Valero Energy stock surges as refiner profits stay hot
Published on 08/13/2026 at 13:38 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Valero Energy (US91913Y1001) ended August 12, 2026 at $329.59, up 1.75% on the session after trading between $320.77 and $330.52, a new 52-week high.
Margins are still doing the work
Reuters reported on August 12, 2026 that top U.S. refiners posted a combined second-quarter profit of $12.6 billion and returned $6.3 billion to shareholders, the largest amount in more than two years. The same report said Valero was valued at about $90.1 billion and that the stock was up more than 98% year to date.
That backdrop matters because Reuters also said ultra-low sulfur diesel crack spreads reached a record $93.84 per barrel on August 10, 2026, while Valero's chief operating officer said jet fuel margins were strong in the second quarter and expected to strengthen further as the quarter progressed.
The price action is extreme
Investing.com's historical data shows Valero's 52-week range at $133.06 to $330.58, with the latest close sitting just below the upper end of that band. The same price history shows a one-year gain of 141.97%, which makes the current move a continuation of an already stretched run rather than a fresh breakout from a flat base.
For investors, the key comparison is simple: a $90.1 billion equity value is now being supported by a sector that delivered $12.6 billion in combined quarterly profit and $6.3 billion in shareholder returns in the latest reported period. That mix is why refiners have been rewarded even after a sharp advance.
What Valero sells
Valero's refining system turns crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other transportation fuels, so realized margins and product spreads matter more than simple production volume when the market rerates the shares.
Valero stock level
At $329.59 as of August 12, 2026, Valero trades close to its $330.58 52-week high and far above the $133.06 low in that range.
Fact box
Company: Valero Energy Corp.
ISIN: US91913Y1001
Ticker: VLO
Exchange: NYSE
Price (as of August 12, 2026, 4:00 p.m. ET): $329.59 USD
Market cap: $90.1 billion
Sector / Industry: Energy / Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
More on Valero stock
Valero Energy stock remains tied to refining margins, shareholder payouts, and how long the current crack-spread backdrop lasts.
