Trump's "energy dominance" agenda is only helping oil and gas companies. Aug 11, 2026 Issue: Oil & Gas Subject: BLM, Donald Trump, Doug Burgum, Drilling, Energy, Interior By Lilly Bock-Brownstein The oil industry just posted some of its best profits in years while Americans pay more at the pump. President Donald Trump promised to "cut your energy prices in half" within his first year in office using his "energy dominance" agenda. Instead, energy dominance has produced record profits for oil companies and higher gas prices for everyone else. Eight of the world's largest oil companies made a combined $93 billion in profit in the second quarter of 2026, nearly double what those companies made last year, and more than $1 billion in profit every single day. The increase in profits is connected to the US-Israeli war on Iran, which disrupted oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed global oil prices above $126 per barrel at their peak. ExxonMobil reported $14.5 billion in profit, its highest quarterly total in four years, while Chevron posted $12 billion, its highest quarterly profit in at least six years. Shell earned $9.8 billion, its second-highest quarterly profit ever, and Saudi Aramco topped the list at more than $33 billion. US refiners also raked in the profits. Valero Energy reported $3.7 billion in net income, up from $714 million a year earlier and its most profitable quarter on record by earnings per share. HF Sinclair's profit roughly quadrupled year-over-year, and PBF Energy swung from a loss to over $1 billion in profit. None of this windfall is reaching consumers. The national average price for a gallon of gas was $4.01 on August 10, and prices are higher than a year ago in every state. Refiners say fuel inventories will be slow to rebuild, meaning the high prices are likely to stick around even as the price of crude oil drops. Oil companies aren't using their record profits to expand drilling or refining, either. ExxonMobil alone returned $9.4 billion to shareholders in the second quarter through dividends and stock buybacks, and Shell started a new multibillion-dollar buyback program of its own. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has pointed to record US energy production as evidence that the administration's regulatory rollbacks are "unlocking the full potential of our domestic energy resources." But record production and record profits have not translated into lower prices, expanded supply, or any clear benefit for American taxpayers. In fact, Congress and the Trump administration are giving the oil and gas industry a tax break for drilling on public lands. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, cut the onshore royalty rate from 16.67 percent back to 12.5 percent. Interior has also moved to make it cheaper to drill on public lands, proposing a rule that would cut cleanup bonds from $500,000 to $25,000 and shrink the public comment period on lease sales from 90 days to 10. Taxpayers for Common Sense estimates the royalty rate decrease alone has already cost the public $489 million, a figure it warns could climb into the billions as 2026 lease sales get underway. This isn't the "energy dominance" Americans were promised. Trump's declaration of a "national energy emergency" was based on the need to bring down energy prices for Americans, arguing that inadequate domestic supply "causes and makes worse the high energy prices that devastate Americans." His "Unleashing American Energy" executive order relied on that "energy emergency" to justify a number of policy actions ostensibly aimed at increasing energy production, presumably to increase domestic supply and bring prices down. If there were an actual energy emergency, and if the Trump administration was serious about addressing it, the administration would have spent the past year and a half investing in a rapid build-out of inexpensive domestic energy sources like solar, wind, and battery storage. But the administration has actually done the opposite, putting up roadblocks to renewable energy development and paying developers nearly $2 billion in taxpayer funds to abandon offshore wind projects that were already underway. Meanwhile, the administration is doing everything it can to rush oil, gas, and coal projects by cutting corners on environmental reviews and avoiding public comment whenever it thinks it can get away with it. Interior's current plan would compress reviews that once took up to two years into a single month, and cut the public comment period for projects expected to cause environmental harm down to about 10 days. This strategy is working splendidly for oil and gas companies. For American families, it's been a disaster that's squeezing them when they're already struggling with rising costs in all other areas of their lives. Adding insult to injury, oil and gas companies are locking Americans out of their public lands by nominating and leasing public lands they don't intend to drill, tying up both the land itself and management agency resources with unserious nominations and leases. The real energy emergency is the oil and gas takeover of its national public lands at the expense of preserving some of America's most valuable natural places. Kate hosts a live episode in Salt Lake City on CWP's Keep Parks Public tour! Guests: Erika Pollard, National Parks Conservation Association; Davina Smith, Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and Grand Staircase Escalante Partners; Scott Braden, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance; Doug Tolman, Save Its Canyons. Resources Keep Parks Public: Tell Western Priorities why you love public lands [...] August 22, 2025 This is an automatically generated transcript. Please excuse spelling and grammar errors. Aaron: Welcome to The Landscape, your show about America's parks and public lands. I'm Aaron Weiss with the Center for Western Priorities in Denver. Kate: And I'm Kate Groetzinger in Salt Lake City. Today on the pod, Western Priorities is taking a break from Trump [...] March 20, 2025 "President Biden has secured his legacy as one of America's great conservation presidents." January 7, 2025 The President promised Tribal leaders he would protect this sacred Nevada landscape. What is he waiting for? It's been 100 days since President Joe Biden promised he would protect a large swath of Mojave Desert in southern Nevada called Avi Kwa Ame that is sacred to multiple tribes, including the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and the Hopi Tribe. [...] March 10, 2023 DENVER - The White House today announced it is re-nominating Laura Daniel-Davis to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Interior Department. This marks the third time Daniel-Davis has been submitted to the Senate. In 2022, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declined to place Daniel-Davis's nomination on the Senate floor calendar, despite her having [...] January 23, 2023

Valero targets third-quarter startup for $230 million St. Charles FCC optimization. August 9, 2026 Allstream insiders summary. Valero Energy Corporation expects to complete and begin operating its $230 million fluid catalytic cracking unit optimization project at the St. Charles Refinery during the third quarter of 2026. The project is intended to enhance the refinery's ability to produce high-value products. It is the principal named capital project in Valero's second-quarter update and provides a defined near-term operating milestone at the Louisiana complex. Valero also reported $350 million of capital investments during the second quarter, including $290 million for sustaining the business. The sustaining total covers a combination of turnarounds, catalyst work and regulatory-compliance investment across the company and should not be read as the budget for a single refinery or project. Valero separately recorded $15 million of repair costs directly attributable to the March 2026 incident at its Port Arthur Refinery. The company also completed the full idling of its Benicia Refinery and began reporting activities associated with decommissioning and redevelopment in its Corporate and Other category. St. Charles FCC project moves toward startup. Valero said the St. Charles FCC Unit optimization project remains on schedule for completion and startup in the third quarter of 2026. The $230 million project is designed to enhance the refinery's ability to manufacture high-value products. Valero describes the work as an optimization project rather than a new refining unit or a disclosed expansion of the site's overall throughput capacity. The St. Charles Refinery is located approximately 25 miles west of New Orleans on the Mississippi River. Valero lists the refinery's throughput capacity at approximately 340,000 barrels per day, placing the project at a major Gulf Coast refining complex. Valero records $290 million of sustaining investment in the quarter. Valero recorded $350 million of total capital investments in the three months ended June 30, 2026. The company classified $290 million of that amount as sustaining investment, including spending for: * Refinery and plant turnarounds * Catalyst work * Regulatory compliance The detailed earnings tables show that second-quarter capital investment included $120 million of deferred turnaround and catalyst expenditures excluding variable-interest entities, plus $4 million of deferred turnaround and catalyst expenditures at Diamond Green Diesel. Those amounts are consolidated spending categories. Valero did not allocate them among individual refineries, units or turnaround events in the second-quarter release. | Valero project or spending item | Reported amount | Timing or status | | St. Charles FCC Unit optimization | $230 million | Total project cost; completion and startup expected in Q3 2026 | | Total capital investments | $350 million | Recorded in Q2 2026 | | Sustaining capital investments | $290 million | Q2 total covering turnarounds, catalysts and regulatory compliance | | Deferred turnaround and catalyst expenditures, excluding VIEs | $120 million | Recorded in Q2 2026 | | Diamond Green Diesel deferred turnaround and catalyst expenditures | $4 million | Recorded in Q2 2026 | | Port Arthur incident-related repair costs | $15 million | Q2 operating expense; not included in reported capital investments | What is Valero's 2026 capital-investment plan? Valero's February 2026 annual report, filed before the Port Arthur incident, established an expected 2026 capital-investment program of approximately $1.725 billion. The plan included $1.425 billion of sustaining investment and $300 million of growth investment. Because the estimate predates the Port Arthur incident, it should not be read as incorporating later incident-related capital expenditures. Valero's second-quarter release did not provide a revised full-year capital-investment total. By business segment, the planned program included: | Business segment | Expected 2026 capital investment | | Refining | $1.545 billion | | Renewable Diesel | $50 million | | Ethanol | $100 million | | Corporate | $30 million | | Total | $1.725 billion | Valero defines capital investments to include capital expenditures, deferred turnaround and catalyst costs, and investments in nonconsolidated joint ventures. The annual amounts are portfolio-level expectations and are not budgets assigned entirely to the St. Charles project or to any single facility. Valero records $15 million of Port Arthur repair costs. Valero's second-quarter tables include $15 million of repair costs directly attributable to the March 2026 incident at the Port Arthur Refinery. The incident occurred in a distillate hydrotreater unit and initially prompted a full refinery shutdown. Valero's first-quarter filing said the refinery later resumed operations at reduced capacity while the company continued assessing the cause and damage and developing a repair or replacement plan. Valero said at that time that the incident was expected to result in additional capital expenditures during 2026. The company said insurance coverage would be subject to its self-insured retention and that the amount and timing of the capital expenditures and insurance proceeds were uncertain and not reasonably estimable. The reported $15 million is an operating expense and is not part of Valero's reported second-quarter capital-investment total. It is also separate from the St. Charles FCC optimization and Valero's company-wide turnaround and catalyst expenditures. Benicia activity shifts to decommissioning and redevelopment reporting. Valero completed the full idling of all processing units at its Benicia Refinery in California in April 2026 after beginning a phased shutdown during the first quarter. Beginning in the second quarter, the company reported activities associated with the refinery's decommissioning and redevelopment within its Corporate and Other category. The change reflects the site's operating status rather than a production expansion. Allstream perspective. The clearest near-term project signal in Valero's second-quarter materials is the planned third-quarter startup of the $230 million St. Charles FCC optimization. It is a named, budgeted refinery project approaching an operating milestone in the Gulf Coast market. The broader capital context is Valero's emphasis on sustaining investment. The company devoted $290 million during the quarter to a combined program that includes turnarounds, catalyst work and regulatory compliance, while its February annual plan directed most expected 2026 capital investment to the Refining segment. Because Valero reported the sustaining and turnaround amounts at the portfolio level, those totals should not be assigned to a particular refinery, unit, contractor opportunity or procurement package without additional project-specific disclosure.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) price target raised to $356.00 at Wells Fargo & Company. July 31, 2026 Key points. * Wells Fargo raised Valero Energy's price target to $356 from $292 and maintained an "overweight" rating, implying roughly 15% upside from the prior close. * Valero's latest quarter significantly exceeded expectations, with adjusted EPS of $12.54 versus the $10.13 consensus and revenue of $44.48 billion, up 48.8% year over year, driven by stronger refining margins and renewable-fuels performance. * Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with MarketBeat reporting a "Moderate Buy" consensus and an average price target of $273.06, though the stock's proximity to its 52-week high highlights risks from cyclical refining profits. * Five stocks we like better than Valero Energy. Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) had its price target raised by Wells Fargo & Company from $292.00 to $356.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "overweight" rating on the oil and gas company's stock. Wells Fargo & Company's price objective indicates a potential upside of 15.06% from the company's previous close. Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $280.00 price objective on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $292.00 to $338.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, April 6th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $279.00 to $323.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Raymond James Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $300.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $273.06. Valero Energy stock down 0.7%. NYSE VLO traded down $2.30 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $309.41. 317,590 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,408,446. The stock has a market capitalization of $91.87 billion, a PE ratio of 22.47, a PEG ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Valero Energy has a 12 month low of $130.78 and a 12 month high of $320.24. The company has a 50 day moving average of $269.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $238.16. Discover more Dividend Screener Tool Stock Average Calculator Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas company reported $12.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $10.13 by $2.41. The firm had revenue of $44.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.47 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 15.94% and a net margin of 3.37%.Valero Energy's quarterly revenue was up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.28 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Valero Energy will post 36.64 earnings per share for the current year. Insider transactions at Valero Energy. In other Valero Energy news, SVP Eric A. Fisher sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.17, for a total value of $2,011,275.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 19,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,294,212.14. This trade represents a 27.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.36% of the company's stock. Hedge funds weigh in on Valero Energy. Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Friedenthal Financial bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth $954,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 24.7% during the fourth quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 565,171 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $92,004,000 after purchasing an additional 112,118 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. lifted its holdings in Valero Energy by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 212,104 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $37,812,000 after purchasing an additional 5,694 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $1,079,000. Finally, Sierra Summit Advisors LLC grew its position in Valero Energy by 2,325.2% in the 4th quarter. Sierra Summit Advisors LLC now owns 36,378 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $5,922,000 after buying an additional 34,878 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.69% of the company's stock. Key Valero Energy news. Here are the key news stories impacting Valero Energy this week: * Positive Sentiment: Record earnings beat expectations. Valero reported second-quarter net income of $3.7 billion, or $12.62 per share, compared with $714 million, or $2.28 per share, a year earlier. Adjusted EPS of $12.54 exceeded analyst estimates of approximately $10.13, while revenue rose 48.8% year over year to $44.48 billion versus the $39.47 billion consensus. Valero Energy beats quarterly profit estimates on higher refining margins * Positive Sentiment: Refining and renewable-fuels performance drove the surge. Higher refining margins, strong fuel demand and exports, plus gains in renewable diesel and ethanol, lifted profits and cash flow. Lower-cost Venezuelan feedstocks were also cited as benefiting results. Valero jumps after posting highest-ever Q2 profit * Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its outlook. Barclays lifted its price target from $279 to $323 and upgraded or reaffirmed an "overweight" rating, implying additional upside from the referenced market price. Barclays raises Valero price target * Positive Sentiment: Shareholder returns remain supportive. Valero declared a $1.20-per-share cash dividend payable August 31 to shareholders of record as of July 31, underscoring its commitment to returning cash while earnings are strong. Valero Energy dividend analysis * Neutral Sentiment: Management said regulatory changes and registration hurdles have slowed biofuel imports, potentially complicating compliance with renewable-fuel blending mandates. Valero discusses slower biofuel imports * Negative Sentiment: At a valuation near recent highs, some commentary warns that refining profits are cyclical and the stock may already reflect peak-cycle earnings, leaving less margin for disappointment if margins normalize. Valero Energy company profile. Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texas-based integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The company's operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers. In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. 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