VLO, US91912E1055

Valero Energy stock falls as Jefferies cuts rating

Published on 09/23/2026 at 09:15 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Valero Energy stock fell 4.10 percent on September 22, 2026, after Jefferies moved from Buy to Hold with a USD 401 target. Quarterly EPS reached USD 12.54.

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Valero Energy (ISIN US91912E1055) closed at USD 377.14 on the NYSE on September 22, 2026, down 4.10 percent from the prior close. The decline followed Jefferies' downgrade from Buy to Hold and a USD 401 price target, according to Seeking Alpha on September 22, 2026.

Valuation drives the downgrade

Jefferies cited stretched valuations after Valero more than doubled over the preceding year, while its USD 401 target stood above the September 22 close by USD 23.86. The same report placed Marathon Petroleum's target at USD 413, showing that the rating change was part of a broader reassessment of large US refiners rather than a company-specific earnings warning.

Market data showed Valero at a market capitalization of USD 113.36 billion on September 22, 2026. The stock's 50-day moving average was USD 341.51 and its 200-day moving average was USD 280.01, leaving the closing price USD 35.63 above the shorter average and USD 97.13 above the longer one, according to the published market data.

Quarterly earnings set a high bar

Valero reported USD 12.54 in earnings per share for the quarter announced on July 30, 2026, compared with consensus of USD 10.11. The USD 2.43 beat came with quarterly revenue of USD 44.48 billion versus estimates of USD 39.47 billion, while revenue increased 48.8 percent from the same quarter a year earlier, according to MarketBeat on September 22, 2026.

The comparison explains the market tension: operational results were well above the stated consensus, but the share price had already moved far ahead of its longer-term average. Jefferies therefore retained a positive valuation reference of USD 401 while removing the Buy rating, a combination that points to limited upside after the earlier advance.

Stock remains near yearly high

Valero traded between USD 155.29 and USD 419.04 over the 52 weeks ended September 22, 2026. The close was USD 41.90 below the yearly high and USD 221.85 above the low, while the session volume was reported at 624,299 shares against average volume of 3.32 million shares.

Valero Energy closed at USD 377.14 on the NYSE on September 22, 2026, with the 4.10 percent daily decline defining the latest completed trading session. Its market capitalization was USD 113.36 billion as of the same date.