DK vs PARR vs PBF vs DKL vs VLO

For growth investors, Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL) is the stronger pick with 7.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 4% for PBF Energy Inc. (PBF). Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (PARR) offers the better valuation at 9. 0x trailing P/E (5. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (PARR) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) is the cheapest at 9. 0x versus Valero Energy Corporation at 31. 8x. On forward P/E, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) delivered a total return of +360. 4%, compared to +85. 3% for Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VLO returned +406. 2% versus PBF's +70. 6%. 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), Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 11β versus Delek Logistics Partners, LP's 0. 34β — meaning DKL is approximately -413% more volatile than PARR 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), Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL) is pulling ahead at 7.

7% versus -11. 4% for PBF Energy Inc. (PBF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 1314% year-over-year, compared to -11. 8% for Valero Energy Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PARR leads at 0. 6% 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.

Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

4% net margin versus -0. 5% for PBF Energy Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DKL leads at 18. 0% versus -0. 2% for PBF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DKL leads at 20. 9%, 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, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) trades at 5. 7x forward P/E versus 14. 6x for Delek Logistics Partners, LP — 8. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DKL: 9. 7% to $56. 00.

In this comparison, DKL (8.

7% yield), PBF (2. 7% yield), DK (2. 2% yield), VLO (1. 9% yield) pay a dividend. PARR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

16), 1. 9% yield, +406. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VLO: +406. 2%, PARR: +267. 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: DK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PARR is a small-cap deep-value stock; PBF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DKL is a small-cap deep-value stock; VLO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. DK, PBF, DKL, VLO pay a dividend while PARR 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.