10 Stocks Analysts Are Upgrading Today

8. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)

Stock Upgrade: Neutral to Buy

Stock Price Target: $154

Stock Upside Potential as of May 13: 14.07%

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is a multinational fuel producer and marketer known for refining, marketing, and transporting fuels and petrochemical products. It is the world’s largest independent refiner and a leading producer of low-carbon transportation fuels. While the overall energy sector has been under pressure due to oil prices plunging, the company has held steady with a 12% year-to-date gain.

Similarly, Goldman Sachs upgraded Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) to a ‘Buy’ from ‘Neutral’ and increased the price target to $154 from $127. According to analysts, Valero is well positioned to benefit from limited refining capacity additions and improving crude differentials on the return of OPEC+ supply. Likewise, the company earnings are projected to increase from $7.50 a share this year to over $12.50 by 2027.

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) delivered mixed first-quarter 2025 results as revenues declined 4.7% year-over-year to $30.3 billion but beat Wall Street estimates by 6.3%. While adjusted earnings per share fell 76.8% year-over-year to $0.89, it still topped analysts’ estimates of $9.43. Additionally, the company reaffirmed its commitment to returning value to shareholders by hiking its quarterly dividend by 5.6%, affirming why it is one of the top energy stocks.