Valero(US:VLO) ZACKS·2026-01-02 13:15Core Insights - The overall energy industry is facing high uncertainty due to West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices trading below $60 per barrel, significantly lower than a year ago, but Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is positioned to benefit from this crude pricing environment [1][2] Group 1: Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) - Valero Energy is a leading refining company with a processing capacity of 3.2 million barrels of oil daily, allowing it to purchase oil at lower costs and produce end products like gasoline and distillates [2] - The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects global oil inventories to continue increasing, which will likely keep crude prices soft in the near future [2] - VLO's shares have gained 35.1% over the past year, outperforming the composite stocks in the industry, which rose by 16.2% [6] - VLO trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 7.77X, above the broader industry average of 4.34X [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VLO's 2025 earnings has seen downward revisions over the past 30 days [9] Group 2: Industry Outlook - EIA projects the average spot price for WTI in 2026 to be $51.42 per barrel, lower than the estimated $65.32 per barrel for 2025, indicating a continued soft pricing environment that benefits refining margins [3] - Phillips 66 (PSX) and Par Pacific Holdings Inc. (PARR) are also expected to benefit from low oil prices, with refining operations contributing significantly to PSX's earnings [4][7] - Par Pacific has a refining capacity of 219,000 barrels of oil daily and benefits from exposure to cheaper Canadian heavy oil, providing a cost advantage [5]