Marathon Petroleum Corp vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $400 (market cap $111.70B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $225.95 (market cap $73.25B). The key difference: Marathon Petroleum Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Marathon Petroleum Corp pays the higher dividend (1.01%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MPC | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $111.70B | $73.25B |
Sector | Energy | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $399.44 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $162.63 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $138.23B | $73.70B |
Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.78% |
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.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $229.31, down 0.6% on the day, showing bearish technical signals despite strong fundamental performance. The company reported three consecutive quarterly earnings beats, with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.66 beating expectations by 36%. Revenue growth accelerated to 13% in Q2 2026, with comparable store sales surging 10% driven by increased traffic and margin expansion. The stock faces technical resistance near $234 while maintaining strong analyst support with a $271.33 consensus price target.
ROST presents a compelling growth story with robust fundamentals but faces near-term technical headwinds. The company's value-focused retail strategy resonates with cost-conscious consumers, driving consistent earnings outperformance. Key risks include competitive pressures in off-price retail and macroeconomic sensitivity. With 64% of analysts maintaining buy ratings and a 19% upside to consensus targets, the stock offers growth potential for investors comfortable with current technical weakness.
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →