Investors tracking the energy sector frequently encounter these three refiners together, because they compete in the same downstream market while differing sharply in scale, geography, and capital structure. DINO, PBF, and VLO are all leveraged to refining margins, yet each responds differently to crude price swings, regional fuel balances, and company-specific catalysts. This stock comparison examines their relative performance, market positioning, and risk profiles to help both long-term investors and active traders assess which name best fits a given strategy in the current environment.
HF Sinclair Corporation (DINO) is a diversified downstream energy company running five segments: Refining, Renewables, Marketing, Lubricants & Specialties, and Midstream. Its seven complex refineries are concentrated in the Mid-Continent, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Northwest, with roughly 678,000 barrels per day (bpd) of processing capacity. In recent weeks, the stock has traded near 52-week highs after a powerful rally, reflecting strong refining margins and record quarterly results. Refining utilization has run in the low-to-mid 90% range, and adjusted refinery gross margin climbed to roughly $26 per barrel in its most recent quarter.
Beyond conventional fuels, the company has leaned on its renewables and lubricants businesses, which generated meaningfully higher earnings versus the prior year. Management has also announced a planned tax-efficient separation of its Lubricants & Specialties unit. A leadership transition, including executive leaves of absence and new appointments, has added governance-related uncertainty that investors are watching, even as the underlying operating performance has remained strong.
PBF Energy Inc. (PBF) is one of North America's largest independent refiners, operating six refineries across the East Coast, Gulf Coast, West Coast, and Mid-Continent with roughly 1 million bpd of aggregate capacity. Its diversified footprint gives it access to several regional markets, including import-dependent West and East Coast fuel balances. Recent market activity has been volatile but strongly positive over a multi-month horizon, as the company swung from a year-ago loss to a large profit. The restart of the Martinez refinery on the West Coast restored a key earnings contributor, and the region's gross refining margin rose sharply versus the prior year.
A defining catalyst for PBF is its Refining Business Improvement (RBI) program, a structural cost-reduction effort that has delivered more than $230 million in run-rate savings, with targets above $350 million by the end of 2026. The company also cut net debt substantially and strengthened liquidity. Offset considerations include higher Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance costs, scheduled maintenance at Martinez, and ongoing regulatory scrutiny related to past refinery incidents.
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is one of the world's largest independent refiners, operating a system of roughly 15 refineries with throughput capacity near 3 million bpd, alongside ethanol plants and a 50% stake in a large renewable diesel joint venture. Its Gulf Coast-heavy network gives it a heavy-crude advantage, allowing it to process discounted heavier feedstocks sourced from the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere into higher-value fuels. Recent quarters have featured exceptional earnings growth, with refining operating income rising sharply and both renewable diesel and ethanol segments swinging to strong profits.
Relative performance has been robust, with the stock advancing strongly over the past year and reaching elevated levels in recent weeks. Valero's balance sheet is a differentiator, with net debt-to-capitalization near 11% and substantial available liquidity. That financial flexibility, combined with scale and diversification, has supported a premium valuation, with VLO trading at a higher EV/EBITDA multiple than both of its smaller peers.
For traders seeking a data-driven edge, Tickeron's Trending AI Robots page offers a curated view of the platform's AI trading bots. Tickeron hosts hundreds of AI Trading Bots that collectively trade thousands of different tickers, but only the best-performing and most suitable for current market conditions earn a place in this featured section. Each bot operates with its own trading style, strategy, timeframe, performance record, statistical profile, and set of tickers, ranging from short-term momentum approaches to longer-horizon trend systems. Because the selection is continuously refreshed based on live performance, the page helps investors identify strategies that are aligned with today's markets rather than relying on static screens. Explore the Trending AI Robots section to see which automated strategies are currently standing out.
The clearest contrast among these names is scale and diversification. VLO operates the largest, most geographically diversified refining system and adds ethanol and renewable diesel income streams, which tends to produce steadier, higher-quality earnings and a stronger balance sheet. DINO offers a different kind of diversification through its lubricants, marketing, and midstream segments, which are less directly tied to fuel margins than pure refining. PBF is the most refining-pure of the three, giving it higher operational leverage to margin swings in either direction.
On valuation, the ordering is equally distinct. PBF carries the lowest EV/EBITDA multiple, reflecting both its cyclicality and execution risk around refinery reliability and regulatory costs. DINO sits in the middle, with governance-related uncertainty partially offset by its diversified earnings mix. VLO commands the richest multiple, a premium justified by scale, crude-slate flexibility, and balance-sheet strength, but one that leaves less margin for error if refining conditions normalize. Sector exposure is common to all three, so company-specific catalysts, cost discipline, and financial resilience become the primary differentiators.
Based on observable factors, Tickeron's AI would likely favor VLO for its combination of trend consistency, earnings stability, scale, and balance-sheet strength, which together suggest a more durable risk-reward profile even as its valuation appears fuller. At the same time, PBF presents the strongest short-term earnings and cost-reduction catalysts, and DINO offers attractive diversification that could appeal in a less favorable margin environment. The relative ranking is therefore probabilistic rather than definitive: momentum-sensitive models may tilt toward PBF, while trend-stability and risk-adjusted frameworks are more likely to favor VLO. Traders should weigh these positioning differences against their own time horizon and risk tolerance.
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
DINO's Aroon Indicator triggered a bullish signal on September 30, 2026. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor detected that the AroonUp green line is above 70 while the AroonDown red line is below 30. When the up indicator moves above 70 and the down indicator remains below 30, it is a sign that the stock could be setting up for a bullish move. Traders may want to buy the stock or look to buy calls options. A.I.dvisor looked at 283 similar instances where the Aroon Indicator showed a similar pattern. In 214 of the 283 cases, the stock moved higher in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a move higher at 76%.
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 05, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on DINO as a result. In 59 of 84 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 70%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for DINO just turned positive on October 07, 2026. Looking at past instances where DINO's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 34 of 46 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 74%.
Following a +5.71% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where DINO advanced for three days, in 238 of 321 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 74%.
The RSI Indicator demonstrates that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 6 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 9 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where DINO declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 65%.
DINO broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 13, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 9 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 36, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 34 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. DINO’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 45 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.836) is normal, around the industry mean (46.814). P/E Ratio (10.123) is within average values for comparable stocks, (32.488). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.134) is also within normal values, averaging (1.079). Dividend Yield (0.019) settles around the average of (0.047) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (0.665) is also within normal values, averaging (0.549).
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 48 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 96 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
Moving lower for three straight days is viewed as a bearish sign. Keep an eye on this stock for future declines. Considering data from situations where PBF declined for three days, in 210 of 293 cases, the price declined further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 72%.
The 10-day RSI Indicator for PBF moved out of overbought territory on October 14, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 42 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 27 of the 42 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 64%.
The Stochastic Oscillator may be shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. In 43 of 60 cases where PBF's Stochastic Oscillator exited the overbought zone, the price fell further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 72%.
PBF broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 08, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on September 28, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on PBF as a result. In 63 of 72 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 88%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for PBF just turned positive on October 01, 2026. Looking at past instances where PBF's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 37 of 47 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 79%.
Following a +8.19% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where PBF advanced for three days, in 264 of 318 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 83%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 261 of 300 cases where PBF Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 87%.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 25 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 36, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 27 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly undervalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.376) is normal, around the industry mean (46.814). P/E Ratio (6.520) is within average values for comparable stocks, (32.488). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.190) is also within normal values, averaging (1.079). Dividend Yield (0.015) settles around the average of (0.047) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (0.260) is also within normal values, averaging (0.549).
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 34 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. PBF’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 41 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 87 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
VLO saw its Momentum Indicator move above the 0 level on October 05, 2026. This is an indication that the stock could be shifting in to a new upward move. Traders may want to consider buying the stock or buying call options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 79 similar instances where the indicator turned positive. In 65 of the 79 cases, the stock moved higher in the following days. The odds of a move higher are at 82%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for VLO just turned positive on October 05, 2026. Looking at past instances where VLO's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 33 of 46 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 72%.
Following a +5.45% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where VLO advanced for three days, in 284 of 352 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 81%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 246 of 332 cases where VLO Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 74%.
The 10-day RSI Indicator for VLO moved out of overbought territory on October 15, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 51 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 32 of the 51 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 63%.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 9 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where VLO declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 62%.
VLO broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 08, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 2 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating outstanding price growth. VLO’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 2 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 36, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 34 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 73 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (4.486) is normal, around the industry mean (46.814). P/E Ratio (16.246) is within average values for comparable stocks, (32.488). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.918) is also within normal values, averaging (1.079). Dividend Yield (0.012) settles around the average of (0.047) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (0.869) is also within normal values, averaging (0.549).
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 99 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
DINO | PBF | VLO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 13 | 88 | 32 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 45 Fair valued | 27 Undervalued | 73 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 9 | 25 | 2 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 48 | 41 | 34 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 34 | 34 | 2 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 96 | 87 | 99 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
PBF's Valuation (27) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as DINO (45) in the null industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for VLO (73) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry. This means that PBF's stock grew similarly to DINO’s and somewhat faster than VLO’s over the last 12 months.
VLO's Profit vs Risk Rating (2) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as DINO (9) in the null industry, and is in the same range as PBF (25) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry. This means that VLO's stock grew similarly to DINO’s and similarly to PBF’s over the last 12 months.
VLO's SMR Rating (34) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as PBF (41) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry, and is in the same range as DINO (48) in the null industry. This means that VLO's stock grew similarly to PBF’s and similarly to DINO’s over the last 12 months.
VLO's Price Growth Rating (2) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as PBF (34) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry, and is in the same range as DINO (34) in the null industry. This means that VLO's stock grew similarly to PBF’s and similarly to DINO’s over the last 12 months.
PBF's P/E Growth Rating (87) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as DINO (96) in the null industry, and is in the same range as VLO (99) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry. This means that PBF's stock grew similarly to DINO’s and similarly to VLO’s over the last 12 months.
| DINO | PBF | VLO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 85% | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 63% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 1 day ago 72% | 1 day ago 59% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 70% | 1 day ago 88% | 1 day ago 82% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 74% | 1 day ago 79% | 1 day ago 72% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 76% | 1 day ago 83% | 1 day ago 81% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 83% | 1 day ago 81% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 74% | 4 days ago 83% | 3 days ago 81% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 1 day ago 72% | 17 days ago 62% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 68% | 1 day ago 70% | 1 day ago 64% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 76% | 2 days ago 87% | 1 day ago 74% |
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
DINO’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green while PBF’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s), and VLO’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
DINO’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PBF’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and VLO’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
DINO (@Oil Refining/Marketing) experienced а +3.29% price change this week, while PBF (@Oil Refining/Marketing) price change was +0.30% , and VLO (@Oil Refining/Marketing) price fluctuated +2.53% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Oil Refining/Marketing industry was +1.47%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.28%, and the average quarterly price growth was +50.14%.
DINO is expected to report earnings on Oct 28, 2026.
PBF is expected to report earnings on Oct 29, 2026.
VLO is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
The Oil Refining/Marketing segment includes companies that refine crude oil into a number of petroleum products, including gasoline, jet fuel and diesel, and then sell the usable products to the end users. These companies are involved in what’s called downstream operations in the oil business. They also engage in the marketing and distribution of crude oil and natural gas products. In other words, the downstream oil and gas business is focused on post-production processes of crude oil and natural gas. When oil prices slump, downstream businesses are hurt less or in some cases even benefit, since their purchase cost of crude oil goes down. Some of the biggest U.S. oil refining/marketing companies include Phillips 66, Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Valero Energy Corp.
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, DINO has been closely correlated with MPC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 80% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if DINO jumps, then MPC could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To DINO | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DINO | 100% | +0.47% | ||
| MPC - DINO | 80% Closely correlated | +0.24% | ||
| VLO - DINO | 80% Closely correlated | +0.15% | ||
| PBF - DINO | 77% Closely correlated | -2.84% | ||
| DK - DINO | 77% Closely correlated | -0.38% | ||
| PSX - DINO | 75% Closely correlated | +1.37% | ||
More | ||||
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PBF has been closely correlated with VLO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 79% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if PBF jumps, then VLO could also see price increases.
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, VLO has been closely correlated with MPC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 87% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if VLO jumps, then MPC could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To VLO | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLO | 100% | +0.15% | ||
| MPC - VLO | 87% Closely correlated | +0.24% | ||
| PSX - VLO | 84% Closely correlated | +1.37% | ||
| DINO - VLO | 80% Closely correlated | +0.47% | ||
| PBF - VLO | 79% Closely correlated | -2.84% | ||
| PARR - VLO | 73% Closely correlated | -0.38% | ||
More | ||||