Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, functions as an integrated downstream energy company. Valued at $49.8 billion by market cap, the company refines, supplies, markets, and transports petroleum products.

Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as “large-cap stocks,” and MPC definitely fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, reflecting its substantial size, influence, and dominance in the oil & gas refining & marketing industry. MPC's commitment towards lowering its carbon footprint by investing in greener technology and its emphasis on providing high-quality products and top-notch customer service has enhanced its efficiency and customer satisfaction, strengthening its competitive edge.

Despite its notable strength, MPC slipped 14.4% from its 52-week high of $183.31, achieved on Jul. 31, 2024. Shares of MPC stock gained 10.1% over the past three months, outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 3.3% rise during the same time frame.

In the longer term, shares of MPC rose 12.5% on a YTD basis, outperforming SPX’s YTD gains of 1.5%. However, MPC fell 10.5% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming SPX’s 12.8% returns over the last year.

To confirm the recent bullish trend, MPC has been trading above its 50-day moving average since early May. The stock is trading above its 200-day moving average since mid-May. 

On May 6, MPC shares closed up marginally after reporting its Q1 results. Its loss of $0.24 per share topped Wall Street expectations of a loss of $0.63 per share. The company’s revenue stood at $31.9 billion, down 4.1% year over year. 

MPC’s rival, Phillips 66 (PSX) shares lagged behind the stock, with a 1.3% dip on a YTD basis and 17.9% losses over the past 52 weeks.

Wall Street analysts are moderately bullish on MPC’s prospects. The stock has a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating from the 18 analysts covering it, and the mean price target of $165.94 suggests a potential upside of 5.7% from current price levels.