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Valero Energy Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Higher Refining Margins
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Key Takeaways
VLO posted Q2 EPS of $2.28, beating estimates but down from $2.71 in the prior-year quarter.
Stronger refining margins and lower cost of sales lifted refining income despite a throughput decline.
Renewable diesel segment swung to a loss as sales volumes and margins fell sharply year over year.
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $2.28 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.73. However, the bottom line declined from the year-ago quarter’s level of $2.71.
Total quarterly revenues decreased from $34,490 million in the prior-year quarter to $29,889 million. The top line, however, beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $27,838 million.
The better-than-expected quarterly results can be attributed to an increase in refining margins per barrel of throughput and lower total cost of sales. The positives were partially offset by a decline in refining throughput volumes and renewable diesel sales volumes.
Valero Energy Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Adjusted operating income in the Refining segment totaled $1,270 million, up from $1,229 million in the year-ago quarter. The segment was aided by a higher refining margin per barrel of throughput in the reported quarter.
In the Ethanol segment, Valero reported an adjusted operating profit of $54 million, down from $103 million in the prior-year quarter. A decrease in ethanol margin per gallon of production affected the business segment.
Operating loss in the Renewable Diesel segment totaled $79 million against an operating income of $112 million in the year-ago quarter. Renewable diesel sales volume declined to 2,732 thousand gallons per day from 3,492 in the year-ago quarter. Our estimate for the same was pegged at 3,496 thousand gallons per day. The segment was affected by a decrease in the renewable diesel margin per gallon of sales from the year-ago level.
VLO’s Throughput Volumes
In the second quarter, Valero’s refining throughput volumes totaled 2,922 thousand barrels per day (MBbls/d), down from the year-ago figure of 3,010 MBbls/d. The figure surpassed our estimate of 2,908.5 MBbls/d.
In terms of feedstock composition, sweet crude, medium/light sour crude and heavy sour crude accounted for 51.6%, 8.2% and 19%, respectively, of the total volume. The remaining volume came from residuals, other feedstock, and blendstocks and others.
The Gulf Coast contributed 63% to the total throughput volume. The Mid-Continent, North Atlantic and West Coast regions accounted for 14.5%, 13.5% and 9%, respectively, of the total throughput volume.
VLO’s Throughput Margins
The refining margin per barrel of throughput increased to $12.35 from the year-ago level of $11.14.
Refining operating expenses per barrel of throughput were $4.91 compared with $4.45 in the year-ago quarter.
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $2.66 per barrel from $2.20 in the prior-year period.
Valero’s adjusted refining operating income was $4.78 per barrel of throughput compared with $4.49 a year ago.
VLO’s Cost of Sales
Total cost of sales decreased to $28,640 million from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $33,051 million. This was primarily due to a decrease in the cost of materials and others.
Capital Investment & Balance Sheet of VLO
The second-quarter capital investment totaled $407 million, of which $371 million was allocated toward sustaining the business.
The company had cash and cash equivalents of $4.5 billion at the end of the second quarter. As of June 30, 2025, it had a total debt of $8.4 billion and finance-lease obligations of $2.3 billion.
Venture Global is primarily involved in the production and export of liquefied natural gas, sourced from the abundant gas basins in North America. It is the second-largest exporter of natural gas in the United States. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the rise in LNG demand, partly driven by the growth of data centers and the global shift toward lower-emission fuels.
Galp Energia is a Portuguese energy company engaged in exploration and production activities. The company’s oil exploration efforts have yielded positive results, particularly with the Mopane discovery in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. After the initial exploration phase, Galp estimated that the Mopane prospect could hold nearly 10 billion barrels of oil. This discovery allows Galp to diversify its global presence, with the potential to become a significant oil producer in the region.
Eni is a leading global integrated energy company with a prominent focus on liquefied natural gas businesses. As natural gas has a lower carbon footprint compared with other fossil fuels, it will play an important role in the global energy transition process. Eni’s participation in the natural gas market will allow it to capitalize on the mounting global demand in the future.
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Valero Energy Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Higher Refining Margins
Key Takeaways
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $2.28 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.73. However, the bottom line declined from the year-ago quarter’s level of $2.71.
Total quarterly revenues decreased from $34,490 million in the prior-year quarter to $29,889 million. The top line, however, beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $27,838 million.
The better-than-expected quarterly results can be attributed to an increase in refining margins per barrel of throughput and lower total cost of sales. The positives were partially offset by a decline in refining throughput volumes and renewable diesel sales volumes.
Valero Energy Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Valero Energy Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Valero Energy Corporation Quote
Segmental Performance of VLO
Adjusted operating income in the Refining segment totaled $1,270 million, up from $1,229 million in the year-ago quarter. The segment was aided by a higher refining margin per barrel of throughput in the reported quarter.
In the Ethanol segment, Valero reported an adjusted operating profit of $54 million, down from $103 million in the prior-year quarter. A decrease in ethanol margin per gallon of production affected the business segment.
Operating loss in the Renewable Diesel segment totaled $79 million against an operating income of $112 million in the year-ago quarter. Renewable diesel sales volume declined to 2,732 thousand gallons per day from 3,492 in the year-ago quarter. Our estimate for the same was pegged at 3,496 thousand gallons per day. The segment was affected by a decrease in the renewable diesel margin per gallon of sales from the year-ago level.
VLO’s Throughput Volumes
In the second quarter, Valero’s refining throughput volumes totaled 2,922 thousand barrels per day (MBbls/d), down from the year-ago figure of 3,010 MBbls/d. The figure surpassed our estimate of 2,908.5 MBbls/d.
In terms of feedstock composition, sweet crude, medium/light sour crude and heavy sour crude accounted for 51.6%, 8.2% and 19%, respectively, of the total volume. The remaining volume came from residuals, other feedstock, and blendstocks and others.
The Gulf Coast contributed 63% to the total throughput volume. The Mid-Continent, North Atlantic and West Coast regions accounted for 14.5%, 13.5% and 9%, respectively, of the total throughput volume.
VLO’s Throughput Margins
The refining margin per barrel of throughput increased to $12.35 from the year-ago level of $11.14.
Refining operating expenses per barrel of throughput were $4.91 compared with $4.45 in the year-ago quarter.
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $2.66 per barrel from $2.20 in the prior-year period.
Valero’s adjusted refining operating income was $4.78 per barrel of throughput compared with $4.49 a year ago.
VLO’s Cost of Sales
Total cost of sales decreased to $28,640 million from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $33,051 million. This was primarily due to a decrease in the cost of materials and others.
Capital Investment & Balance Sheet of VLO
The second-quarter capital investment totaled $407 million, of which $371 million was allocated toward sustaining the business.
The company had cash and cash equivalents of $4.5 billion at the end of the second quarter. As of June 30, 2025, it had a total debt of $8.4 billion and finance-lease obligations of $2.3 billion.
VLO’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Currently, VLO carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector are Venture Global Inc. (VG - Free Report) , Galp Energia SGPS SA (GLPEY - Free Report) and Eni S.p.A (E - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1(Strong Buy) stocks here.
Venture Global is primarily involved in the production and export of liquefied natural gas, sourced from the abundant gas basins in North America. It is the second-largest exporter of natural gas in the United States. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the rise in LNG demand, partly driven by the growth of data centers and the global shift toward lower-emission fuels.
Galp Energia is a Portuguese energy company engaged in exploration and production activities. The company’s oil exploration efforts have yielded positive results, particularly with the Mopane discovery in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. After the initial exploration phase, Galp estimated that the Mopane prospect could hold nearly 10 billion barrels of oil. This discovery allows Galp to diversify its global presence, with the potential to become a significant oil producer in the region.
Eni is a leading global integrated energy company with a prominent focus on liquefied natural gas businesses. As natural gas has a lower carbon footprint compared with other fossil fuels, it will play an important role in the global energy transition process. Eni’s participation in the natural gas market will allow it to capitalize on the mounting global demand in the future.