The article compares two independent refiners: Delek US and Par Pacific. Delek US operates four refineries across Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana with a 63.3% stake in Delek Logistics, but faces high leverage (11.7x debt-to-equity), declining revenue, and regulatory uncertainty. Par Pacific operates four facilities across the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii with integrated retail operations, demonstrating stronger profitability (4.9% net margin), lower leverage (0.8x debt-to-equity), and superior cash generation ($296.5M free cash flow). The author recommends Par Pacific as the better 2026 investment due to its niche market positioning, operational momentum, and cleaner financial profile.

Delek U.S. stock rallied 6% on Thursday following a fire at the Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania, owned by Delta Air Lines' subsidiary Monroe Energy. The incident is expected to tighten jet fuel supply and boost margins for competing refiners like Delek, which has a high percentage of revenue from jet fuel. The rally comes as investors had anticipated margin compression following the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, but the refinery outage could offset that decline.

Delek US Holdings (DK), a mid-sized oil refiner, has gained 64% year-to-date but remains underappreciated by investors. The company's 'surgical' approach to cost-cutting and operational efficiency has driven a fivefold increase in EBITDA in Q1 2026 without proportional revenue growth. With a 2.1% dividend yield, strong cash position, and Goldman Sachs' $55 price target, the stock merits closer examination despite high debt ratios and volatile refining margins.

Delek U.S. Holdings surged 15.1% after reporting better-than-expected Q1 earnings. The small-cap refiner is benefiting from high jet fuel refining margins and a $220 million cost-cutting program. With its refining operations, logistics stake, and potential government exemption payments, management believes the stock could be worth roughly double its current price.

Gasoline prices surged 21.2% in March 2026, the largest monthly increase since 1967, driven by disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war. National average gas prices jumped from $2.98 to $4.15 per gallon in six weeks. Goldman Sachs upgraded several refiner stocks as beneficiaries of elevated crack spreads and tighter energy supply chains, while economists debate whether this represents a temporary shock or a sustained inflationary regime.

U.S. gasoline prices surged to $4.02 per gallon and diesel hit $5.45, driven by Iran war disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz. Oil refiners are capitalizing on widened crack spreads (now ~$47/barrel vs. $20 pre-war), with refiner stocks posting exceptional gains. The VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (CRAK) is up 29% YTD on a 14-week winning streak, while individual refiners like Par Pacific and PBF Energy gained 50% and 41% in March respectively. Analysts raised price targets on Valero Energy, citing potential structural shifts in refining profitability.

Ezra Uzi Yemin, Director of Delek US Holdings, sold 140,006 shares across two transactions in March 2026 for approximately $6.1 million. The sales were conducted under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 plan adopted in December 2025, reducing his holdings by 14.9%. Despite the insider selling, analysts note the company's strong operational performance, with Q4 2025 showing adjusted net income of $143 million versus a $161 million loss a year prior, and the stock has surged 184% over the past year.

Zohar Shlomo, a director at Delek US Holdings, sold 7,343 shares worth approximately $338,000 on March 19, 2026, reducing his direct holdings by 52.49%. The sale was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, suggesting portfolio management following the stock's 180% surge over the past year rather than a bearish signal on the business. Delek's vertically integrated energy operations continue to benefit from favorable refining margins.

Delek US shares surged 8.6% today due to rising refining crack spreads and a BofA analyst raising the price target from $28 to $40. The stock has gained 55% in 2026, benefiting from increased oil prices and geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf that have disrupted global refining supply. U.S. refiners like Delek, which source domestic crude oil, are well-positioned to capitalize on these supply disruptions.

Delek US Holdings stock surged nearly 5% on Friday following strong Q4 2025 earnings results. The downstream oil company reported a surprise non-GAAP net profit of $143 million ($2.31 per share), a dramatic turnaround from a $161 million loss in Q4 2024. The improvement was driven by the refining segment, which generated $314 million in adjusted EBITDA compared to a $69 million loss year-over-year, attributed to increased refining margins. However, the analyst cautioned that one quarter does not guarantee future performance.

Delek Logistics Partners reported record adjusted EBITDA of $536 million for 2025, driven by strong execution across natural gas, crude, and water businesses, plus acquisitions of H2O and Gravity. The company increased Libbey Complex capacity to 160 million scf per day and approved its 52nd consecutive quarterly distribution increase to $1.125 per unit. Management initiated 2026 EBITDA guidance of $520-560 million and highlighted that 82% of EBITDA now comes from third-party businesses, reducing dependence on sponsor Delek US Holdings.

Delek Logistics Partners (DKL) is a high-yielding MLP that has been increasing its distribution for 46 consecutive quarters. The company has a sustainable cash flow, a strong financial foundation, and is diversifying its operations, making it an attractive option for income investors.