Should I buy Valero Energy (VLO) stock or is it too late?
⭐ The most reliable of them, either direction: Goldman Sachs — 67% of its targets hit on this sector (129 calls tested). It aims for $457 (+0.1 %), call made on September 24, 2026, maturing on September 24, 2027 (20 d ago).
Firm-by-firm track record on Valero Energy
| Firm | % right | Gain vs sector | Calls | Aims for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS | 89 % | +61.8 % | 9 | $450 -1% |
| Jefferies | 100 % | +61.2 % | 7 | $394 -14% |
| Raymond James | 84 % | +37.0 % | 38 | $450 -1% |
| Piper Sandler | 75 % | +36.0 % | 32 | $435 -5% |
| RBC Capital | 92 % | +35.8 % | 24 | $151 -67% |
| Mizuho | 87 % | +35.1 % | 15 | $434 -5% |
| B of A Securities | 78 % | +30.3 % | 9 | $414 -9% |
| Wells Fargo | 81 % | +27.8 % | 26 | $389 -15% |
✅ Reasons to believe
- Pays a dividend (1.7% yield) — regular income on top of potential upside.
- Reasonable valuation (P/E ~19) relative to its sector.
⚠️ Reasons to hesitate
- Even the most reliable firm on VLO, Jefferies (100% hit rate, 7 scored calls), only targets $394 (call made on October 8, 2026, maturing on October 8, 2027) (-14%) in its most recent call, and $401 (call made on September 22, 2026, maturing on September 22, 2027) (-12%) in the one coming due soonest. The stock may already have run past its target.
- The consensus is not unanimous: of 15 ratings, 7 are neutral and 1 is a sell.
- Limited upside: the median target is only -10% from the current price.
- A 12-month target is not a guaranteed path: the price can fall in the meantime.
- Volatile stock: sharp swings — including steep drops — are part of its profile.
The analyst consensus on VLO
Median target $413 (-10%) · 15 ratings · Hold consensus
⚠️ Information, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Analyst targets on a ~12-month horizon.
Frequently asked questions
Should you invest in Valero Energy now?
We won't decide for you. The facts: 47% of analysts rate it a buy, median target $413 (-10%), and Jefferies (most reliable on VLO, 100%) targets $394. Weigh that against valuation (P/E ~19) and volatility. This is not personalized advice.
Is it too late to invest in Valero Energy?
The stated upside is small: the median target ($413) sits just -10% from the price ($456) (most reliable on VLO: Jefferies, 100%). The real question isn't "too late" but the price-to-value gap and risk. Not advice.
Is Valero Energy still worth investing in?
It depends on the gap between the price ($456) and its estimated value: analysts target $413 on median (-10%), with 47% buys (most reliable on VLO: Jefferies, 100%). Cross-check with their real reliability on VLO and the cautions above. Information, not advice.
What's the main risk in buying VLO?
Even the most reliable firm on VLO, Jefferies (100% hit rate, 7 scored calls), only targets $394 (call made on October 8, 2026, maturing on October 8, 2027) (-14%) in its most recent call, and $401 (call made on September 22, 2026, maturing on September 22, 2027) (-12%) in the one coming due soonest. The stock may already have run past its target.
→ Go deeper: the full Valero Energy profile (consensus, analyst reliability, price target, performance).