Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. The company produces California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending and Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending gasolines, CARB diesel, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, and asphalt; feedstocks; aromatics; sulfur and residual fuel oil; intermediate oils; and sulfur, sweet, and sour crude oils. It sells its refined products through wholesale rack and bulk markets; and through outlets under the Valero, Beacon, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, and Texaco brands. The company owns and operates renewable diesel and ethanol plants, as well as produces renewable diesel and naphtha under the Diamond Green Diesel brand name. In addition, it offers ethanol and various co-products, including dry distiller grains, syrup, and inedible distillers corn oil to animal feed customers. The company was formerly known as Valero Refining and Marketing Company and changed its name to Valero Energy Corporation in August 1997. Valero Energy Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

Valero Energy Corporation

In the latest trading session, Valero Energy (VLO) closed at $178.27, marking a -1.27% move from the previous day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.62% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.99%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.65%.
Shares of the oil refiner witnessed a gain of 4.04% over the previous month, beating the performance of the Oils-Energy sector with its gain of 0.26%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.59%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Valero Energy in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is scheduled to release its earnings on January 29, 2026. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $3.1, indicating a 384.38% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $29.03 billion, reflecting a 5.62% fall from the equivalent quarter last year.
VLO's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $9.97 per share and revenue of $121.67 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +17.57% and 0%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Valero Energy. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.
Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 1.26% lower. Valero Energy is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.
Looking at valuation, Valero Energy is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 14.46. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 11.86.
Also, we should mention that VLO has a PEG ratio of 1.03. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.03.
The Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 99, finds itself in the top 41% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
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Valero Energy (VLO) Stock Falls Amid Market Uptick: What Investors Need to Know

Valero Energy (VLO) shares ended the last trading session 9.2% higher at $180.57. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 5.1% loss over the past four weeks.
The surge can be attributed to Valero Energy’s strong foothold in the refining sector and the recent geopolitical developments, which may open the door to Venezuela’s significant oil and gas reserves for U.S. refiners. Venezuelan crude is mainly heavy sour crude, which has a high sulfur content. This type of crude is particularly well-suited to produce diesel and heavier fuels. Valero Energy boasts a robust network of refineries with a throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels per day. This also includes its advanced refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast that specialize in processing a wide range of feedstocks, including heavy sour, medium/light sour and sweet crude. Given the high complexity of Valero’s Gulf Coast refineries, the company is well-positioned to process Venezuelan heavy sour crude efficiently and convert it into higher-value refined products, supporting margins and earnings if access to their crude oil increases.
This oil refiner is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.10 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +384.4%. Revenues are expected to be $29.03 billion, down 5.6% from the year-ago quarter.
Earnings and revenue growth expectations certainly give a good sense of the potential strength in a stock, but empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements.
For Valero Energy, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 5.8% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. And a negative trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't usually translate into price appreciation. So, make sure to keep an eye on VLO going forward to see if this recent jump can turn into more strength down the road.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Valero Energy belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry. Another stock from the same industry, PBF Energy (PBF), closed the last trading session 3.4% higher at $29.5. Over the past month, PBF has returned -14.6%.
For PBF Energy, the consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming report has changed -54.5% over the past month to -$0.47. This represents a change of +83.3% from what the company reported a year ago. PBF Energy currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
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Strength Seen in Valero Energy (VLO): Can Its 9.2% Jump Turn into More Strength?

Phillips 66 PSX appears overvalued at current levels, trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 14.41x—well above the broader industry average of 4.42x, Par Pacific Holdings’ PARR 4.45x and Valero Energy Corporation’s VLO 7.90x.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From the investor perspective, Phillips 66 is now valued richly, but is the valuation justified? To determine this, let’s analyze the company’s business fundamentals and the overall oil pricing environment, since raw crude is an input for refiners before the final products are produced.
Softness in Oil Prices to Aid PSX's Refining Business
With West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices currently trading below $60 per barrel, according to data from Oilprice.com, which is significantly lower than a year ago, the overall energy business is now highly uncertain. However, unlike many other energy players, Phillips 66 is expected to gain from the current crude pricing environment.
This is because Phillips 66 is a leading refining company and is now able to purchase oil at a lower cost, enabling the production of end products, such as gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel and distillates. Additionally, crude prices are likely to remain soft in the coming days, as the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) expects global oil inventories to continue increasing.
EIA projects the spot average West Texas Intermediate price for 2026 at $51.42 per barrel, lower than $65.32 per barrel in 2025. Thus, like VLO and PARR, PSX, which generates the majority of its gross margin from refining activities, is expected to benefit from soft oil prices.
PSX’s Strong Focus on Midstream is a Plus
Although a leading refiner, PSX, unlike most of its refining peers, has diversified its business across midstream and chemicals. Along with investing in refining operations, Phillips 66 is allocating almost the same capital for midstream. For 2026, PSX has decided to allocate $1,110 million of capital for each of refining and midstream activities.
Image Source: Phillips 66
Midstream business, by its very definition, is stable since it generates stable cash flows as the assets are being utilized for the long term, and is less vulnerable to commodity price volatility.
Should Investors Bet on the Stock Now?
All the positive developments are being reflected in the price chart. Over the past year, PSX has jumped 26.1%, outpacing the 16.9% improvement of the composite stocks belonging to the industry. VLO and PARR, other well-known refiners, surged 50.2% and 120.5%, respectively, over the same time frame.
One-Year Price Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Considering the backdrop, it has been a clear fact that, unlike many other refining companies, PSX is not solely dependent on its refining operations. It has diversified its presence in midstream and chemicals as well, reflecting a stable business model. This is why investors are willing to pay a premium for the stock. Therefore, it is advisable to invest in PSX stock immediately, which currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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Has Phillips 66 Stock Run Ahead of its Underlying Fundamentals?

The energy sector is catching investors' attention as we begin 2026, with crude oil prices spiking following the capture and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to the United States.
Venezuela produces a million barrels of oil a day, which is rather modest in terms of global output, but the South American nation has the largest oil reserves in the world. In fact, Venezuela’s oil reserves represent nearly 20% of the global oil supply at an estimated $300 billion barrels.
Furthermore, with the Trump administration vowing to “run Venezuela” for the time being and turn around its ailing energy infrastructure, this has made Chevron CVX a very appealing option to consider among big oil stocks.
The only major U.S. Company With Operations in VZ
Having a presence in Venezuela for nearly 100 years, Chevron is the only major U.S. oil company that currently has authorized operations in Venezuela.
While other major U.S. firms left due to nationalization that led to disputes with the Venezuelan government, far before geopolitical tensions and sanctions came to a head, Chevron maintained its joint ventures within Venezuela, including a strong relationship with PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company.
Chevron’s status within Venezuela has helped the company obtain special U.S. government licenses to allow limited operations and exports of Venezuelan oil. Notably, President Trump has stated that Chevron could potentially spearhead the goal of rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry, which has been in decline despite its massive oil reserves.
Increased production and exports could also help in the faster recovery of billions in outstanding debt that PDVSA owes Chevron. This would also increase Chevron’s supply to U.S. refineries that are optimized for heavy crude oil, the type that Venezuela produces, as opposed to light crude.
The heavy crude would fill a critical supply gap and potentially lead to higher margins, a promising development considering Chevron’s annual earnings are now expected to contract to $7.34 per share compared to EPS of $10.05 in fiscal 2024. Chevron stock spiked 5% in Monday’s trading session and currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with the oil giant scheduled to report its Q4 2025 results on January 30.
Halliburton & Valero
A surge in demand for oil-field services is also expected if the U.S. gains control of Venezuela’s massive oil industry, with Halliburton HAL being of interest for its jointly developed “intelligent hydraulic fracturing” process used in shale operations with Chevron.
Additionally, Valero Energy VLO is an oil refiner and marketer that is reportedly in talks with Chevron in regard to resuming shipments of Venezuelan crude to its U.S. refineries. Operating one of the most complex refinery systems on the U.S. Gulf Coast, Valero has a niche in turning “cheap” heavy crude oil into high-value products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
Halliburton and Valero stock both land a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and are standing out in terms of valuation, at 13X forward earnings, respectively. Halliburton and Valero stock soared over 7% on Monday.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Honorable Mentions
Another oilfield service provider to pay attention to is SLB Limited SLB, formerly known as Schlumberger. SLB Limited also has partnerships with Chevron and is actively preparing a quick return to Venezuela’s oilfields. That said, SLB Limited stock has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) based on a stagnant trend of EPS revisions for FY25 and a decline in FY26 EPS revisions in the last 60 days.
Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips COP is an integrated oil and gas company that previously had operations in Venezuela, and like Chevron, is owed billions in compensation. ConocoPhillips' stock lands a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), and its long-term prospects could certainly be boosted if the company re-enters Venezuela’s rich oil region after halting these operations in 2007.
SLB Limited stock spiked nearly +9% in Monday’s trading session, with ConocoPhillips shares up more than 2%.
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Chevron Highlights Stocks to Consider if Venezuela's Oil Industry is Revived

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Monday closed up +0.64%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +1.23%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.77%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) rose +0.64%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) rose +0.77%.
Stock indexes settled higher on Monday, with the S&P 500 posting a 1-week high and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting a new all-time high. Optimism about AI spending boosted chipmakers and data storage companies on Monday. Also, energy companies rallied on Monday after President Trump said a team of US officials will “run” Venezuela after capturing Venezuelan President Maduro and that the US requires “total access” to the country, including its oil reserves. In addition, mining stocks surged as escalating geopolitical risks in South America boosted demand for precious metals as haven assets, with gold climbing more than 2% and silver soaring more than 7%.
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Lower bond yields were another supportive factor for stocks on Monday, as the 10-year T-note yield fell by -3 bp to 4.16%. Monday’s US economic news boosted bond prices after the Dec ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly fell -0.3 to 47.9, weaker than expectations of an increase to 48.4 and the steepest pace of contraction in 14 months.
Dovish comments on Saturday from Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson were supportive for equity and bond prices after she said she sees “inflation moderating, the labor market stabilizing, and growth coming in around 2% this year. If all that happens, then some modest further adjustments to the funds rate would likely be appropriate later in the year."
However, Monday’s comments from Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari were slightly hawkish for Fed policy when he said that US interest rates may be "close to neutral" for the economy.
Strength in European stocks on Monday provided carryover support to US equity markets after the Euro Stoxx 50 rallied to a new record high.
The market’s focus this week will be on US economic news. On Tuesday, the Dec S&P manufacturing PMI is expected to be unrevised at 52.9. On Wednesday, the Dec ADP employment change is expected to increase by +48,000. Also, the Dec ISM services index is expected to slip -0.3 to 52.3. In addition, the Nov JOLTS job openings are expected to climb by +9,000 to 7.679 million. Finally, on Wednesday, Oct factory orders are expected to decline by -1.1% m/m. On Thursday, Q3 nonfarm productivity is expected to climb by +4.7%, and unit labor costs are expected to rise by +0.3%. Also, initial weekly unemployment claims are expected to increase by 12,000 to 211,000. On Friday, Dec nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +59,000, and the Dec unemployment rate is expected to slip by -0.1 to 4.5%. Also, Dec average hourly earnings are expected to be up by 0.3% m/m and 3.6% y/y. In addition, Oct housing starts are expected to increase by 1.4% m/m to 1.325 million, and Oct building permits are expected to rise by 1.1% m/m to 1.350 million. Finally, the University of Michigan's Jan consumer sentiment index is expected to climb by 0.6 points to 53.5.
The markets are discounting the odds at 16% for a -25 bp rate cut at the FOMC’s next meeting on January 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled higher on Monday. The Euro Stoxx 50 rose to a new all-time high and closed up by +1.25%. China’s Shanghai Composite rallied to a 1.5-month high and closed up by +1.38%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 climbed to a 2-month high and closed up sharply by +2.97%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) on Monday closed up by +7 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield fell -2.8 bp to 4.163%. Mar T-notes moved higher on Monday due to dovish comments from Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson, who said she sees the Fed cutting interest rates later this year if inflation moderates. Also, heightened global geopolitical risks boosted safe-haven demand for T-notes after the US raided Venezuela and captured Venezuelan President Maduro. T-notes extended their gains on Monday after the Dec ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly contracted by the most in 14 months, a dovish factor for Fed policy.
Strength in stocks on Monday limited the upside in T-note prices. Also, comments from Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari undercut T-notes when he said that US interest rates may be "close to neutral" for the economy.
European government bond yields moved lower on Monday. The 10-year German bund yield fell -3.0 bp to 2.870%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -3.0 bp to 4.506%.
Swaps are discounting a 0% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and data storage companies rose on Monday, helping lift the overall market. KLA Corp (KLAC) closed up more than +6%, and Applied Materials (AMAT), Lam Research (LRCX), and ASML Holding NV (ASML) closed up more than +5%. Also, ON Semiconductor (ON) and Microchip Technology (MCHP) closed up more than +3%. In addition, NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Analog Devices (ADI), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Qualcomm (QCOM), and ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed up more than +1%.
Energy producers and energy service providers rallied on Monday after President Trump said a team of US officials will “run” Venezuela and that the US requires “total access” to the country, including its oil reserves. Valero Energy (VLO) closed up more than +9% to lead gainers in the S&P 500, and SLB (SLB) and Halliburton (HAL) closed up more than +8%. Also, Phillips 66 (PSX) closed up more than +6%, and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) closed up more than +5%. In addition, Chevron (CVX) closed up more than +5% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials.
Mining stocks are moving higher today, with the price of gold up more than +2%, copper up +6%, and silver up more than +7%. Coeur Mining (CDE) closed up more than +6%, and Hecla Mining (HL) and Freeport McMoRan (FCX) closed up more than +4%. Also, Barrick Mining (B) closed up more than +3%, and Newmont Mining (NEM) closed up more than +2%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are climbing today, with Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +4% at a 4-week high. Coinbase Global (COIN) closed up more than +7%, and Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) and Mara Holdings (MARA) closed up more than +6%. Also, Strategy (MSTR) and Riot Platforms (RIOT) closed up more than +4%.
Drugmakers retreated on Monday. AbbVie (ABBV) and Eli Lilly (LLY) closed down more than -3%, and Amgen (AMGN) closed down more than -2% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials. Also, Gilead Sciences (GILD) closed down more than -2%, and Biogen (BIIB) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) closed down more than -1%.
QXO Inc (QXO) closed up more than +18% after saying that Apollo Global and other investors agreed to invest $1.2 billion in the company through a new series of convertible perpetual preferred stock.
GH Research Plc (GHRS) closed up more than +17% after it said the FDA lifted the clinical hold on its Investigational New Drug Application for its GH001 drug, advancing the company toward initiating its global Phase 3 trial for treatment-resistant depression.
Centene (CNC) closed up more than +6% after Barclays upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight with a price target of $54.
Moody’s Corp (MCO) closed up more than +5% after Stifel upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $574.
United Rentals (URI) closed up more than +5% after UBS upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $1,025.
Versant Media Group (VSNT) closed down more than -13% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after the company’s separation from Comcast Corp was announced.
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) closed down more than -3% after TD Cowen downgraded the stock to hold from buy, citing growth challenges for the company.
Fortive Corp (FTV) closed down more than -2% after Mizuho Securities double-downgraded the stock to underperform from outperform with a price target of $51.
Pentair Plc (PNR) closed down more than -2% after TD Cowen downgraded the stock to sell from hold with a price target of $90.
Earnings Reports(1/6/2026)
AAR Corp (AIR), AngioDynamics Inc (ANGO), Penguin Solutions Inc (PENG).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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Stocks Finish Higher on Strength in Chip Makers and Energy Producers

Monday, January 5th, 2026
Market indexes ramped up today on what appears to be a new tailwind of “risk on” trading. The U.S. invasion of Venezuela, with President Trump’s stated purpose of controlling that country’s vast oil reserves, has emboldened investment in the oil & gas space. This comes as the narrative of an economic broadening out from the AI trade was just beginning to take hold.
All major indexes are off intra-day highs at the close, but the Dow nevertheless reached the bell at 48,977 — a record-high level. The blue-chip index gained +594 points on the day, +1.23%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 gained +43 points, +0.64%, and is within 1% of its all-time high close. The Nasdaq similarly grew +160 points, +0.69%, while the small-cap Russell 2000 led the way: +39 points, +1.58%.
Venezuela Has Oil Traders Licking Their Chops
We saw some of the best performers of today’s trading session in oil & gas — particularly in refiners such as Valero VLO, up +9% today, and oilfield services giant SLB SLB, formerly Schlumberger, which also rose +9%. Phillips 66 PSX moved up +7% on the day, while the Dow’s trading leader was integrated oil & gas supermajor Chevron CVX, +5.1% today. Venezuela reportedly has $17 trillion (with a “T”) in oil reserves.
Also, Latin American e-commerce giant MercadoLibre MELI came in +8.8% higher today, largely on hopeful Venezuelan sentiment as well. As investors were on the lookout for places to make gains after rotating out of some of their AI-heavy gains in 2025, they clearly didn’t have to look farther than their daily news feed today.
Bank Stocks Higher on Promising Deregulatory 2026
Citigroup C shares were up another +3.9% today, adding to its strong +65% gains over the past year — and roughly one week from the company’s Q3 earnings report hitting the tape. Citi is far from the only bank with a strong outperformance: Goldman Sachs (GS) is +53% over the same one-year time period, followed by Morgan Stanley MS at +41% and JPMorgan JPM +34%. An easing of regulatory standards rolling out through this year promises that big Wall Street firms and smaller regional banks are destined to benefit from this economic climate.
Jensen Huang Addresses CES This Afternoon
The keynote address from NVIDIA’s NVDA CEO Jensen Huang is going on right now at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). We are certain the discussion will continue to revolve around AI infrastructure development, with many analysts looking for the discussion to advance toward AI robotics and autonomous development. Another prediction we feel fairly secure about is that Huang will have a new leather jacket just for the occasion.
ISM Manufacturing Drops Off in December
Something of a lackluster report came out today from ISM Manufacturing for December, with a headline of 47.9% coming in at the lowest level since October of last year, and below the 48.3% analysts had been looking for. Both production and inventories came down in the month, while both new orders and backlogs improved for December. Count this as “mixed,” ultimately, even though this is a manufacturing print that is going the opposite direction from the 50-level which represents growth.
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Markets Risk-On with Venezuela News, Deregulation

Looking at options trading activity among components of the S&P 500 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Valero Energy Corp (Symbol: VLO), where a total volume of 18,153 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 1.8 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 65.1% of VLO's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.8 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $175 strike put option expiring January 16, 2026, with 1,494 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 149,400 underlying shares of VLO. Below is a chart showing VLO's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $175 strike highlighted in orange:
Lam Research Corp (Symbol: LRCX) saw options trading volume of 65,898 contracts, representing approximately 6.6 million underlying shares or approximately 64.7% of LRCX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 10.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $170 strike put option expiring January 16, 2026, with 6,733 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 673,300 underlying shares of LRCX. Below is a chart showing LRCX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $170 strike highlighted in orange:
And Broadcom Inc (Symbol: AVGO) saw options trading volume of 234,152 contracts, representing approximately 23.4 million underlying shares or approximately 55.6% of AVGO's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 42.1 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $310 strike put option expiring January 16, 2026, with 11,074 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.1 million underlying shares of AVGO. Below is a chart showing AVGO's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $310 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for VLO options, LRCX options, or AVGO options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
SO Dividend Growth Rate
DDE shares outstanding history
AVO Earnings History
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Monday Option Activity: VLO, LRCX, AVGO

Phillips 66 PSX is an integrated downstream player that refines crude oil into final products. It also transports and stores crude oil, natural gas, NGL and refined products through its pipeline network and storage facilities.
According to oilprice.com the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is currently trading below $60 per barrel, down year over year from $73.5 per barrel, reflecting a soft oil price environment. This creates a positive business environment for the downstream player as PSX can purchase its raw materials at relatively lower prices, bringing stability to its business model.
Additionally, as highlighted in its third-quarter earnings update, PSX derives a significant portion of revenues from its midstream business by renting its midstream assets to shippers who pay fees for the booked spaces, whether utilized or not. These stable fee-based revenues generate predictable cash flow and support PSX’s business model. As a result, Phillips 66’s business is protected from crude price volatility, giving it an edge over its peers.
PSX has increasingly been focusing on growing itsmidstream and chemicals businesses to generate additional cash flow and strengthen its business model.
PBF & PSX Have Advantage Over VLO
PBF Energy Inc. PBF and Valero Energy Corporation VLO are two other downstream players. PBF and VLO’s business models are also gaining from the softness in crude prices. Unlike VLO, PSX and PBF generate revenues from their midstream and downstream businesses. However, unlike PSX, PBF generates insignificant revenues from its midstream business compared with its refining segment, thereby leaving its business model vulnerable to crude price fluctuations.
PSX’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Phillips 66 have gained 13.3% over the past year compared with the 12.2% rally of the composite stocks belonging to the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, PSX trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 13.69X. This is above the broader industry average of 4.51X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PSX’s 2025 earnings has been unchanged over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Phillips 66 currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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Is Phillips 66's Midstream Push Building More Resilient Business?

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.72%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +1.32%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +1.04%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.72%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +1.10%.
Stock indexes are climbing today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting a new all-time high. Optimism about AI spending is boosting chipmakers and data storage companies. Also, energy companies are rallying today after President Trump said a team of US officials will “run” Venezuela after capturing Venezuelan President Maduro and that the US requires “total access” to the country, including its oil reserves. In addition, mining stocks are moving higher as escalating geopolitical risks in South America boost demand for precious metals as haven assets, with gold up more than 3% and silver up more than 7%.
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Strength in European stocks today is providing carryover support to US equity markets after the Euro Stoxx 50 rallied to a new record high.
Today’s US economic news was negative for stocks after the Dec ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly fell -0.3 to 47.9, weaker than expectations of an increase to 48.4 and the steepest pace of contraction in 14 months.
Dovish comments on Saturday from Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson were supportive for equity prices after she said she sees “inflation moderating, the labor market stabilizing, and growth coming in around 2% this year. If all that happens, then some modest further adjustments to the funds rate would likely be appropriate later in the year."
However, today’s comments from Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari were slightly hawkish for Fed policy when he said that US interest rates may be "close to neutral" for the economy.
The market’s focus this week will be on US economic news. On Tuesday, the Dec S&P manufacturing PMI is expected to be unrevised at 52.9. On Wednesday, the Dec ADP employment change is expected to increase by +48,000. Also, the Dec ISM services index is expected to slip -0.3 to 52.3. In addition, the Nov JOLTS job openings are expected to climb by +9,000 to 7.679 million. Finally, on Wednesday, Oct factory orders are expected to decline by -1.1% m/m. On Thursday, Q3 nonfarm productivity is expected to climb by +4.7%, and unit labor costs are expected to rise by +0.3%. Also, initial weekly unemployment claims are expected to increase by 12,000 to 211,000. On Friday, Dec nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +59,000, and the Dec unemployment rate is expected to slip by -0.1 to 4.5%. Also, Dec average hourly earnings are expected to be up by 0.3% m/m and 3.6% y/y. In addition, Oct housing starts are expected to increase by 1.4% m/m to 1.325 million, and Oct building permits are expected to rise by 1.1% m/m to 1.350 million. Finally, the University of Michigan's Jan consumer sentiment index is expected to climb by 0.6 points to 53.5.
The markets are discounting the odds at 16% for a -25 bp rate cut at the FOMC’s next meeting on January 27-28.
Overseas stock markets are moving higher today. The Euro Stoxx 50 rose to a new all-time high and is up by +1.01%. China’s Shanghai Composite rallied to a 1.5-month high and closed up by +1.38%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 climbed to a 2-month high and closed up sharply by +2.97%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) today are up by +5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is down -2.4 bp to 4.167%. Mar T-notes are moving higher today on dovish comments from Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson, who said she sees the Fed cutting interest rates later this year if inflation moderates. Also, heightened global geopolitical risks boosted safe-haven demand for T-notes after the US raided Venezuela and captured Venezuelan President Maduro. T-notes extended their gains today after the Dec ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly contracted by the most in 14 months, a dovish factor for Fed policy.
Strength in stocks today is limiting the upside in T-note prices. Also, comments from Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari undercut T-notes when he said that US interest rates may be "close to neutral" for the economy.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -2.2 bp to 2.878%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -2.9 bp to 4.508%.
Swaps are discounting a 1% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and data storage companies are moving higher today, supporting gains in the overall market. KLA Corp (KLAC), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Lam Research (LRCX) are up more than +6%, and ASML Holding NV (ASML), ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), ON Semiconductor (ON), and Microchip Technology (MCHP) are up more than +5%. Also, NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) is up more than +3%, and Texas Instruments (TXN), Analog Devices (ADI), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel (INTC), and Qualcomm (QCOM) are up more than +2%.
Energy producers and energy service providers are rallying today after President Trump said a team of US officials will “run” Venezuela and that the US requires “total access” to the country, including its oil reserves. Valero Energy (VLO) is up more than +11% to lead gainers in the S&P 500. Also, Halliburton (HAL) and SLB (SLB) are up more than +10%, and Phillips 66 (PSX) is up more than +7%. In addition, Marathon Petroleum (MPC) is up more than +6%, and ConocoPhillips (COP) and Baker Hughes (BKR) are up more than +5%. Finally, Chevron (CVX) is up more than +4% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials.
Mining stocks are moving higher today, with the price of gold up more than +2%, copper up +4%, and silver up more than +8%. Coeur Mining (CDE) is up more than +6%, and Barrick Mining (B) and Hecla Mining (HL) are up more than +4%. Also, Newmont Mining (NEM) and Freeport McMoRan (FCX) are up more than +3%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are climbing today, with Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +4% at a 4-week high. Coinbase Global (COIN) is up more than +7%, and Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY), Strategy (MSTR), and Mara Holdings (MARA) are up more than +6%. In addition, Riot Platforms (RIOT) is up more than +3%.
GH Research Plc (GHRS) is up more than +20% after it said the FDA lifted the clinical hold on its Investigational New Drug Application for its GH001 drug, advancing the company toward initiating its global Phase 3 trial for treatment-resistant depression.
QXO Inc (QXO) is up more than +17% after saying that Apollo Global and other investors agreed to invest $1.2 billion in the company through a new series of convertible perpetual preferred stock.
Moody’s Corp (MCO) is up more than +5% after Stifel upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $574.
United Rentals (URI) is up more than +5% after UBS upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $1,025.
Mobileye Global (MBLY) is up more than +4% after Barclays upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight with a price target of $16.
Versant Media Group (VSNT) is down more than -13% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after the company’s separation from Comcast Corp was announced.
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) is down more than -3% after TD Cowen downgraded the stock to hold from buy, citing growth challenges for the company.
Fortive Corp (FTV) is down more than -2% after Mizuho Securities double-downgraded the stock to underperform from outperform with a price target of $51.
Pentair Plc (PNR) is down more than -2% after TD Cowen downgraded the stock to sell from hold with a price target of $90.
Earnings Reports(1/5/2026)
None.
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Chip Makers and Energy Producers Lead Stock Indexes Higher

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.54%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.99%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.78%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.58%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +0.80%.
Stock indexes are climbing today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting a new all-time high. Optimism about AI spending is boosting chipmakers and data storage companies. Also, energy companies are rallying today after President Trump said a team of US officials will “run” Venezuela after capturing Venezuelan President Maduro and that the US requires “total access” to the country, including its oil reserves. In addition, mining stocks are moving higher as escalating geopolitical risks in South America boost demand for precious metals as haven assets, with gold up more than 2% and silver up more than 5%.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Dovish comments on Saturday from Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson were supportive for equity prices after she said she sees “inflation moderating, the labor market stabilizing, and growth coming in around 2% this year. If all that happens, then some modest further adjustments to the funds rate would likely be appropriate later in the year."
However, today’s comments from Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari were slightly hawkish for Fed policy when he said that US interest rates may be "close to neutral" for the economy.
Strength in European stocks today is providing carryover support to US equity markets after the Euro Stoxx 50 rallied to a new record high.
The market’s focus this week will be on US economic news, including today’s Dec ISM manufacturing index, expected up +0.2 to 48.4. On Tuesday, the Dec S&P manufacturing PMI is expected to be unrevised at 52.9. On Wednesday, the Dec ADP employment change is expected to increase by +48,000. Also, the Dec ISM services index is expected to slip -0.3 to 52.3. In addition, the JOLTS job openings are expected to climb by +9,000 to 7.679 million. Finally, on Wednesday, Oct factory orders are expected to decline by -1.1% m/m. On Thursday, Q3 nonfarm productivity is expected to climb by +4.7%, and unit labor costs are expected to rise by +0.3%. Also, weekly initial unemployment claims are expected to increase by +12,000 to 211,000. On Friday, Dec nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +59,000, and the Dec unemployment rate is expected to slip by -0.1 to 4.5%. Also, Dec average hourly earnings are expected to be up +0.3% m/m and +3.6% y/y. In addition, Oct housing starts are expected to increase by 1.4% m/m to 1.325 million, and Oct building permits are expected to rise by 1.1% m/m to 1.350 million. Finally, the University of Michigan's Jan consumer sentiment index is expected to climb by 0.6 points to 53.5.
The markets are discounting the odds at 16% for a -25 bp rate cut at the FOMC’s next meeting on January 27-28.
Overseas stock markets are moving higher today. The Euro Stoxx 50 rose to a new all-time high and is up by +0.85%. China’s Shanghai Composite rallied to a 1.5-month high and closed up by +1.38%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 climbed to a 2-month high and closed up sharply by +2.97%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) today are up by +4 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is down -1.6 bp to 4.175%. Mar T-notes are moving higher today on dovish comments from Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson, who said she sees the Fed cutting interest rates later this year if inflation moderates. Also, heightened global geopolitical risks boosted safe-haven demand for T-notes after the US raided Venezuela and captured Venezuelan President Maduro.
Strength in stocks today is limiting the upside in T-note prices. Also, comments from Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari undercut T-notes when he said that US interest rates may be "close to neutral" for the economy.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -1.8 bp to 2.882%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -3.4 bp to 4.503%.
Swaps are discounting a 1% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and data storage companies are moving higher today, supporting gains in the overall market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) and KLA Corp (KLAC) are up more th +5%, and ASML Holding NV (ASML) and Lam Research (LRCX) are up more than +4%. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT), ON Semiconductor (ON), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Microchip Technology (MCHP), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) are up more than +3%. In addition, Analog Devices (ADI), Intel (INTC), and Qualcomm (QCOM) are up more than +2%.
Energy producers and energy service providers are rallying today after President Trump said a team of US officials will “run” Venezuela and that the US requires “total access” to the country, including its oil reserves. Valero Energy (VLO) is up more than +9% to lead gainers in the S&P 500. Also, Halliburton (HAL) and SLB (SLB) are up more than +7%, and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Phillips 66 (PSX) are up more than +6%. In addition, ConocoPhillips (COP) and Baker Hughes (BKR) are up more than +5%, and Chevron (CVX) is up more than +4% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials.
Mining stocks are moving higher today, with the price of gold up more than +2%, copper up +3%, and silver up more than +5%. Barrick Mining (B), Newmont Mining (NEM), Freeport McMoRan (FCX), Hecla Mining (HL), and Coeur Mining (CDE) are up more than +2%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are climbing today with Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +3% at a 4-week high. Coinbase Global (COIN) and Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) are up more than +5%. Also, Strategy (MSTR) and Mara Holdings (MARA) are up more than +4%, and Riot Platforms (RIOT) is up more than +3%.
GH Research Plc (GHRS) is up more than +34% after it said the FDA lifted the clinical hold on its Investigational New Drug Application for its GH001 drug, advancing the company toward initiating its global Phase 3 trial for treatment-resistant depression.
QXO Inc (QXO) is up more than +7% after saying that Apollo Global and other investors agreed to invest $1.2 billion in the company through a new series of convertible perpetual preferred stock.
Mobileye Global (MBLY) is up more than +5% after Barclays upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight with a price target of $16.
Estee Lauder (EL) is up more than +3% after Raymond James upgraded the stock to strong buy from market perform with a price target of $130.
Fortive Corp (FTV) is down more than -4% after Mizuho Securities double-downgraded the stock to underperform from outperform with a price target of $51.
Uber Technologies (UBER) is down more than -1% after Melius Research LLC downgraded the stock to sell from hold with a price target of $73.
Pentair Plc (PNR) is down more than -1% after TD Cowen downgraded the stock to sell from hold with a price target of $90.
Earnings Reports(1/5/2026)
None.
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Index	Bulls	Bears
Confidence		—
Support		—
Cash flows		—

	S/L 5%RUB 170.93	S/L 10%RUB 179.07	S/L 15%RUB 187.21
Day	5.24%	0.00%	0.00%
Week	38.56%	3.80%	0.12%
Month	67.21%	31.13%	11.52%

Valero Energy Corporation

Market sentiment

Overall assessment

Share of longs and shorts

Long

Short

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Protective stop levels