3,228 Marathon Petroleum Corporation $MPC Shares Sold by White Pine Investment CO

Key Points

• White Pine Investment CO reduced its Marathon Petroleum stake by 7.2%, selling 3,228 shares and retaining 41,382 shares valued at approximately $16.4 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.77% of MPC.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive: Morgan Stanley, Barclays, and Raymond James raised their price targets, with Barclays setting the highest target at $488; MarketBeat lists a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average target of $417.88.
• Marathon Petroleum reported strong quarterly results, exceeding EPS and revenue estimates, while insiders sold 21,691 shares worth $7.8 million during the quarter. The stock is near its 12-month high, prompting some concerns that its valuation already reflects improved refining margins.

White Pine Investment CO decreased its holdings in Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC - Free Report) by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 41,382 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 3,228 shares during the period. Marathon Petroleum makes up about 3.2% of White Pine Investment CO's investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. White Pine Investment CO's holdings in Marathon Petroleum were worth $16,363,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Solstein Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Caitlin John LLC acquired a new position in shares of Marathon Petroleum during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Main Street Group LTD purchased a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Cetera Trust Company N.A purchased a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. 76.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have commented on MPC. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $265.00 to $453.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, September 14th. Weiss Ratings raised Marathon Petroleum from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b+)" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Evercore set a $330.00 price target on Marathon Petroleum in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Barclays upped their price target on Marathon Petroleum from $321.00 to $488.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Raymond James Financial upped their target price on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $350.00 to $445.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, September 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Marathon Petroleum currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $417.88.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marathon Petroleum

In related news, SVP Shawn M. Lyon sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $375.75, for a total transaction of $375,750.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 11,194 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,206,145.50. This represents a 8.20% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Molly R. Benson sold 17,196 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $358.57, for a total value of $6,165,969.72. Following the transaction, the insider owned 30,334 shares in the company, valued at $10,876,862.38. This trade represents a 36.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 21,691 shares of company stock worth $7,780,127 over the last quarter. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key Marathon Petroleum News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo initiated or reiterated a Buy rating on Marathon Petroleum, adding to positive analyst sentiment toward the refiner. Wells Fargo Issues a Buy Rating on Marathon Petroleum
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its price target to $488, while other recent research lifted Marathon Petroleum’s estimated fair value as analysts updated their assumptions for refining margins and crack spreads. Barclays raises Marathon Petroleum stock target
• Positive Sentiment: Improving refining margins have supported stronger earnings expectations for MPC and peers. Marathon Petroleum is also being viewed as a relatively lower-volatility energy stock and a potential hedge against diesel-market weakness and broader geopolitical volatility. Marathon Petroleum: A Solid Hedge Vs. Diesel's Damage
• Neutral Sentiment: In a comparison with Delek US, both refiners were described as benefiting from stronger earnings and better margins. However, Delek’s lower valuation and more favorable earnings-estimate revisions gave it the edge, potentially limiting incremental buying interest in MPC. Marathon vs. Delek US
• Negative Sentiment: Recent analysis questioned whether MPC’s share price is fully supported by future cash-flow generation after the stock’s roughly sevenfold five-year gain. The shares have also approached a new 12-month high, increasing the risk of profit-taking and valuation-driven selling. Can Marathon Petroleum Still Justify Its Price on Cash Flow?
• Negative Sentiment: One updated fair-value estimate of approximately $433.44 remains below the recent trading level, reinforcing concerns that much of the improved refining outlook may already be reflected in MPC’s valuation. Marathon Petroleum Fair Value Boost

Marathon Petroleum Stock Down 1.8%

Shares of NYSE:MPC opened at $476.39 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $394.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $307.75. The firm has a market cap of $139.08 billion, a PE ratio of 16.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 0.54. Marathon Petroleum Corporation has a 12-month low of $161.93 and a 12-month high of $485.22.

Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The oil and gas company reported $17.73 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 net margin of 5.48% and a return on equity of 31.96%. The firm's revenue was up 53.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.96 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Marathon Petroleum Corporation will post 62.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marathon Petroleum Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 19th were issued a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. Marathon Petroleum's payout ratio is currently 13.75%.

Marathon Petroleum Company Profile

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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