PSX
Phillips 66
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Cap$72.27B
5Y Perf.+130.3%
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Stock Comparison
PSX vs VLO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VLO
Valero Energy Corporation
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Cap$75.79B
5Y Perf.+280.3%
PSX vs VLO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PSX | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing | Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing |
| Market Cap | $72.27B | $75.79B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $135.77B | $126.17B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.12B | $4.21B |
| Gross Margin | 7.0% | 7.2% |
| Operating Margin | 4.7% | 4.6% |
| Forward P/E | 12.3x | 10.8x |
| Total Debt | $22.88B | $11.70B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.12B | $4.69B |
PSX vs VLO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PSX
VLO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips 66 (PSX) | 100 | 230.3 | +130.3% |
| Valero Energy Corpo… (VLO) | 100 | 380.3 | +280.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PSX vs VLO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: VLO leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Phillips 66 is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PSX
Phillips 66
The Growth Play
PSX is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth -7.6%, EPS growth 116.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -8.1%
- 2.6% yield, 13-year raise streak, vs VLO's 1.8%
Best for: growth exposure
VLO
Valero Energy Corporation
The Income Pick
VLO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.27, yield 1.8%
- 422.7% 10Y total return vs PSX's 174.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.27, Low D/E 44.0%, current ratio 1.65x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VLO | -5.5% revenue growth vs PSX's -7.6% |
| Value | VLO | Lower P/E (10.8x vs 12.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | VLO | 3.3% margin vs PSX's 3.0% |
| Stability / Safety | VLO | Beta 0.27 vs PSX's 0.43, lower leverage |
| Dividends | PSX | 2.6% yield, 13-year raise streak, vs VLO's 1.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | VLO | +116.2% vs PSX's +73.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VLO | 7.1% ROA vs PSX's 5.3%, ROIC 9.5% vs 5.3% |
PSX vs VLO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
PSX vs VLO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLVLOLAGGINGPSX
PSXPhillips 66
0leads
VLOValero Energy Corpora…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PSXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
VLO4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
VLO8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
VLO6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
VLO2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VLO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PSX and VLO operate at a comparable scale, with $135.8B and $126.2B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.3% (VLO) to 3.0% (PSX). On growth, PSX holds the edge at +11.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PSXPhillips 66 | VLOValero Energy Cor… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $135.8B | $126.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $9.4B | $9.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.1B | $4.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $119M | $5.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +7.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.7% | +4.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.1% | +4.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.7% | +7.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -56.8% | +3.2% |
VLO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — PSX and VLO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.7x trailing earnings, PSX trades at a 50% valuation discount to VLO's 33.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, VLO's 11.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PSX's 13.8x.
| Metric | PSXPhillips 66 | VLOValero Energy Cor… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $72.3B | $75.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $94.0B | $82.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.71x | 33.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.25x | 10.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.79x | 11.08x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.55x | 0.62x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.43x | 2.94x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 26.48x | 15.07x |
Evenly matched — PSX and VLO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VLO leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VLO delivers a 15.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $14 for PSX. VLO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.44x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PSX's 0.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PSX scores 7/9 vs VLO's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PSXPhillips 66 | VLOValero Energy Cor… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.1% | +15.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +7.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.3% | +9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.0% | +9.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.76x | 0.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $21.8B | $7.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $4.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $22.9B | $11.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.65x | 10.63x |
VLO leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VLO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VLO five years ago would be worth $34,273 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $23,707 for PSX. Over the past 12 months, VLO leads with a +116.2% total return vs PSX's +73.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VLO at 35.5% vs PSX's 27.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PSXPhillips 66 | VLOValero Energy Cor… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +39.0% | +54.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +73.2% | +116.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +107.5% | +149.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +137.1% | +242.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +174.6% | +422.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +27.6% | +35.5% |
VLO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VLO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VLO is the less volatile stock with a 0.27 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PSX's 0.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VLO currently trades 98.1% from its 52-week high vs PSX's 94.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PSXPhillips 66 | VLOValero Energy Cor… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.43x | 0.27x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $190.61 | $258.43 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $104.83 | $115.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.6% | +98.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.8 | 60.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.0M | 3.7M |
VLO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PSX and VLO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PSX as "Buy" and VLO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -9.4% upside for PSX (target: $163) vs -15.3% for VLO (target: $215). For income investors, PSX offers the higher dividend yield at 2.61% vs VLO's 1.79%.
| Metric | PSXPhillips 66 | VLOValero Energy Cor… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $163.38 | $214.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +1.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 13 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.71 | $4.55 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.7% | +3.4% |
Evenly matched — PSX and VLO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
VLO leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallValero Energy Corporation (VLO)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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PSX vs VLO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PSX or VLO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is the stronger pick with -5.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 6% for Phillips 66 (PSX). Phillips 66 (PSX) offers the better valuation at 16. 7x trailing P/E (12. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Phillips 66 (PSX) a "Buy" — based on 35 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PSX or VLO?
On trailing P/E, Phillips 66 (PSX) is the cheapest at 16.
7x versus Valero Energy Corporation at 33. 5x. On forward P/E, Valero Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PSX or VLO?
Over the past 5 years, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) delivered a total return of +242.
7%, compared to +137. 1% for Phillips 66 (PSX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VLO returned +422. 7% versus PSX's +174. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PSX or VLO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
27β versus Phillips 66's 0. 43β — meaning PSX is approximately 60% more volatile than VLO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 76% for Phillips 66 — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PSX or VLO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is pulling ahead at -5.
5% versus -7. 6% for Phillips 66 (PSX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Phillips 66 grew EPS 116. 2% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PSX or VLO?
Phillips 66 (PSX) is the more profitable company, earning 3.
3% net margin versus 1. 9% for Valero Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 3. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VLO leads at 3. 5% versus 2. 7% for PSX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PSX leads at 4. 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.
07Is PSX or VLO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) trades at 10.
8x forward P/E versus 12. 3x for Phillips 66 — 1. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PSX: -9. 4% to $163. 38.
08Which pays a better dividend — PSX or VLO?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Phillips 66 (PSX) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 1. 8% for Valero Energy Corporation (VLO).
09Is PSX or VLO better for a retirement portfolio?
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. 8% yield, +422. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VLO: +422. 7%, PSX: +174. 6%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PSX and VLO?
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: PSX is a mid-cap deep-value stock; VLO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(PSX: 11.7% · VLO: 7.0%)Net Margin>
%
(PSX: 3.0% · VLO: 3.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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