Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC)
Marathon Petroleum is a massive American energy company that turns crude oil into the petrol, diesel, and jet fuel that keep the world moving.
Is Marathon Petroleum Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Marathon Petroleum is a massive American energy company that turns crude oil into the petrol, diesel, and jet fuel that keep the world moving.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Successful transition into renewable fuels and sustained high demand.
Rapid adoption of electric vehicles significantly reduces long-term fuel demand.
What does Marathon Petroleum Corporation do?
Think of Marathon Petroleum as a giant industrial kitchen that takes raw oil and refines it into usable fuels and petrochemicals. Profits come from capturing the difference between the cost of buying raw oil and the price they get for selling the finished products. The figure that matters most is the 'crack spread'—the industry term for the profit margin on refining—which fluctuates based on global demand for fuel and the availability of crude oil.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and income, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.3% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 9% over the year
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 27%)
- Momentum screens high (96/100)
- Strong track record of generating profit from invested capital
- Lower volatility compared to the broader stock market
- Essential role in the global energy supply chain
- Quality screens low (31/100)
- Environmental regulations could increase operational costs
- Fluctuations in crude oil prices can squeeze profit margins
- Long-term shift toward electric vehicles threatens core demand
What do Marathon Petroleum Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Marathon Petroleum Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Marathon Petroleum Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Marathon Petroleum Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 1.3% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Marathon Petroleum Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Marathon Petroleum Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-04 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-05 | $0.75 | $1.65 | Beat +121% |
| 2026-02-03 | $2.71 | $4.07 | Beat +50% |
| 2025-11-04 | $3.16 | $3.01 | Missed -5% |
| 2025-08-05 | $3.22 | $3.96 | Beat +23% |
| 2025-05-06 | $-0.54 | $-0.24 | Beat +56% |
| 2025-02-04 | $0.02 | $0.77 | Beat +3731% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Marathon Petroleum Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Kinder Morgan, Inc.What are the scenarios for Marathon Petroleum Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Marathon Petroleum Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong track record of generating profit from invested capital
- Lower volatility compared to the broader stock market
- Essential role in the global energy supply chain
- Low net profit margins leave little room for error
- Business model is heavily tied to fossil fuel consumption
- High price-to-book ratio suggests the stock is priced at a premium to its physical assets
- Environmental regulations could increase operational costs
- Fluctuations in crude oil prices can squeeze profit margins
- Long-term shift toward electric vehicles threatens core demand
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A permanent, significant collapse in global demand for petrol and diesel
- Major regulatory changes that make traditional refining unprofitable
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.