CVI vs MPC vs VLO vs PSX vs DK

For growth investors, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is the stronger pick with -4.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 5% for Delek US Holdings, Inc. (DK). Phillips 66 (PSX) offers the better valuation at 15. 6x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Phillips 66 (PSX) is the cheapest at 15.

6x versus CVR Energy, Inc. at 120. 7x. On forward P/E, Valero Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) delivered a total return of +329.

5%, compared to +95. 6% for Delek US Holdings, Inc. (DK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MPC returned +664. 3% versus PSX's +162. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CVR Energy, Inc.

(CVI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 11β versus Phillips 66's 0. 43β — meaning PSX is approximately 289% more volatile than CVI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 6% for Delek US Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is pulling ahead at -4.

4% versus -9. 5% for Delek US Holdings, Inc. (DK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CVR Energy, Inc. grew EPS 287. 4% year-over-year, compared to -11. 8% for Valero Energy Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PSX leads at -8. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Phillips 66 (PSX) is the more profitable company, earning 3.

3% net margin versus -0. 2% for Delek US Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MPC leads at 4. 3% versus 2. 3% for CVI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MPC leads at 7. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) trades at 10.

0x forward P/E versus 35. 3x for CVR Energy, Inc. — 25. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DK: -0. 8% to $44. 33.

In this comparison, PSX (2.

8% yield), DK (2. 3% yield), VLO (1. 9% yield), MPC (1. 5% yield) pay a dividend. CVI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

30), 1. 5% yield, +664. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MPC: +664. 3%, CVI: +253. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CVI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MPC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; VLO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PSX is a mid-cap deep-value stock; DK is a small-cap quality compounder stock. MPC, VLO, PSX, DK pay a dividend while CVI does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.