MPC

U.S. diesel prices reached $6.276/gallon in October 2026, with tight global supply and elevated crack spreads expected to persist through 2027. Sky Quarry's Eagle Springs Refinery in Nevada began production with crack spreads of $133-$136/barrel, while major refiners including PBF Energy, CVR Energy, Marathon Petroleum, and Calumet reported strong second-quarter results driven by robust refining margins amid global distillate fuel shortages.

A $1,000 investment in Marathon Petroleum (MPC) made in October 2016 would be worth $11,034.61 as of October 21, 2026, representing a 1,003.46% gain. This significantly outperformed the S&P 500's 260.17% gain and gold's 213.61% gain over the same period. Analysts maintain an Outperform rating, citing the company's scale, integrated refining system, midstream diversification through MPLX, and favorable refining margins.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) has gained significant investor attention with shares returning +17.7% over the past month. The company is rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) due to substantial upward earnings estimate revisions.

Current quarter EPS is expected at $25.13 per share (+734.9% YoY), while full-year earnings are projected at $62.78 (+486.7% YoY). The stock trades at a valuation discount to peers (Grade B) and has consistently beaten consensus estimates over the last four quarters.

High diesel prices driven by a Strait of Hormuz supply disruption are benefiting energy companies differently. Marathon Petroleum, a pure-play refiner, is the biggest winner as it directly profits from the crack spread between crude costs and refined fuel prices.

Integrated majors Chevron and ExxonMobil see meaningful but smaller gains across their larger businesses. Pipeline operators Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners benefit modestly through increased volume fees, with their appeal primarily tied to steady dividend yields rather than diesel price exposure.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) declined 1.79% on October 15, 2026, underperforming the broader market gains. Despite the daily decline, MPC has surged 17.15% over the past month, outpacing the S&P 500.

The company is rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with a Forward P/E of 7.72, trading at a discount to its industry average. Earnings are expected November 3, 2026, with anticipated EPS of $25.13 (up 734.88% YoY) though revenue is projected down 6.38% from the prior year quarter.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Delek US Holdings (DK) both reported strong Q2 2026 earnings driven by higher crack spreads and improved refining margins. MPC posted $5.1B net income with robust midstream operations and $2.8B in shareholder returns, while DK reported $343.9M adjusted net income with a $220M free-cash-flow improvement plan.

MPC outperformed with 163.8% one-year returns versus DK's 128.4%, though DK shows stronger earnings estimate revisions. MPC trades at 7.97x forward P/E versus DK's 6.83x, with analysts rating both as Strong Buy but favoring MPC's integrated business model.

Amid elevated market volatility and high oil prices driven by Middle East tensions, investors are advised to increase allocation to low-beta stocks. Four energy companies—BP, PBF Energy, Valero Energy, and Marathon Petroleum—are highlighted as strong candidates due to their low volatility relative to the market and positive fundamentals including upcoming production projects, high refinery utilization, diverse crude sourcing, and strong cash flow generation.

Zacks.com highlights four value stocks selected using the PEG ratio metric: Signet Jewelers, Micron Technology, Marathon Petroleum, and International Seaways. All four stocks carry Zacks Rank #1 ratings and demonstrate strong growth prospects, with the PEG ratio helping investors identify true value opportunities while avoiding value traps.

The article discusses a value investing strategy using the PEG ratio (Price/Earnings to Growth) to identify undervalued stocks with strong earnings growth potential. Four stocks meeting specific screening criteria are highlighted: Signet Jewelers showing solid North America sales growth, Micron Technology benefiting from AI-driven demand, Marathon Petroleum with strong expected growth, and International Seaways supported by favorable tanker market fundamentals.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) has earned a Momentum Style Score of A and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) rating. The stock has outperformed its industry significantly, gaining 7.74% over the past week and 151.55% over the past year, compared to the S&P 500's 17.17% annual gain. Earnings estimate revisions have been positive, with 6 upward revisions in the past two months boosting the full-year consensus estimate from $46.66 to $61.46.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) has been identified as a top momentum stock with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) rating and an A-grade VGM Score. The company has seen shares rise 14.9% over the past four weeks, with six analysts revising earnings estimates higher in the last 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate increased to $61.46 per share, and MPC boasts an average earnings surprise of +49.3%.

While crude oil prices have fallen to $90/barrel, gasoline and diesel prices remain elevated due to tight global refining capacity rather than oil scarcity. U.S. refining capacity has declined, and disruptions from attacks on Russian refineries, Persian Gulf issues, and Chinese export suspensions have constrained refined product supplies. Refiners like Marathon Petroleum and Valero Energy are capturing significant value through dramatically higher refining margins, with Marathon's refining margins reaching $36.33/barrel (up from $17.58 year-over-year) and Valero's Q2 refining operating income jumping to $4.5 billion from $1.3 billion.

The article outlines the GARP (Growth at a Reasonable Price) investment strategy, which combines value and growth metrics to identify undervalued stocks with solid growth prospects. Four stocks highlighted as promising GARP opportunities are NVIDIA, Marathon Petroleum, Ralph Lauren, and Lincoln Electric, all showing strong fundamentals, positive earnings revisions, and consistent earnings surprises.

The article explains the Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses earnings estimate revisions to identify winning stocks. The system has beaten the market in 26 of the last 32 years with an average annual return of +23.86%. Marathon Petroleum is highlighted as a recent Strong Buy addition with six analysts revising earnings estimates higher and an expected earnings growth of 474.4% for fiscal 2026.

The article explains the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) tool, which identifies stocks likely to beat earnings estimates by comparing analyst revisions. Two oil and energy stocks highlighted are Marathon Petroleum with a +4.77% ESP and Strong Buy rating, and ConocoPhillips with a +15.93% ESP and Strong Buy rating, both expected to report earnings in early November 2026.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) has gained 8.7% over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500. The company received a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) rating based on significant upward earnings estimate revisions.

Current quarter EPS is expected to grow 694.7% year-over-year, with fiscal year earnings projected at $61.31 per share (+473% YoY). The stock trades at a discount to peers with a B valuation grade, though next fiscal year earnings are expected to decline slightly by 2.7%.

Zacks highlights three stocks positioned to outperform in Q3 earnings: Lam Research, TSMC, and Marathon Petroleum. Technology and Energy sectors are expected to lead with 43.3% and 114.3% earnings growth respectively. The semiconductor industry is particularly strong with 85.5% projected earnings growth driven by sustained AI infrastructure investment, while energy benefits from elevated oil prices following Persian Gulf disruptions.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) closed up 2.64%, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.66% gain. The refiner has gained 8.6% over the past month and holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) rating.

Analysts project Q3 2026 EPS of $23.15 (up 669% YoY) with full-year earnings of $59.15 per share. The stock trades at a Forward P/E of 7.14, below the industry average of 8.67, and the Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry ranks in the top 9% of all industries.

As Q3 earnings season approaches with strong tailwinds, the S&P 500 is expected to see 24.6% year-over-year earnings growth. Technology and Energy sectors are particularly strong, with semiconductor earnings projected to jump 85.5% driven by AI infrastructure investment, while Energy earnings expected to rise 114% due to elevated oil prices from Persian Gulf disruptions. Three stocks highlighted for potential outperformance are Lam Research, TSMC, and Marathon Petroleum.

Marathon Petroleum has demonstrated a strong track record of beating earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 75.64% over the last two quarters. The company currently has a positive Earnings ESP of +9.76% combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) rating, suggesting another earnings beat is likely in its next report expected on November 3, 2026.