Marathon Petroleum (MPC): analysis in plain words
Is Marathon Petroleum cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in oil and gas. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Marathon Petroleum according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $392.68 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 7.8x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +62.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 8.4% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | N/A | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $106.9 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Marathon Petroleum figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any MPC figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Marathon Petroleum makes money
Marathon Petroleum is a U.S. refiner with two segments. Refining and Marketing, the main revenue driver, turns crude into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel sold to wholesalers and Marathon-branded stations, while Midstream owns pipelines and gas processing plants through its MPLX partnership.
Over the last 12 months, Marathon Petroleum brought in revenue of $174.8 billion. For every 100 it sells, Marathon Petroleum keeps 15.9 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 18.5 after all operating costs (operating margin).
Marathon Petroleum against its sector
To know whether a Marathon Petroleum figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Marathon Petroleum with the median of the 14 oil and gas companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Marathon Petroleum | oil and gas median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 7.8x | 16.1x (14) |
| Revenue growth | +62.0% | +38.3% (14) |
| Net margin | 8.4% | 10.5% (14) |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | 2.52% (14) |
In short, against the typical oil and gas company, Marathon Petroleum trades on a lower P/E, grows faster and earns a thinner margin. By size, Marathon Petroleum ranks number 4 of 11 oil and gas companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Marathon Petroleum
What works in favour of Marathon Petroleum, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Marathon Petroleum grew sales +62.0% in its latest quarter against the same quarter a year earlier, while the median oil and gas company Fintols tracks grew +38.3%.
- On a P/E basis Marathon Petroleum trades cheaper than its sector: 7.8x its annual earnings, against 16.1x for the oil and gas median (14 companies with data).
- Analysts expect Marathon Petroleum earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 6.3x, below the current 7.8x.
The main risk for Marathon Petroleum
The Marathon Petroleum figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: oil and gas prices, which it does not control and which swing its profit year to year, plus the energy transition.
Frequently asked questions about Marathon Petroleum
Is it a good time to buy Marathon Petroleum stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Marathon Petroleum, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Marathon Petroleum stock trades at $392.68, 21% below its 52-week high ($493.98) and 142% above its low ($161.93). Its P/E is 7.8x against a oil and gas median of 16.1x, and 6.3x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Marathon Petroleum, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Marathon Petroleum pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Marathon Petroleum pays $4.40 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.03%. It uses 8% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. The oil and gas median on Fintols is 2.52%.
Is Marathon Petroleum stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Marathon Petroleum trades at 7.8x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the oil and gas median (16.1x). A high P/E alone does not make Marathon Petroleum expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Marathon Petroleum's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Marathon Petroleum with EOG Resources, SLB and Phillips 66, which are also in oil and gas. As of November 4, 2026, EOG Resources is worth $77.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 11.4; SLB is worth $76.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 25.0; Phillips 66 is worth $101.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 8.3. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Marathon Petroleum below.
Marathon Petroleum competitors
- EOG Resources (EOG) analysis · Marathon Petroleum vs EOG Resources comparison
- SLB (SLB) analysis · Marathon Petroleum vs SLB comparison
- Phillips 66 (PSX) analysis · Marathon Petroleum vs Phillips 66 comparison
To understand Marathon Petroleum better
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Marathon Petroleum: oil and gas stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full MPC analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Marathon Petroleum, not investment advice.