Marathon Petroleum Corp vs Boston Beer Company Inc — how do they compare? Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $400.63 (market cap $111.70B), while Boston Beer Company Inc trades at $163.71 (market cap $1.67B). The key difference: Marathon Petroleum Corp is far larger — about 66.9× Boston Beer Company Inc's market cap, and Marathon Petroleum Corp pays a 1.01% dividend while Boston Beer Company Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MPC | SAM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $111.70B | $1.67B |
Sector | Energy | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $399.44 | $260.05 |
52-Week Low | $162.63 | $161.08 |
Enterprise Value | $138.23B | $1.43B |
Dividend Yield | 1.01% | — |
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.
The Boston Beer Company (SAM) trades at $162.06, down 3.98% today, showing mixed signals with bearish technical indicators but positive cash flow trends. Recent earnings have missed expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026, though Q4 2025 beat estimates. The company maintains a debt-free balance sheet with strong operating cash flow of $270M in 2025, but faces volume declines and margin pressure.
SAM presents a cautious outlook with analyst consensus leaning Hold (71.87%) despite a $207.33 price target suggesting 28% upside. Key risks include declining alcohol consumption and execution challenges, while opportunities lie in new product launches and marketing leadership changes. The stock's valuation appears reasonable with P/E of 22.66 and P/S of 0.89.
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 →Boston Beer is a leader in U.S. high-end malt beverages and adjacent categories, with strong positions in craft beer, hard cider, and hard seltzer. The firm sells an array of flavor variants and package sizes, predominantly centered around four priority brands: Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, and Truly Hard Seltzer. Its drinks are produced in both company-owned breweries as well as through third-party contract arrangements, and while the company primarily goes to market through independent wholesalers (as mandated by law), it operates a fairly large salesforce to induce demand across the value chain (distributors, retailers, and drinkers). The preponderance of revenue is generated domestically.
Read more on SAM →