Marathon Petroleum Corporation $MPC Stock: Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. Lowers Holdings

Key Points

• Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. cut its Marathon Petroleum holdings by 20.2% in the third quarter, selling 4,928 shares and retaining 19,515 shares valued at approximately $7.7 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 76.77% of MPC.
• Marathon Petroleum reported quarterly EPS of $17.73, well above the $14.27 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 53.5% year over year to $51.99 billion. The company also maintains a quarterly dividend of $1.00, or $4.00 annually, yielding about 0.8%.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with MPC carrying a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $417.88. However, shares opened at $476.39—near their 52-week high—prompting concerns that the stock’s strong gains and improving refining outlook may already be reflected in its valuation.

Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. trimmed its holdings in Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC - Free Report) by 20.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,515 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 4,928 shares during the period. Marathon Petroleum comprises about 2.1% of Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest position. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.'s holdings in Marathon Petroleum were worth $7,717,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Focus Financial Network Inc. lifted its position in Marathon Petroleum by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 1,066 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $422,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Marathon Petroleum by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,130 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $842,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Marathon Petroleum by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 1,938 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $495,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank raised its stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum by 2.1% in the third quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 1,936 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $766,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum by 3.2% in the second quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,288 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $329,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. 76.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marathon Petroleum Trading Down 1.8%

Shares of MPC stock opened at $476.39 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.25. The company has a market capitalization of $139.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.38, a PEG ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 0.54. Marathon Petroleum Corporation has a 52-week low of $161.93 and a 52-week high of $485.22. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $394.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $307.75.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $14.27 by $3.46. The company had revenue of $51.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $40.87 billion. Marathon Petroleum had a return on equity of 31.96% and a net margin of 5.48%. Marathon Petroleum's quarterly revenue was up 53.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.96 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Marathon Petroleum Corporation will post 62.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marathon Petroleum Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on MPC shares. TD Cowen raised their target price on Marathon Petroleum from $357.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Evercore set a $330.00 price target on Marathon Petroleum in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings raised Marathon Petroleum from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b+)" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $344.00 to $462.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 3rd. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $304.00 to $457.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Marathon Petroleum currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $417.88.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marathon Petroleum news, 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 transaction, the vice president owned 1,576 shares in the company, valued at $571,757.04. This represents a 26.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Shawn Lyon sold 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.00, for a total value of $875,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 12,619 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,416,650. This represents a 16.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 21,691 shares of company stock valued at $7,780,127. Insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

More 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

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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