Company Description
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. Through its subsidiaries, Valero sells these products primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Latin America. The company is classified in the petroleum refineries industry within the manufacturing sector and its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VLO.
According to Valero’s public disclosures, the company owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. These refineries have a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day. In addition to its refining operations, Valero has a significant presence in biofuels and low-carbon fuels. It owns 12 ethanol plants in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.7 billion gallons per year, and it participates in a joint venture focused on renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
Business Segments and Operating Structure
Valero manages its operations through three reportable segments, as described in its earnings releases and corporate communications:
- Refining – This segment includes Valero’s 15 petroleum refineries in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The refineries process crude oil and other feedstocks into liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. Refining throughput volumes and utilization rates are key operating metrics regularly discussed in the company’s financial updates.
- Renewable Diesel – This segment consists of Valero’s interest in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC (DGD), a joint venture that produces low-carbon fuels. DGD has production capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year in the U.S. Gulf Coast region and produces renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as described in Valero’s news releases and referenced annual report disclosures.
- Ethanol – This segment encompasses Valero’s 12 ethanol plants in the U.S. Mid-Continent region. The company reports ethanol production volumes and segment operating income in its quarterly earnings materials, highlighting ethanol as a distinct line of business alongside refining and renewable diesel.
Refining Footprint and Petroleum-Based Products
Valero’s refining segment is central to its role in the petroleum refineries industry. The company’s 15 refineries, with combined throughput capacity of about 3.2 million barrels per day, are located across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. In its quarterly earnings releases, Valero reports refining throughput volumes and operating income, underscoring the importance of refinery utilization and cost management to its overall performance. The company’s public statements emphasize the production of liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products, which are sold primarily in North America, the U.K., Ireland, and Latin America.
Valero also periodically discusses capital projects at its refineries. For example, the company has described an FCC Unit optimization project at the St. Charles Refinery that is intended to enhance the refinery’s ability to produce high-value products. Such projects are characterized in Valero’s communications as part of its ongoing efforts to optimize and sustain its refining operations.
Low-Carbon and Renewable Fuels
In addition to traditional petroleum-based fuels, Valero highlights its involvement in low-carbon fuels through its Renewable Diesel and Ethanol segments. As a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, Valero participates in the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. The company notes in its public releases that further details on SAF are provided in its annual report on Form 10-K.
Valero’s ethanol operations include 12 plants in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with combined production capacity of about 1.7 billion gallons per year. The company reports ethanol production volumes and segment operating income in its quarterly earnings releases, and has noted record ethanol production volumes in certain periods. These disclosures underscore ethanol as an established part of Valero’s broader fuel portfolio.
Geographic Markets and Customer Reach
Across its segments, Valero states that it sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Latin America. This geographic footprint is consistently referenced in the company’s news releases and investor communications. While specific customer types are not detailed in the provided materials, the emphasis on transportation fuels and petrochemical products indicates a focus on markets that rely on refined and low-carbon fuels.
Capital Structure, Credit Facilities, and Exchange Listing
Valero’s common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VLO, as disclosed in multiple Form 8-K filings. The company has also reported entering into and amending revolving credit agreements. For example, an 8-K dated October 16, 2025 describes an amended and restated revolving credit facility with an aggregate principal amount of up to $4 billion, with the potential to increase total revolving commitments up to $5.5 billion, and an extended maturity date. This filing outlines interest rate options based on Term SOFR or an alternate base rate, as well as commitment fees and customary covenants.
Valero’s periodic earnings releases provide additional insight into its capital allocation, including capital investments, debt levels, and cash and cash equivalents. These disclosures show that the company uses capital for sustaining business operations, turnarounds, catalysts, regulatory compliance, and specific optimization projects, while also returning capital to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Dividends and Stockholder Returns
Valero’s Board of Directors has repeatedly declared regular quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, as reflected in multiple news releases. For example, announcements dated May 6, 2025, July 17, 2025, and October 29, 2025 each describe a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.13 per share, with specified record and payment dates. In its earnings releases, Valero also reports the total amounts returned to stockholders through dividends and stock buybacks over given periods, and discusses payout ratios relative to adjusted net cash provided by operating activities.
Corporate Governance and Leadership Updates
Valero’s SEC filings and news releases provide information on its corporate governance and leadership. A Form 8-K dated September 19, 2025 reports that the Board increased its size and elected Robert L. Reymond as an independent director, noting his committee assignment and compensation under Valero’s non-employee director program. Another Form 8-K dated October 29, 2025 describes a planned CFO transition, in which Homer Bhullar is appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Jason Fraser following his announced retirement. The filing details Mr. Bhullar’s prior roles at Valero and his compensation terms in the CFO role.
These governance-related disclosures, along with repeated references to the company’s Board and management in earnings and news releases, illustrate Valero’s practice of reporting significant leadership changes and director appointments through both SEC filings and press releases.
Financial Reporting and Segment Performance
Valero regularly reports its financial and operating results via earnings releases and accompanying tables, which are furnished on Form 8-K. These materials provide segment-level data for Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol, including revenues from external customers, intersegment revenues, cost of materials and other, operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and operating income or loss by segment.
For example, in the earnings release for the third quarter of 2025, Valero reports refining throughput volumes, operating income for each segment, and general and administrative expenses. The company also presents non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, and segment margins, and provides reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the accompanying tables. Similar disclosures appear in the second quarter 2025 earnings release, which also discusses capital investments and debt repayment activities.
Status and Regulatory Filings
The provided SEC filings show that Valero continues to file current reports on Form 8-K related to earnings, credit facilities, and corporate governance events. The filings list its common stock as registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VLO. There is no indication in the provided materials of delisting, deregistration, bankruptcy, or a completed merger that would change Valero’s status as an independent public company.
FAQs about Valero Energy Corporation (VLO)
- What does Valero Energy Corporation do?
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries, is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. It manages its operations through Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segments and sells its products primarily in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Latin America. - How is Valero’s business organized?
Valero manages its operations through three segments: Refining, which includes 15 petroleum refineries; Renewable Diesel, which consists of its interest in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC; and Ethanol, which includes 12 ethanol plants in the U.S. Mid-Continent region. - Where are Valero’s refineries located?
Valero owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day, as described in its public news releases. - What is Diamond Green Diesel and how is Valero involved?
Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC is a joint venture in which Valero is a member. According to Valero’s disclosures, this joint venture produces low-carbon fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with a production capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. - What role does ethanol play in Valero’s operations?
Valero owns 12 ethanol plants in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.7 billion gallons per year. The company reports ethanol production volumes and segment operating income in its quarterly earnings releases, highlighting ethanol as a distinct business segment. - On which exchange does Valero’s stock trade and what is its ticker symbol?
Valero’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, is registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VLO, as stated in multiple Form 8-K filings. - Does Valero pay dividends?
Yes. Valero’s Board of Directors has declared regular quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, as reflected in several news releases. For example, releases dated May 6, 2025, July 17, 2025, and October 29, 2025 each describe a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.13 per share. - What geographic markets does Valero serve?
Valero states that it sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Latin America, as noted in its earnings and news releases. - How does Valero report its financial results?
Valero reports its financial and operating results through earnings releases that are furnished on Form 8-K. These releases include consolidated financial statements, segment financial highlights, operating metrics such as throughput and production volumes, and non-GAAP financial measures with reconciliations to GAAP. - Has Valero announced any notable corporate governance changes recently?
Yes. In 2025, Valero reported the election of Robert L. Reymond to its Board of Directors and his appointment to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as a planned CFO transition in which Homer Bhullar will become Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Jason Fraser following his retirement.