PARR vs VLO

For growth investors, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is the stronger pick with -5.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 4% for Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (PARR). Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (PARR) offers the better valuation at 8. 7x trailing P/E (5. 6x 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 8. 7x versus Valero Energy Corporation at 31. 2x. On forward P/E, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 6x.

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

(PARR) delivered a total return of +325. 5%, compared to +219. 6% for Valero Energy Corporation (VLO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VLO returned +397. 5% versus PARR's +255. 3%. 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. 01β versus Valero Energy Corporation's 0. 27β — meaning VLO is approximately -3116% 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 90% for Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is pulling ahead at -5.

5% versus -6. 4% for Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (PARR). 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.

Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 9% net margin versus 1. 9% for Valero Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 4. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PARR leads at 7. 2% versus 3. 5% for VLO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PARR leads at 18. 1%, 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. 6x forward P/E versus 10. 0x for Valero Energy Corporation — 4. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PARR: -1. 0% to $61. 60.

In this comparison, VLO (1.

9% yield) pays 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.

27), 1. 9% yield, +397. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VLO: +397. 5%, PARR: +255. 3%), 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: PARR is a small-cap deep-value stock; VLO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. VLO pays 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.