Marathon Petroleum Corp vs Shell PLC — how do they compare? Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $399.98 (market cap $111.70B), while Shell PLC trades at $95.46 (market cap $271.34B). The key difference: Shell PLC is far larger — about 2.4× Marathon Petroleum Corp's market cap, and Shell PLC pays the higher dividend (3.28%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MPC | SHEL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $111.70B | $271.34B |
Sector | Energy | Energy |
52-Week High | $399.44 | $95.60 |
52-Week Low | $162.63 | $70.31 |
Enterprise Value | $138.23B | $313.04B |
Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 3.28% |
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.
Shell (SHEL) trades at $95.32, up 2.55% with strong bullish momentum as crude oil prices rally. The stock shows robust fundamentals with a P/E of 10.54 and net income margin of 8.76%, while recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations. Technical indicators signal bullish sentiment with the price near resistance at $96. Recent acquisitions including ARC Resources and strategic partnerships with BP expand Shell's deepwater footprint, driving growth prospects.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus price target of $101 (6% upside), supported by 61.5% buy ratings. Key risks include oil price volatility and geopolitical tensions, but strong cash flow generation and strategic expansions position SHEL for sustained growth. The current valuation appears attractive relative to earnings potential.
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 →Shell is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. In 2021, it produced 1.7 million barrels of liquids and 8.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. At year-end 2021, reserves stood at 9.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, 50% of which consisted of liquids. Its production and reserves are in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and North and South America. The company operates refineries with capacity of 1.8 mmb/d located in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe and sells 15 mtpa of chemicals. Its largest chemical plants, often integrated with its local refineries, are in Central Europe, China, Singapore, and North America.
Read more on SHEL →