Marathon Petroleum Corp vs Occidental Petroleum Corporation — how do they compare? Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $400.7 (market cap $111.70B), while Occidental Petroleum Corporation trades at $61.23 (market cap $60.63B). The key difference: Marathon Petroleum Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Occidental Petroleum Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.85%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MPC | OXY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $111.70B | $60.63B |
Sector | Energy | Energy |
52-Week High | $399.44 | $66.24 |
52-Week Low | $162.63 | $38.92 |
Enterprise Value | $138.23B | $79.39B |
Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 1.85% |
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.
Occidental Petroleum (OXY) trades at $60.65, up 1.02% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company demonstrates robust profitability with 30.32% net income margin and 21.46% ROE, while trading at reasonable valuations (P/E 17.89, EV/EBITDA 5.59). Recent earnings beats and improving balance sheet with debt reduction to $25.32 billion support positive sentiment.
OXY presents a compelling opportunity with analyst consensus target of $68.67 (13% upside) and 50% buy ratings. Key catalysts include continued debt reduction, projected 2026 net margin expansion to 30.31%, and oil price tailwinds. Risks include oil price volatility, execution on production targets, and macroeconomic headwinds affecting energy demand.
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 →Occidental Petroleum is an independent exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East. At the end of 2021, the company reported net proved reserves of 3.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Net production averaged 1,174 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2021 at a ratio of 75% oil and natural gas liquids and 25% natural gas.
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