value$131
Quality68/100
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Head-to-head numbers

Green is the better side of a row, red the weaker one (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper). Grey rows are for reference only and are not scored.

betterweakerfor reference, not scored

Marathon PetroleumValero Energy
Valuation
16.6×P/E (TTM)18.2×
44.7×P/E ex one-offs (FY2025)61.2×
10.1×Forward P/E (FY2027)11.7×
n/aMedian P/E at FY-end (9 FY, ex one-offs where documented)13.1×
1.31×P/S (TTM)0.99×
8.04×P/B5.51×
15.7×EV/EBITDA10.1×
0.90×PEG1.85×
−77.0%Fair value upside−70.5%
0.8%Dividend yield1.0%
$4.00Dividend per share$4.66
Profitability
13.6%Operating margin12.3%
42.1%Return on equity27.6%
6.9%Return on assets4.1%
Growth
53.7%Revenue growth (YoY)51.7%
-9.2%Avg. growth/yr (3Y)-11.4%
13.7%Avg. growth/yr (5Y)13.6%
+39.8%Value creation/yr+9.3%
Balance & size
4.1×Interest coverage (EBIT/interest)7.8×
1.76×Debt / equity0.41×
$139BMarket cap$131B
weakGrowth qualitymixed
The P/E excluding one-off items is scored: for at least one of the two companies, special items (write-downs, restructuring, litigation) move the reported P/E by 15 % or more. The trailing P/E is shown for reference.
Valero Energy, median P/E at fiscal year-end, 9 fiscal years (2016 to 2025), reported earnings, 8 of the years ex one-offs: 13.1.
Forward P/E: price divided by the analyst consensus for the first fiscal year that has not started yet. The current year carries special items from quarters already reported.

Valero Energy leads: 7 to 8 metric wins.

Group holding company: MPC (69 %) consolidates subsidiaries in full but owns only the stated share. Revenue, EBITDA and margin ratios are therefore restated for its own shareholders; earnings per share, P/E and return on equity already were.

n/a = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.

Quality in detail

The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.

Marathon Petroleum Valero Energy
ProfitabilityHow much profit the company makes from its sales and capital
53
43
Quality GrowthAre margins and returns getting better?
35
36
CashflowDo the profits arrive as real cash?
50
61
Financial strengthDebt, balance sheet and risk of trouble
33
63
InvestmentDoes it invest with discipline instead of growing at any price?
99
100
Low VolatilityHow calm the share price moves, does not count
76
73
MomentumPrice trend of the last 3 to 12 months, does not count
100
100
Near the 52-week highDistance to the 52-week high, does not count
99
98
New sharesBuys back shares or issues new ones?
100
100

What the models say

How far the median fair value (base case) per model family sits from the current price, in percent. The amount in the currency of the trading venue is shown underneath.

above the price, more than 15% above close to the price, 85% to 115% of the price below the price, more than 15% below

Model familyMarathon PetroleumPrice $478Valero EnergyPrice $445
DCF Models−69.9%below the price$144−39.5%below the price$269
Earnings-Based−84.6%below the price$73.72−74.6%below the price$113
Dividend Discount−90.5%below the price$45.26n/a
Multiples−81.7%below the price$87.40−69.7%below the price$135
Asset-Based−97.4%below the price$12.52−87.8%below the price$54.32
Growth DCF−65.9%below the price$163−17.5%below the price$367
Economic Profit−80.3%below the price$94.12−70.4%below the price$132
Growth Earnings−65.0%below the price$167−72.3%below the price$123
Minimum−97.4%below the price$12.52−87.8%below the price$54.32
Maximum−65.0%below the price$167−17.5%below the price$367
Median−81.0%below the price$90.76−70.4%below the price$132
Geometric mean−83.7%below the price$77.86−67.5%below the price$145

Minimum, maximum, median and geometric mean refer to the family values in this table. Geometric because deviations are ratios: half the price and twice the price average to 100%, not 125%.

Marathon Petroleum: 25 of 25 models see the stock below the current price.

Valero Energy: 22 of 24 models see the stock below the current price.

Scenario ranges

From our cautious bear scenario to the optimistic bull scenario. The white tick is the current price (value above it), the green tick the fair value (value below it): if the price sits left of the fair value, there is room to rise.

Marathon Petroleum
Price $478
Fair Value $110
Bear $76.45Bull $172
Valero Energy
Price $445
Fair Value $131
Bear $92.38Bull $170

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Ranked within their sector

Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.

Marathon Petroleum · Energy

Quality score61 · Top 25%
Fair value upside−77.0% · bottom 25%

Valero Energy · Energy

Quality score68 · Top 25%
Fair value upside−70.5% · bottom 25%

Bottom line

As of Oct 19, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Valero Energy as the less overvalued of the two: Marathon Petroleum trades at $478 versus a fair value of $110 (−77.0%), while Valero Energy trades at $445 versus $131 (−70.5%).

Valero Energy has the higher quality score (68/100).

Open Valero Energy live analysis →

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A model-based valuation snapshot from 26 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.