Marathon Petroleum Refining Margins Fall Drags Q1 Profit
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 06 2025
0mins
Should l Buy MPC?
Source: Benzinga
First Quarter Financial Results: Marathon Petroleum Corporation reported first-quarter revenues of $31.85 billion, exceeding expectations, while adjusted EPS loss was $(0.24), better than the consensus estimate of $(0.53). The refining segment saw a decline in adjusted EBITDA to $489 million due to lower market crack spreads.
Shareholder Returns and Outlook: The company returned approximately $1.3 billion to shareholders through buybacks and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share. For the second quarter, it anticipates refining operating costs per barrel of $5.30 and refinery throughputs of 2,945 mbpd.
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Analyst Views on MPC
Wall Street analysts forecast MPC stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 208.640
Low
184.00
Averages
201.50
High
213.00
Current: 208.640
Low
184.00
Averages
201.50
High
213.00
About MPC
Marathon Petroleum Corporation is an integrated, downstream energy company. The Company’s segments include Refining & Marketing, Midstream and Renewable Diesel. The Refining & Marketing segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks at its refineries in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent and West Coast regions of the United States. It sells refined products to wholesale marketing customers domestically and internationally, to buyers on the spot market, and to independent entrepreneurs who operate primarily Marathon branded outlets. The Midstream segment gathers, transports, stores and distributes crude oil, refined products, including renewable diesel, and other hydrocarbon-based products, principally for the Refining & Marketing segment via refining logistics assets, pipelines, terminals, and others. The Renewable Diesel segment processes renewable feedstocks into renewable diesel, markets renewable diesel and distributes renewable products through its Midstream segment and third parties.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
PBF Energy Reports Surprise Profit in Q4 Amid Supply Disruptions
- Surprise Profit: PBF Energy reported an adjusted profit of $0.49 per share in Q4, surpassing estimates of a $0.10 loss, indicating a significant rebound in refining margins due to supply disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war and improved crude price differentials.
- Refining Margin Recovery: The U.S. refining sector experienced a sharp recovery in Q4, with the 3-2-1 crack spread benchmark rebounding from multi-year lows earlier in 2024, driven by tighter global fuel supplies and seasonal demand increases, which bolstered profitability.
- Increased Throughput: PBF's crude oil and feedstocks throughput rose to 888,900 barrels per day in the reported quarter, up from 862,000 barrels per day a year earlier, reflecting the company's ability to capitalize on market recovery opportunities.
- New Refinery Construction Update: PBF expects the construction of its Martinez refinery in California to be completed by February 16, 2026, with the catalytic cracking unit anticipated to start in the first week of March, further enhancing the company's production capacity and competitive position in the market.
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- Contract Implementation: The new contract will gradually replace the current one at each plant, which was extended on a rolling 24-hour basis just hours before its expiration, indicating the urgency and complexity of the negotiations.
- Local Issues Risk: While a nationwide strike is averted, individual refineries and chemical plants may still face work stoppages due to local issues, particularly at BP's refinery in Whiting, Indiana, where the union is preparing for a potential strike or lockout.
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- Capital Flow Changes: Goldman Sachs equity strategist Ben Snider indicates that capital is rotating towards sectors perceived as insulated from AI disruption, marking a clear departure from last year's market strategies and reflecting diminished investor confidence in AI themes.
- Cyclical Industry Rally: Despite software stocks experiencing one of their worst weeks since the 2022 rate-hike panic, cyclical and consumer-linked industries have continued their recent rallies, indicating a growing preference for traditional sectors among investors.
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Market Volatility: Stocks experienced volatility as investors reacted to concerns about AI spending and its impact on the tech sector, leading to a sell-off earlier in the week, but buyers began to find value in oversold stocks.
Earnings Reports: As of January 30, 33% of S&P 500 companies reported earnings, with 75% exceeding earnings per share estimates, indicating a positive trend despite being below the five-year average.
Stock Performance Examples: Companies like AMD and Tyson Foods saw varied stock reactions post-earnings, with AMD's stock dropping despite solid earnings, while Tyson's stock rose after better-than-expected results.
Investment Opportunities: Analysts highlighted several stocks with strong fundamentals that could help investors navigate the volatile market, emphasizing the importance of long-term growth potential amidst short-term fluctuations.
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC.US) Insider Plans to Sell $5.07 Million in Common Stock via Form 144
- Stock Sale Announcement: Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) plans to sell 25,000 shares of its common stock on February 6.
- Market Value: The total market value of the shares being sold is approximately $5.07 million.
See More
Union Endorses National Agreement Reached with Marathon for 30,000 Oil Workers
- Union Approval: A union has approved a national agreement negotiated for 30,000 oil industry workers.
- Negotiation Details: The agreement was reached after discussions with Marathon, a key player in the oil industry.
See More
PBF Energy Reports Surprise Profit in Q4 Amid Supply Disruptions
- Surprise Profit: PBF Energy reported an adjusted profit of $0.49 per share in Q4, surpassing estimates of a $0.10 loss, indicating a significant rebound in refining margins due to supply disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war and improved crude price differentials.
- Refining Margin Recovery: The U.S. refining sector experienced a sharp recovery in Q4, with the 3-2-1 crack spread benchmark rebounding from multi-year lows earlier in 2024, driven by tighter global fuel supplies and seasonal demand increases, which bolstered profitability.
- Increased Throughput: PBF's crude oil and feedstocks throughput rose to 888,900 barrels per day in the reported quarter, up from 862,000 barrels per day a year earlier, reflecting the company's ability to capitalize on market recovery opportunities.
- New Refinery Construction Update: PBF expects the construction of its Martinez refinery in California to be completed by February 16, 2026, with the catalytic cracking unit anticipated to start in the first week of March, further enhancing the company's production capacity and competitive position in the market.
See More
United Steelworkers Union Secures New Labor Agreement, Averting Nationwide Strike
- Agreement Reached: The United Steelworkers Union (USW) negotiated a new labor agreement with Marathon Petroleum (MPC), averting a nationwide strike that could have impacted 30,000 workers across 26 refineries and petrochemical plants, ensuring operational continuity.
- Wage Increases: The four-year deal includes a 4% pay raise in the first and fourth years and a 3.5% increase in the second and third years, reflecting a compromise as union members initially sought a 25% increase, highlighting the challenges in wage negotiations.
- Contract Implementation: The new contract will gradually replace the current one at each plant, which was extended on a rolling 24-hour basis just hours before its expiration, indicating the urgency and complexity of the negotiations.
- Local Issues Risk: While a nationwide strike is averted, individual refineries and chemical plants may still face work stoppages due to local issues, particularly at BP's refinery in Whiting, Indiana, where the union is preparing for a potential strike or lockout.
See More
AI-Exposed Stocks Face Challenges Amid Market Shift
- Market Sentiment Shift: As fears grow that artificial intelligence could disrupt demand rather than enhance it, software and AI-exposed stocks have faced significant sell-offs at the start of 2023, particularly in February, leading investors to reassess their risk exposure.
- Capital Flow Changes: Goldman Sachs equity strategist Ben Snider indicates that capital is rotating towards sectors perceived as insulated from AI disruption, marking a clear departure from last year's market strategies and reflecting diminished investor confidence in AI themes.
- Cyclical Industry Rally: Despite software stocks experiencing one of their worst weeks since the 2022 rate-hike panic, cyclical and consumer-linked industries have continued their recent rallies, indicating a growing preference for traditional sectors among investors.
- Strong Dow Jones Performance: Amid the decline in software stocks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has rallied towards all-time highs, suggesting increased investor confidence in industries tied to physical assets and cyclical activity, further emphasizing the market's demand for safety from AI-driven productivity risks.
See More
MarketBeat Weekly Recap – February 2 to February 6
Market Volatility: Stocks experienced volatility as investors reacted to concerns about AI spending and its impact on the tech sector, leading to a sell-off earlier in the week, but buyers began to find value in oversold stocks.
Earnings Reports: As of January 30, 33% of S&P 500 companies reported earnings, with 75% exceeding earnings per share estimates, indicating a positive trend despite being below the five-year average.
Stock Performance Examples: Companies like AMD and Tyson Foods saw varied stock reactions post-earnings, with AMD's stock dropping despite solid earnings, while Tyson's stock rose after better-than-expected results.
Investment Opportunities: Analysts highlighted several stocks with strong fundamentals that could help investors navigate the volatile market, emphasizing the importance of long-term growth potential amidst short-term fluctuations.
See More
Marathon Petroleum (MPC.US) Insider Plans to Sell $5.07 Million in Common Stock via Form 144
- Stock Sale Announcement: Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) plans to sell 25,000 shares of its common stock on February 6.
- Market Value: The total market value of the shares being sold is approximately $5.07 million.
See More
Union Endorses National Agreement Reached with Marathon for 30,000 Oil Workers
- Union Approval: A union has approved a national agreement negotiated for 30,000 oil industry workers.
- Negotiation Details: The agreement was reached after discussions with Marathon, a key player in the oil industry.
See More
