Marathon Petroleum Corp vs Shell PLC — how do they compare? Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $336.48 (market cap $89.95B), while Shell PLC trades at $90.49 (market cap $245.77B). The key difference: Shell PLC is far larger — about 2.7× Marathon Petroleum Corp's market cap, and Shell PLC pays the higher dividend (3.47%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MPC | SHEL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $89.95B | $245.77B |
Sector | Energy | Energy |
52-Week High | $336.42 | $94.15 |
52-Week Low | $159.11 | $70.31 |
Enterprise Value | $116.48B | $287.47B |
Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 3.47% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) trades at $298.20, down 0.35% with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamental performance. The stock shows exceptional earnings momentum with three consecutive quarterly beats, including a massive Q2 2026 EPS of $17.73 versus $14.27 expected. Valuation remains attractive with P/E of 10.34 and EV/EBITDA of 6.26, while maintaining robust profitability with 47.9% ROE.
MPC presents a compelling investment case with strong analyst support (76% buy ratings) and $330.70 price target upside. However, declining revenue trends from $177.5B in 2022 to $132.7B in 2025 and rising debt-to-asset ratio to 42.59% pose fundamental concerns. Technical weakness near pivot point resistance at $297 requires monitoring despite positive refining margin outlook.
Shell (SHEL) trades at $88.50, down 1.23% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026, driven by higher oil prices and operational gains. The company maintains strong cash flow, reduced debt, and a discounted valuation with a P/E of 9.79. Analysts show strong buy sentiment, with a consensus price target of $103.60, and recent news highlights strategic asset sales and investments in gas projects.
Outlook is positive with earnings momentum and shareholder returns via dividends and buybacks, but risks include oil price volatility and regulatory pressures. The stock offers value with upside potential, though investors should monitor commodity swings and geopolitical factors affecting energy markets.
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 →