Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC) Stock Has Average Target Price of $417.88 According to Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts maintain a bullish outlook: Marathon Petroleum has a “Moderate Buy” consensus from 17 analysts, with 11 buys, five holds and one strong buy. The average 12-month price target is $417.88, below the stock’s reported $478.38 price.
• Strong quarterly performance supported sentiment: MPC reported adjusted earnings of $17.73 per share, beating estimates by $3.46, while revenue rose 53.5% year over year to $51.99 billion. Analysts expect full-year earnings of approximately $62.78 per share.
• Refining momentum and ownership trends remain key considerations: Institutional investors own 76.77% of the stock, while insiders sold roughly $7.8 million of shares over the past 90 days. MPC also pays a $1.00 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 0.8% annualized yield.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the seventeen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $417.88.

Several brokerages have issued reports on MPC. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $344.00 to $462.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 3rd. Barclays upped their target price on Marathon Petroleum from $321.00 to $488.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, October 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Marathon Petroleum from $376.00 to $472.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, September 21st. Citigroup raised their price target on Marathon Petroleum from $318.00 to $518.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $265.00 to $453.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, September 14th.

Insider Transactions at Marathon Petroleum

In other news, insider Molly R. Benson sold 17,196 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $358.57, for a total transaction of $6,165,969.72. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 30,334 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $10,876,862.38. The trade was a 36.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Shawn M. Lyon sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $375.75, for a total transaction of $375,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 11,194 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,206,145.50. The trade was a 8.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,691 shares of company stock worth $7,780,127. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marathon Petroleum

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MPC. USA Financial Formulas purchased a new position in Marathon Petroleum during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,178,000. CWS Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the third quarter worth $303,000. Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the third quarter worth $237,000. Forum Financial Management LP boosted its position in Marathon Petroleum by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 923 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $365,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beaumont Asset Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the 3rd quarter valued at $261,000. 76.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Marathon Petroleum Price Performance

NYSE:MPC opened at $478.38 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $139.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.44, a PEG ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $397.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $308.94. Marathon Petroleum has a 1 year low of $161.93 and a 1 year high of $485.22.

Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The oil and gas company reported $17.73 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $14.27 by $3.46. The firm had revenue of $51.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $40.87 billion. Marathon Petroleum had a return on equity of 31.96% and a net margin of 5.48%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 53.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.96 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Marathon Petroleum will post 62.78 EPS for the current year.

Marathon Petroleum Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were paid a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. Marathon Petroleum's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.75%.

More Marathon Petroleum News

Here are the key news stories impacting Marathon Petroleum this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo issued a Buy rating on MPC, adding to the positive analyst sentiment surrounding the refiner. Wells Fargo Issues a Buy Rating on Marathon Petroleum
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised their estimated fair value for Marathon Petroleum to approximately $433.44 from $375.50, citing improved refining assumptions and stronger anticipated margins and crack spreads. Marathon Petroleum Stock Gets Fair Value Boost
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup projected significant potential appreciation for MPC, while a separate report noted the stock reached a new 12-month high following an analyst upgrade. These developments reinforce the bullish view on refining profitability. Citigroup Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation Marathon Petroleum Sets New 12-Month High
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage describes MPC as a potential hedge against diesel-related weakness, with its scale and refining exposure benefiting if industry margins remain firm. Marathon Petroleum: A Solid Hedge Vs. Diesel's Damage
• Neutral Sentiment: Although MPC and Delek US reported stronger earnings as refining margins improved, analysts favored Delek because of its lower valuation and stronger earnings-estimate revisions. Marathon vs. Delek US
• Negative Sentiment: The stock’s decline while the market advanced highlights near-term relative weakness. Investors may also be questioning whether MPC’s large multiyear gain and current valuation already reflect much of the expected cash-flow and refining-margin improvement. Marathon Petroleum Stock Declines While Market Improves

About Marathon Petroleum

Marathon Petroleum Corporation NYSE: MPC is an integrated downstream energy company engaged primarily in refining, marketing and transporting petroleum products. The company converts crude oil and other feedstocks into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, propane and other refined products used by consumers, businesses and industrial customers.

Marathon Petroleum operates refineries and related logistics assets in the United States, with a refining and marketing presence serving markets across the Midwest, Gulf Coast and West Coast.

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