Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC) Stock Rating Lowered by Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen downgraded Marathon Petroleum from a "strong‑buy" to a "buy," while MarketBeat's consensus rating remains a "Moderate Buy" with a $241.81 consensus price target.
• Several major firms raised price targets recently (Goldman to $264, UBS to $280, BMO to $255), leaving the analyst mix at one Strong Buy, ten Buy and eight Hold.
• Operational results and shareholder actions: Q1 EPS beat expectations ($4.07 vs. $3.73) and revenue topped estimates, the board declared a $1.00 quarterly dividend, insiders have trimmed holdings, and institutions own about 76.8% of shares.

Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC - Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $239.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $230.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $221.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 2nd. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $205.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Marathon Petroleum from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $241.81.

Marathon Petroleum Trading Down 0.6%

NYSE MPC opened at $246.77 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $226.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $199.36. The stock has a market cap of $72.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 0.53. Marathon Petroleum has a 12-month low of $137.30 and a 12-month high of $255.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27.

Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The oil and gas company reported $4.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.73 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $32.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $30.89 billion. Marathon Petroleum had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 13.90%. The business's quarterly revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.77 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Marathon Petroleum will post 26.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Ricky D. Hessling sold 1,626 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.18, for a total transaction of $371,020.68. Following the sale, the insider owned 7,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,717,054.50. This trade represents a 17.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders have sold a total of 4,473 shares of company stock worth $1,015,428 in the last quarter. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Marathon Petroleum

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MPC. Navalign LLC acquired a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Berbice Capital Management LLC grew its position in Marathon Petroleum by 100.0% during the fourth quarter. Berbice Capital Management LLC now owns 200 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the second quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.77% of the company's stock.

Marathon Petroleum News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and a higher near‑term earnings outlook have driven momentum and income appeal, cited as the primary reason for the recent surge in MPC shares. Marathon Petroleum (MPC) Is Up 12.3% After Analyst Upgrades And Dividend Declaration - What's Changed
• Positive Sentiment: The board declared a $1.00 quarterly dividend (record May 20, pay June 10), reinforcing cash-return policy and supporting yield-focused investor demand; the announcement accompanies an upgraded outlook in several writeups. Assessing Marathon Petroleum (MPC) Valuation After Dividend Declaration And Upgraded Earnings Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Market research firm coverage boosted sentiment—MPC made Zacks’ Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth list, which can attract momentum and quant-driven flows. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for May 1st
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and previews are focusing on Q1 drivers—strong refining margins and utilization could help results, but details will matter. Investors should watch reported margins, renewables and midstream segments for nuance. What's in the Offing for Marathon Petroleum in Q1 Earnings?
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation analysis pieces discuss whether the recent share gains are pricing in expected cash flows and DCF value—helpful for longer‑term allocation decisions but not an immediate catalyst. Is Marathon Petroleum (MPC) Pricing Reflect Recent Share Surge And DCF-Based Value Gap
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary and “trending” coverage have amplified visibility; such coverage can reinforce flows but may fade after earnings. Marathon Petroleum Stock Is Trending Overnight: Here's Why
• Negative Sentiment: Macro energy risks remain: a Bank of England note warned that a sustained energy shock could push inflation and rates higher—an outcome that could pressure demand and margins if oil dislocations persist. This is a tail risk for refiners. Bank of England sounds warning of interest rate hikes ahead

Marathon Petroleum Company Profile

Marathon Petroleum Corporation NYSE: MPC is a U.S.-based downstream energy company engaged principally in the refining, marketing, supply and transportation of petroleum products. The company was formed through a spin-off from Marathon Oil in 2011 and operates an integrated system of refining and logistics assets that support the production and distribution of transportation fuels and other refined petroleum products.

Marathon Petroleum's operations include refining crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt and other specialty products, as well as managing the distribution and storage infrastructure needed to move those products to market.

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