Jim Cramer backs Valero (VLO) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) as refiners rally
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on July 13, 2026.
Cramer backs the oil refiners as escalating Middle East conflict tightens global supply and lifts margins.
Liking Valero AND Marathon Pete
- Replies11
- Reposts0
- Likes10
Continue ReadingShow less
Jim Cramer expressed support for both Valero and Marathon Petroleum on July 13, 2026, naming the two oil refiners in a post on X as his preferred plays in the current energy environment. The commentary accompanying the post notes that escalating Middle East conflict is tightening global supply and lifting refining margins, the spread between what refiners pay for crude and what they charge for finished products like gasoline and diesel.
When geopolitical tension squeezes crude supply, integrated refiners with large domestic processing capacity tend to benefit because constrained global flows can push up crack spreads and, in turn, earnings. Valero, trading under the ticker VLO, and Marathon Petroleum, under MPC, are two of the largest independent refiners in the United States, making them direct beneficiaries if that dynamic holds.
Disclosure
*$149 for two years (or $1.43 per week) is an introductory promotion for new members only. 62% discount based on the current list price of Stock Advisor of $199/year. Membership will renew at the then-current list price at the end of the membership term. Stock Advisor returns are 930% as compared to the S&P 500 returns of 185% as of April 7, 2026.
The same investor newsletter that told subscribers to buy Amazon in 2002, Netflix in 2004, and Nvidia in 2005 still publishes two new stock picks every month. Over 23 years, Motley Fool's Stock Advisor has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. New members get this month's picks, the Top 10 Rankings, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Click here to unlock their next top stocks while new members are still being accepted.
Cramer's post drew 11 replies and 10 likes shortly after it went live, suggesting the call is getting attention from his followers even without a detailed breakdown of his reasoning. Investors watching either name will want to track how Middle East developments affect crude benchmarks and whether margin tailwinds can be sustained.