Marathon Petroleum Corporation $MPC Holdings Lessened by Adams Natural Resources Fund Inc.

Adams Natural Resources Fund Inc. lowered its stake in Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC - Free Report) by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 75,512 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 4,400 shares during the quarter. Marathon Petroleum comprises approximately 3.3% of Adams Natural Resources Fund Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Adams Natural Resources Fund Inc.'s holdings in Marathon Petroleum were worth $29,859,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH raised its stake in Marathon Petroleum by 1.6% during the third quarter. FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH now owns 14,545 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $5,751,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Marathon Petroleum by 94.6% during the third quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 3,446 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $1,363,000 after purchasing an additional 1,675 shares during the last quarter. Marion Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the 3rd quarter worth $244,000. Kooman & Associates purchased a new position in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the 3rd quarter worth $265,000. Finally, Diligent Investors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the 3rd quarter worth about $302,000. 76.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Molly R. Benson sold 17,196 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the insider owned 30,334 shares in the company, 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 is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Erin M. Brzezinski sold 570 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $362.79, for a total value of $206,790.30. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 1,576 shares of the company's stock, valued at $571,757.04. This represents a 26.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 21,691 shares of company stock worth $7,780,127 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Marathon Petroleum Price Performance

Marathon Petroleum stock opened at $459.58 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $408.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $315.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.17 billion, a PE ratio of 17.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.12 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. Marathon Petroleum Corporation has a 12-month low of $161.93 and a 12-month high of $493.98.

Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The oil and gas company reported $17.73 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $14.27 by $3.46. The firm had revenue of $51.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations 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 for the quarter was up 53.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.96 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Marathon Petroleum Corporation will post 63.58 EPS for the current year.

Marathon Petroleum Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Marathon Petroleum's dividend payout ratio is currently 13.75%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on MPC. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $344.00 to $462.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Marathon Petroleum from $400.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Evercore set a $330.00 price objective on Marathon Petroleum in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $410.00 to $426.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $376.00 to $472.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Marathon Petroleum presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $424.31.

Key Headlines Impacting Marathon Petroleum

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

• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen raised its price target to $478 from $450, signaling continued confidence in Marathon Petroleum’s outlook and suggesting additional upside from recent trading levels. TD Cowen Adjusts Price Target on Marathon Petroleum to $478 From $450
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks added MPC to its Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth-stocks list, reinforcing the bullish view on the company’s earnings and growth prospects. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for October 22nd
• Positive Sentiment: Strong U.S. fuel refining margins are supporting refinery profitability, keeping MPC in focus alongside Valero Energy and Phillips 66 and providing a favorable near-term earnings backdrop. U.S. Refiners Benefit From Strong Margins: Will Momentum Last?
• Neutral Sentiment: Supplier Cognite was named Marathon Petroleum’s Corporate Supplier of the Year. The recognition highlights supplier contributions but does not represent a material change to MPC’s financial outlook. Cognite Earns Corporate Supplier of the Year Award from Marathon Petroleum Corporation
• Negative Sentiment: Shares declined in the prior session despite a broader market uptick, suggesting some company-specific selling or profit-taking after the stock’s substantial advance. Marathon Petroleum Stock Falls Amid Market Uptick
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary warns that MPC has limited margin of safety at its elevated valuation and that refining profitability may face a ceiling if Middle East tensions mature or fade, potentially reducing exceptional margins. Marathon Petroleum Profitability Seems To Have A Ceiling

Marathon Petroleum Company Profile

Marathon Petroleum Corporation NYSE: MPC is an American downstream energy company engaged in refining, marketing, and transporting petroleum products. Its operations include converting crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, propane, and other refined products used by transportation, industrial, and commercial customers.

The company markets fuel under the Marathon brand and supplies products to independent marketers, commercial businesses, and other wholesale customers. Marathon Petroleum also owns a general-partner interest and significant limited-partner interest in MPLX Inc, a midstream company that operates pipelines, storage facilities, terminals, and gathering and processing assets supporting the movement of crude oil and natural gas liquids.

Marathon Petroleum's refining and midstream activities are concentrated in the United States, with assets serving regions across the Midwest, Gulf Coast, and West Coast.

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