Valero Energy stock gains as BofA raises price target after strong earnings
Published on 09/11/2026 at 19:03 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Valero Energy stock (ISIN US91913Y1001) is trading near record levels after a series of strong earnings beats and a fresh price-target increase to USD 395 by BofA Securities, with the shares closing at USD 385.43 on the NYSE on September 10, 2026, only slightly below their 52-week high of USD 393.54.
BofA lifts target as earnings estimates rise
According to Futunn on September 11, 2026, BofA Securities maintained its Hold rating on Valero Energy and raised its target price from USD 318 to USD 395, reflecting the stock’s strong run and improved profitability.
As MarketBeat reported on September 11, 2026, Erste Group Bank raised its fiscal 2026 earnings per share estimate for Valero Energy from USD 42.76 to USD 43.31 and kept a Hold rating, while the full-year consensus currently stands at USD 41.15 per share.
The same MarketBeat overview notes that Valero Energy carries an average rating of Moderate Buy, based on 2 Strong Buy, 10 Buy, 8 Hold and 1 Sell recommendations, with a consensus price target of USD 301.76, implying that the current share price around USD 385 leaves roughly 21.8 percent downside to that average target.
Recent quarter shows sharp jump in revenue and EPS
Valero’s elevated valuation rests on very strong recent operating results. In its latest reported quarter, the company delivered adjusted earnings per share of USD 12.54, beating the consensus estimate of USD 10.11 by USD 2.43 and underscoring the scale of the earnings surprise.MarketBeat
In the same quarter, Valero Energy generated revenue of USD 44.48 billion compared with analyst expectations of USD 39.47 billion, an outperformance of USD 5.01 billion that translated into revenue growth of 48.8 percent year over year.MarketBeat
During the same period, the company reported a net margin of 5.17 percent and a return on equity of 26.74 percent, highlighting the improved profitability of its refining and marketing operations compared with the prior-year quarter.MarketBeat
Stock near 52-week high after oil rally and trading signal
Valero Energy’s share price has moved sharply higher in 2026. At the start of the year, the stock traded at USD 162.89, and by early September it had climbed to around USD 385.92, representing a gain of 136.9 percent year to date.MarketBeat
As of the close on September 10, 2026, Valero Energy shares finished at USD 385.43 on the NYSE, down 0.91 percent on the day, with an intraday high at USD 393.54 that stands as the current 52-week high and a 52-week low of USD 155.29, while the market capitalization is around USD 111.12 billion based on the recent trading range.MarketBeat
Short-term traders have also been active. As Benzinga reported on September 10, 2026, a Power Inflow alert was triggered at USD 385.49 at 10:05 a.m. Eastern time, and the stock subsequently climbed to an intraday high of USD 393.54, marking a roughly 2.09 percent move from the alert level.
Oil price strength and refined product margins support outlook
The broader energy backdrop has been favorable. On September 9, 2026, Brent crude oil settled above USD 101 per barrel for the first time since May, and energy stocks including Valero Energy hit annual highs as supply concerns in the Middle East pushed prices higher.Nemo Money
Higher crude benchmarks have coincided with stronger refining margins. In Valero’s most recent quarter, refining margin per barrel of throughput nearly doubled to USD 23.62 from USD 12.35 a year earlier, while US Gulf Coast ultra low sulfur diesel margin surged to USD 43.52 per barrel from USD 14.79 in the prior-year quarter.Ad-hoc-News
In the same analysis, Valero’s renewable diesel segment was highlighted for swinging to operating income of USD 717 million from a loss of USD 79 million in the prior-year quarter, showing that the company’s low-carbon businesses are starting to contribute meaningfully to overall profitability.Ad-hoc-News
Risks: valuation, consensus target and cyclical exposure
Despite the strong fundamentals, some analysts warn that the current share price embeds demanding expectations. The consensus target of USD 301.76 compiled by MarketBeat implies a potential downside of about 21.8 percent from the recent price around USD 385.92, suggesting that the stock now trades well above the average analyst valuation.
Furthermore, Erste Group Bank’s Hold rating and USD 43.31 EPS estimate for 2026, slightly above its previous USD 42.76 forecast, show that at least some coverage sees earnings growth moderating after the latest surge, even as the consensus forecast of USD 41.15 per share still points to robust profitability.MarketBeat
Valero also remains exposed to cyclical swings in fuel demand and refining margins; any reversal in oil prices or a narrowing of spreads between crude and refined products could weigh on the attractive margins seen in the latest quarter and potentially bring earnings and the share price back closer to the consensus levels.
Stock stays close to record territory
As of the last completed trading day, September 10, 2026, Valero Energy stock closed at USD 385.43 on the NYSE, with an intraday high at USD 393.54, a 52-week range between USD 155.29 and USD 393.54 and a market capitalization of about USD 111.12 billion, leaving the shares trading very close to their recent record levels.
Valero Energy stock key data
- Company: Valero Energy Corporation
- ISIN: US91913Y1001
- Ticker: VLO
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of September 10, 2026, 4:00 PM): 385.43 USD
- Market capitalization: 111.12 billion USD (as of September 10, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Energy / Oil and Gas Refining and Marketing
- Index membership: S&P 500
- Next earnings date: October 22, 2026
