Marathon Petroleum Corp vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $459.1 (market cap $124.20B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $141.98 (market cap $351.28B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 2.8× Marathon Petroleum Corp's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.39%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Marathon Petroleum Corp for 54 Days and Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days on average.
| MPC | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $124.20B | $351.28B |
Volume | 1,923,373 | 7,969,665 |
Sector | Energy | Health |
52-Week High | $463.34 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $162.63 | $82.49 |
Typical Hold Time | 54 Days | 98 Days |
Enterprise Value | $150.72B | $398.04B |
Dividend Yield | 0.9% | 2.39% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) trades at $442.26, up 2.29% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The stock shows robust fundamentals with a P/E of 15.33, ROE of 47.9%, and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights refining margin strength amid tight global capacity, though potential diesel export restrictions pose headwinds. Technical indicators show the stock trading near pivot point resistance at $442 with RSI suggesting potential overbought conditions.
MPC presents a compelling value opportunity with attractive valuation metrics and strong profitability, though investors face risks from potential regulatory changes and volatile energy markets. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 76% buy ratings and a $420.30 price target, suggesting modest downside from current levels. The company's solid cash flow generation and dividend payments provide shareholder returns support.
Merck (MRK) trades at $142.79, up 0.61% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. The company reported revenue of $65.01B in 2025 with a net income margin of 28.07%, and recent quarterly EPS have consistently beaten expectations. Merck is actively expanding its pipeline through acquisitions, such as the pending $6.7B purchase of Terns Pharmaceuticals announced in April 2026.
The outlook is supported by solid profitability and analyst optimism, with a consensus price target of $158.78 implying upside. Key risks include integration challenges from acquisitions and competitive pressures in the oncology sector. Cash flow trends show variability, with a projected net cash outflow of $1.2B in 2026 due to significant investing activities.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →