Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC) Stock Price Down 1.8% – Time to Sell?

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC)’s share price was down 1.8% during trading on Thursday. The stock traded as low as $448.38 and last traded at $459.5850. 2,588,046 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 5% from the average daily volume of 2,472,417 shares. The stock had previously closed at $467.98.

More Marathon Petroleum News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong refining margins support earnings: Higher fuel margins are improving profitability across U.S. refiners, including MPC, Valero Energy and Phillips 66. This could support cash flow and earnings if favorable margin conditions persist. U.S. Refiners Benefit From Strong Margins: Will Momentum Last?
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks names MPC a top growth stock: Marathon Petroleum was included in Zacks’ Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth-stock list for October 22, offering a positive technical and fundamental signal. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for October 22nd
• Positive Sentiment: Long-term performance and momentum remain notable: Recent coverage highlights MPC’s strong longer-term shareholder returns and its move to a new one-year high, reinforcing investor interest in the stock. Marathon Petroleum Sets New 1-Year High
• Neutral Sentiment: Supplier recognition signals ongoing operational initiatives: Cognite was named a Corporate Supplier of the Year by MPC for its contribution to the company’s business. The award is supportive of MPC’s supplier and technology relationships but does not indicate a material near-term financial impact. Cognite Earns Corporate Supplier of the Year Award from Marathon Petroleum Corporation
• Negative Sentiment: Profitability may face a ceiling: Analysis cautions that strong refining earnings could be difficult to sustain, while the Middle East conflict may create additional uncertainty for crude supply, fuel demand and refining economics. Marathon Petroleum Profitability Seems To Have A Ceiling
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation leaves limited margin of safety: Another analysis characterizes MPC as a strong momentum stock but warns that its sharp run-up may have reduced the margin for error, helping explain recent profit-taking and weakness. Marathon Petroleum: Good Momentum Stocks, But Little Margin Of Safety

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MPC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen upped their target price on Marathon Petroleum from $450.00 to $478.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted 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. Weiss Ratings raised Marathon Petroleum from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Zacks Research upgraded Marathon Petroleum from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, September 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Marathon Petroleum from $265.00 to $453.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, September 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $424.31.

Marathon Petroleum Trading Down 1.8%

The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $408.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $315.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $134.17 billion, a PE ratio of 15.80, 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.

Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The oil and gas company reported $17.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 net margin of 5.48% and a return on equity of 31.96%. Marathon Petroleum’s quarterly revenue was up 53.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.96 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Marathon Petroleum Corporation will post 64.00 EPS for the current year.

Marathon Petroleum Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were given a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. Marathon Petroleum’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 13.75%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Molly R. Benson sold 17,196 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $358.57, for a total transaction of $6,165,969.72. Following the transaction, the insider owned 30,334 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,876,862.38. This represents a 36.18% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Erin M. Brzezinski sold 570 shares of the 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 transaction, the vice president owned 1,576 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $571,757.04. The trade was a 26.56% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 21,691 shares of company stock valued at $7,780,127 over the last ninety days. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marathon Petroleum

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MPC. Solstein Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Marathon Petroleum during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the second quarter worth about $26,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc purchased a new position in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the second quarter worth about $27,000. Cetera Trust Company N.A bought a new stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum in the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 76.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Marathon Petroleum

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.