MPC

Marathon Petroleum

$358.23

-0.70%
Aug 20, 2026
Bobby Quantitative Model
Marathon Petroleum Corporation is a leading integrated downstream energy company that operates 13 refineries across the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, and West Coast regions of the United States, with a combined crude oil refining capacity of 3.0 million barrels per day. As one of the largest independent petroleum refiners in the country, it also owns a 64% stake in MPLX LP, a midstream master limited partnership, and is a major producer of renewable diesel. The current investor narrative is dominated by a historic surge in refining margins, driven by a global refining capacity shortage and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which has propelled the stock to record highs and sparked debate over the sustainability of this earnings supercycle.

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BobbyInvestment Opinion: Should I buy MPC Today?

Based on the analysis, MPC is rated a 'Buy' with a thesis that the refining supercycle, driven by structural capacity shortages and geopolitical tensions, will sustain earnings above historical levels, justifying the current valuation. The consensus rating is 'Buy' with an average target of $317.72, which is below the current price, but the high target of $376 suggests upside potential. The stock's PEG ratio of 0.39 and forward P/E of 10.78x indicate undervaluation relative to growth, supporting a positive outlook.

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MPC 12-Month Price Forecast

The AI assessment leans bullish given the strong earnings momentum, attractive valuation metrics, and positive analyst sentiment. However, the medium confidence reflects the cyclicality and geopolitical dependence of the refining business. The stock's 118.96% one-year gain and trading above the average target suggest limited near-term upside, but the PEG ratio and forward P/E indicate that if the supercycle persists, the stock could still be undervalued. Key factors to watch are the sustainability of crack spreads and any geopolitical developments. An upgrade to high confidence would require evidence of structural capacity shortages lasting beyond 12 months, while a downgrade would occur if margins show sustained contraction.

Historical Price
Current Price $358.23
Average Target $330.00
High Target $400.00
Low Target $200.00

Wall Street consensus

Most Wall Street analysts maintain a constructive view on Marathon Petroleum's 12-month outlook, with a consensus price target around $324.56 and implied upside of -9.4% versus the current price.

Average Target

$324.56

0 analysts

Implied Upside

-9.4%

vs. current price

Analyst Count

covering this stock

Price Range

$186 - $413

Analyst target range

MPC is covered by 18 analysts, with a consensus recommendation of 'Buy' and a mean rating of 2.21 (where 1 is Strong Buy and 5 is Sell). The average price target is $317.72, which implies a downside of -10.6% from the current price of $355.42, suggesting that the stock has surged ahead of analyst expectations. The target range is wide, from a low of $186.00 to a high of $376.00, reflecting significant uncertainty about the duration of the refining supercycle. Recent ratings actions have been predominantly positive, with firms like Barclays, TD Cowen, and Morgan Stanley maintaining Overweight or Buy ratings, while Citigroup and Mizuho remain Neutral, indicating a generally bullish but cautious stance.

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Bulls vs Bears: MPC Investment Factors

MPC presents a compelling bull case driven by record refining margins, attractive valuation metrics, and strong cash generation, but the bear case highlights the cyclicality and geopolitical dependence of these earnings. The stock has surged 118.96% in a year, now trading above the average analyst target, which suggests limited near-term upside. The most important tension is the sustainability of the refining supercycle: if margins persist due to structural capacity shortages, the stock remains undervalued; if geopolitical tensions ease, earnings could revert to historical levels, leading to significant downside. Currently, the bull case has stronger evidence given the PEG ratio of 0.39 and the market's continued pricing of high margins, but investors must monitor geopolitical developments closely.

Bullish

  • Historic Refining Margin Supercycle: Global refining capacity shortage and geopolitical tensions have driven crack spreads to record highs, with diesel prices above $5 for the first time since 2022. This has propelled MPC's Q1 2026 gross margin to 9.57% from 4.33% a year ago, and net income swung from a $74M loss to a $511M profit.
  • Undervalued on Earnings and Growth: Trailing P/E of 12.26x and forward P/E of 10.78x are well below the industry average of 15x, while the PEG ratio of 0.39 signals undervaluation relative to expected earnings growth. The stock trades at an 18% discount to its sector, despite a 118.96% one-year price surge.
  • Strong Free Cash Flow Generation: TTM free cash flow stands at $5.70 billion, providing ample coverage for capital expenditures and dividends. This supports a dividend yield of 2.30% and a payout ratio of 28.17%, allowing for continued shareholder returns and balance sheet flexibility.
  • Robust Revenue Growth and Recovery: Q1 2026 revenue grew 9.68% YoY to $34.57 billion, with sequential improvement from Q4 2025. The refining and marketing segment drove $32.33 billion in revenue, while midstream and renewable diesel added $1.30 billion and $567 million, respectively, diversifying income streams.

Bearish

  • Stock Trades Above Average Target: At $355.42, MPC is 11.9% above the average analyst target of $317.72, suggesting the market has run ahead of fundamental expectations. This implies a potential -10.6% downside if the stock reverts to the mean target, a significant near-term risk.
  • Elevated Debt and Leverage: Debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98 and current ratio of 1.26 indicate a leveraged balance sheet. While free cash flow covers obligations, a downturn in refining margins could strain debt servicing, especially with interest expenses of $370 million in Q1 2026.
  • Cyclical Earnings Vulnerability: Refining margins are highly cyclical; Q1 2025 saw a net loss of $74 million when margins were weak. The current supercycle is driven by geopolitical events (Iran conflict) that could reverse quickly, as seen in April 2026 when crude plunged 14% on de-escalation news.
  • High Valuation Risk at Peak Earnings: The stock is near its 52-week high ($360.10) and trades at 98.7% of its range. With a beta of 0.508, it's less volatile than the market, but the 118.96% one-year gain leaves limited upside if earnings normalize, risking multiple compression.

MPC Technical Analysis

MPC is in a powerful sustained uptrend, with the stock up 118.96% over the past year and currently trading at $355.42, just 1.3% below its 52-week high of $360.10. The price sits at 98.7% of its 52-week range, indicating strong momentum and bullish sentiment, though it also suggests the stock may be overextended in the short term. The 52-week low of $160.87 provides a distant support level, while the current price action reflects a market that is aggressively pricing in continued strength in refining fundamentals.

Beta

0.51

0.51x market volatility

Max Drawdown

-18.7%

Largest decline past year

52-Week Range

$162-$368

Price range past year

Annual Return

+116.0%

Cumulative gain past year

PeriodMPC ReturnS&P 500
1m+12.0%+1.9%
3m+40.7%+2.3%
6m+82.1%+10.6%
1y+116.0%+19.5%
ytd+116.9%+11.8%

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MPC Fundamental Analysis

MPC's revenue trajectory has been robust, with Q1 2026 revenue of $34.57 billion, up 9.68% year-over-year, and a sequential increase from $32.57 billion in Q4 2025. The refining and marketing segment drove the bulk of revenue at $32.33 billion, while midstream contributed $1.30 billion and renewable diesel added $567 million. The company's profitability has improved dramatically, with Q1 2026 net income of $511 million, a sharp recovery from the $74 million loss in Q1 2025, and gross margin expanded to 9.57% from 4.33% a year earlier. However, the balance sheet shows elevated leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 1.26, though free cash flow of $5.70 billion (TTM) provides ample coverage for capital expenditures and dividends.

Quarterly Revenue

$34.6B

2026-03

Revenue YoY Growth

+9.7%

YoY Comparison

Gross Margin

9.6%

Latest Quarter

Free Cash Flow

$5.7B

Last 12 Months

Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)

Revenue Breakdown

Renewable Diesel
Refining And Marketing
Midstream

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Valuation Analysis: Is MPC Overvalued?

Given MPC's positive net income, the trailing P/E ratio of 12.26x is the primary valuation metric, which is attractive relative to the broader market. The forward P/E of 10.78x implies that the market expects earnings to grow, and the PEG ratio of 0.39 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth prospects. Compared to the industry average P/E of 15x (based on available data), MPC trades at an 18% discount, which is justified by its cyclical nature but also reflects the market's skepticism about the sustainability of peak refining margins. Historically, MPC's P/E has ranged from 1.86x to 35.29x over the past five years, and the current 12.26x is near the lower end of that band, indicating that the stock is not expensive by its own historical standards.

PE

12.3x

Latest Quarter

vs. Historical

Mid-Range

5-Year PE Range 2x~30x

vs. Industry Avg

N/A

Industry PE ~N/A*

EV/EBITDA

6.9x

Enterprise Value Multiple

Investment Risk Disclosure

Financial and operational risks are significant given MPC's high leverage (debt-to-equity of 1.98) and cyclical earnings. The company's net income swung from a $74 million loss in Q1 2025 to a $511 million profit in Q1 2026, illustrating extreme earnings volatility tied to refining margins. Interest expenses of $370 million per quarter add fixed costs that could pressure profitability if margins contract. While free cash flow of $5.70 billion provides a cushion, a prolonged downturn could strain the balance sheet, especially with a current ratio of only 1.26, indicating limited short-term liquidity relative to obligations.