What is MPC's Intrinsic value?

Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of December 15, 2025, Marathon Petroleum Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $122.55 to $510.44 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $228.78 +23.2%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $222.34 +19.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $171.70 -7.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $122.55 -34.0%
Earnings Power Value $510.44 +174.8%

Is Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $185.77, the stock appears to be significantly undervalued.

Understanding Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value represents the "true" worth of a company based on its fundamentals rather than market sentiment. We've employed multiple methodologies to triangulate Marathon Petroleum Corp's intrinsic value, including:

  1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): Values the company based on projected future cash flows
  2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM): Values the company based on expected future dividend payments
  3. Earnings Power Value (EPV): Values the company based on its current earnings power, assuming no growth

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

The cost of capital is a critical factor in valuation models, representing the required return for investors.

WACC Component Low High
Long-term bond rate 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 1.08 1.27
Cost of equity 8.9% 12.0%
Cost of debt 4.3% 5.1%
Tax rate 16.7% 18.8%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.49 0.49
After-tax WACC 7.1% 9.4%

Valuation Methods

1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation

Our DCF model projects cash flows over 5-year and 10-year horizons, with the following key assumptions:

  • Forecast Period: 5-year DCF and 10-year DCF
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 0.0% (range: 3.0% - 5.0%)
  • Discount Rate: 8.2% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $140,384 (FY12-2024) to $170,950 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 4% to 3%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 2% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $222 $97,744M 80.0%
10-Year Growth $229 $99,681M 61.6%
5-Year EBITDA $138 $72,515M 73.0%
10-Year EBITDA $160 $79,111M 51.6%

2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM)

The DDM values a company based on its expected future dividend payments. We used two approaches:

Multi-Stage DDM:

  • Current payout ratio: 39.3%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 10.4%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $171.70 (-7.6% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 12.0% (Low) to 8.9% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $67 to $178
  • Selected fair value: $122.55 (-34.0% from current price)

3. Earnings Power Value (EPV)

EPV assesses a company's value based on its current normalized earnings power, assuming no growth.

EPV Component Value
Normalized Earnings $14,915M
Discount Rate (WACC) 9.4% - 7.1%
Enterprise Value $158,919M - $209,779M
Net Debt $30,910M
Equity Value $128,009M - $178,869M
Outstanding Shares 301M
Fair Value $426 - $595
Selected Fair Value $510.44

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $55842M
Enterprise Value $86752M
Trailing P/E 19.37
Forward P/E 11.96
Trailing EV/EBITDA 7.60
Current Dividend Yield 202.71%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -6.50%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.49

Investment Decision Framework

To determine the most reliable intrinsic value estimate, we weigh each valuation method based on:

  1. Forecast Certainty: DCF methods rely on long-term projections, while earnings power value focuses on current normalized earnings
  2. Business Model Alignment: Dividend models are more appropriate for mature companies with established dividend policies
  3. Historical Accuracy: How well each method has predicted fair value historically

Valuation Weight Matrix

Valuation Method Weight Weighted Value
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) 30% $68.63
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $55.58
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $34.34
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $18.38
Earnings Power Value 10% $51.04
Weighted Average 100% $227.98

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Marathon Petroleum Corp's intrinsic value is $227.98, which is approximately 22.7% above the current market price of $185.77.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (4% to 3% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation

Given these factors, we believe Marathon Petroleum Corp is currently significantly undervalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.