PTEN vs VLO Stock Comparison
VLO currently leads PTEN in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 61 vs 49. The clearest difference is quality.
What is the main difference between PTEN and VLO?
VLO leads the current stock comparison as Valero Energy Corporation, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. vs Valero Energy Corporation
VLO leads
VLO leads by 12 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Momentum. Wall Street currently favors PTEN on target upside.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support VLO, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
Valero Energy Corporation
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors VLO over PTEN, 61 versus 49 as of Oct 21, 2026. VLO's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and momentum. VLO also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors PTEN. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor VLO today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. VLO lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 12 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. and Valero Energy Corporation across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare PTEN and VLO against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality30 vs 58VLO +28
- Momentum58 vs 74VLO +16
- Value61 vs 58Even
- Risk Resilience50 vs 51Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor VLO. VLO’s edge is concentrated in quality and momentum.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum -21
New signals
- EMA Ribbon Compression — neutral, trend, medium horizon
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
Largest factor move: Momentum -4
New signals
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
VLO's lead widened by 5 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — PTEN and VLO both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
VLO (Valero Energy Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and momentum.
PTEN (Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.): the counter-case, on analyst expectations.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
VLOVLO on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
VLOVLO on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
VLOVLO on the Momentum factor, by 16 points.
Lower downside
EvenDownside measures are level or not covered.
Analyst upside
PTENPTEN on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors VLO, analyst targets favor PTEN. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | PTEN | VLO | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +11.3% | -16.7% | PTEN has more room |
| Target dispersion | +46.2% | +72.3% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 7 | 9 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | PTEN | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 26.19% | 2.89% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.100 | $3.920 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $0.320 | $4.520 |
| Years increased | 2 | 3 |
| No cut in window | No (1) | Yes |
| Cohort rank | not ranked | #307 |
PTEN grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 26.19% a year against VLO's 2.89%. VLO never reduced its regular dividend in the window; PTEN did in 1 year. They are ranked in different cohorts — variable-dividend payers and US dividend-paying corporations — so their ranks are not comparable with each other.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor VLO. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | VLO | 49 vs 61 |
| Fundamentals | VLOon balance | revenue growth 9.9% vs 13.2%; EPS growth 14% vs 199.1%; TTM ROE -2.8% vs 29.9%; gross margin 14.2% vs 11.3%; operating margin -1.1% vs 7.5% — VLO takes 4 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | Even | Value 61 vs 58 |
| Technicals | VLO | Price vs 50-day -1% vs 12.9%; vs 200-day 12.4% vs 56.6% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 50 vs 51 |
| Analyst expectations | PTEN | Target upside 11.3% vs -16.7% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of PTEN and VLO and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is wide at 12 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Analyst targets on the leader are widely dispersed. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on VLO.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20VLO lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 12 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- VLO +12
- 49 vs 61
- 7 sessions ago
- VLO +15
- 49 vs 64
- 30 sessions ago
- VLO +13
- 42 vs 55
- 90 sessions ago
- VLO +7
- 54 vs 61
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
3 bullish / 0 bearish / 3 neutral
Only PTEN
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- EMA Ribbon Compression — neutral, trend, medium horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only VLO
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 3 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode, EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish.
VLO leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 6 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.39%, AIQ -6 points).
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.77%, AIQ -1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1PTEN closes the Quality gap — currently 28 points behind, the largest single contributor to VLO's edge.
- 2PTEN's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3VLO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
VLO leads on balance| Metric | PTEN | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 14% | 199.1% |
| Gross margin | 14.2% | 11.3% |
| Operating margin | -1.1% | 7.5% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | -2.8% | 29.9% |
| Debt to equity | 0.41 | 0.45 |
Performance
VLO leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | PTEN | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 1% | -5% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 4.4% | 14.9% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 8.5% | 39.4% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 10.1% | 85.7% |
| Year to date | 90.3% | 166.2% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 106.9% | 177.1% |
Technicals
VLO has the stronger structure| Metric | PTEN | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 61.2 | 68.4 |
| ADX (14) | 15.7 | 30.5 |
| Price vs 50-day | -1% | 12.9% |
| Price vs 200-day | 12.4% | 56.6% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 37.1% | 37.1% |
Risk
Split| Metric | PTEN | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.33 | -0.4 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.64 | 2.79 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.56 | 4.69 |
| Max drawdown | -33.4% | -12.7% |
| Current drawdown | -11.6% | -5.7% |
| Annualized volatility | 51.6% | 37.6% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -5.4% | -3.1% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, PTEN or VLO?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, VLO is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 61 against PTEN's 49. The edge comes from quality and momentum. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is PTEN or VLO the better buy right now?
VLO carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor VLO over PTEN?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. VLO leads Quality by 28 points; VLO leads Momentum by 16 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, PTEN or VLO?
Analyst price targets imply +11.3% upside for PTEN and -16.7% for VLO, so the Street currently favors PTEN. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors VLO. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, PTEN or VLO?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, PTEN or VLO?
VLO on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, PTEN or VLO?
VLO on the Momentum factor, by 16 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, PTEN or VLO?
The two are close on downside measures. Downside measures are level or not covered. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is PTEN more profitable than VLO?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 14.2% vs 11.3%; operating margin -1.1% vs 7.5%; ttm roe -2.8% vs 29.9%. PTEN leads on one measure and VLO on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is VLO's lead over PTEN getting stronger or weaker?
VLO lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 12 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the PTEN vs VLO verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: PTEN closes the Quality gap — currently 28 points behind, the largest single contributor to VLO's edge; PTEN's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; VLO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about PTEN and VLO?
PTEN: 3 bullish / 0 bearish / 3 neutral. VLO: 3 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on PTEN is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On VLO it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare PTEN and VLO with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.