Marathon Petroleum Corp vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $400 (market cap $111.70B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $516.8 (market cap $73.16B). The key difference: Marathon Petroleum Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.92%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MPC | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $111.70B | $73.16B |
Sector | Energy | Industrials |
52-Week High | $399.44 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $162.63 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $138.23B | $87.14B |
Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 1.92% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) trades at $397.77, up 2.28% today and near its 52-week high, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and strong momentum. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $17.73 surpassing the $14.27 forecast. Valuation ratios appear attractive with a P/E of 13.79 and P/S of 0.77, while profitability metrics like a 47.9% ROE highlight efficient capital use. Recent news emphasizes refinery investments and benefits from geopolitical energy risks.
The outlook for MPC is positive, driven by robust earnings performance, favorable refining margins, and strong analyst support with 26 buy ratings. Key opportunities include high-return projects and cash flow growth, with 2026 net income projected at $8.6B. Risks involve exposure to oil price volatility, cyclical demand, and rising debt-to-asset ratios, which increased to 42.59% in 2025. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against sector-specific headwinds.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $518.58, up 0.7% with strong earnings beats in recent quarters. Technical indicators show a bearish trend with oversold RSI signals, while fundamentals remain solid with 10.48% net margin and 26.96% ROE. The company maintains a record $105 billion backlog and raised guidance after strong Q2 results, supported by rising defense spending globally.
NOC presents a compelling value with a 16.37 P/E below industry averages and a $618.43 consensus price target implying 19% upside. Risks include execution on massive contracts and defense budget volatility, but analyst sentiment is strongly bullish with 57% buy ratings. The stock offers defensive growth exposure amid geopolitical tensions.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →