Lowe`s Companies Inc vs Marathon Petroleum Corp — how do they compare? Lowe`s Companies Inc trades at $220.63 (market cap $122.73B), while Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $335.6 (market cap $89.95B). The key difference: Lowe`s Companies Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Lowe`s Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (2.28%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LOW | MPC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $122.73B | $89.95B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $287.39 | $336.42 |
52-Week Low | $201.92 | $159.11 |
Enterprise Value | $164.48B | $116.48B |
Dividend Yield | 2.28% | 1.25% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lowe's (LOW) trades at $223.35, up 2.24% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $257.69. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 results pending. Fundamentals show solid profitability with a net income margin of 7.51% and a P/E ratio of 18.88, though revenue has declined from $96.2B in 2022 to $83.7B in 2025. Recent news highlights mixed sentiment, with some institutional selling but optimism around the Pro business segment.
The outlook for LOW is cautiously optimistic, supported by strong analyst buy ratings (60.79%) and a dividend payout. Key risks include competitive pressures, macroeconomic sensitivity, and high debt levels. The upcoming Q2 earnings report on August 19, 2026, will be critical for validating growth expectations and could drive near-term price movement.
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) trades at $298.20, down 0.35% with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamental performance. The stock shows exceptional earnings momentum with three consecutive quarterly beats, including a massive Q2 2026 EPS of $17.73 versus $14.27 expected. Valuation remains attractive with P/E of 10.34 and EV/EBITDA of 6.26, while maintaining robust profitability with 47.9% ROE.
MPC presents a compelling investment case with strong analyst support (76% buy ratings) and $330.70 price target upside. However, declining revenue trends from $177.5B in 2022 to $132.7B in 2025 and rising debt-to-asset ratio to 42.59% pose fundamental concerns. Technical weakness near pivot point resistance at $297 requires monitoring despite positive refining margin outlook.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world, operating 1,969 stores and servicing around 230 dealer-owned stores throughout the United States and Canada. The firm's stores offer products and services for home decorating, maintenance, repair, and remodeling, with maintenance and repair accounting for two thirds of products sold. Lowe's targets retail do-it-yourself (around 75% of sales) and do-it-for-me customers as well as commercial and professional business clients (around 25% of sales). We estimate Lowe's captures a low-double-digit share of the domestic home improvement market, based on U.S. Census data and management's estimates for market size.
Read more on LOW →Marathon Petroleum is an independent refiner with 13 refineries in the midcontinent, West Coast, and Gulf Coast of the United States with total throughput capacity of 2.9 million barrels per day. Its Dickinson, ND, facility produces 184 million gallons a year of renewable diesel. Its Martinez, CA, facility will have the ability to produce 730 million gallons a year of renewable diesel once converted. The firm also owns and operates midstream assets primarily through its listed MLP, MPLX.
Read more on MPC →