What is MRO's Intrinsic value?

Marathon Oil Corp (MRO) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of October 1, 2025, Marathon Oil Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $23.19 to $115.50 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $46.52 +63.0%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $40.49 +41.8%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $29.73 +4.1%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $23.19 -18.8%
Earnings Power Value $115.50 +304.5%

Is Marathon Oil Corp (MRO) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $28.55, 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 Oil 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 0.9 1
Cost of equity 8.0% 10.5%
Cost of debt 4.8% 4.8%
Tax rate 5.2% 10.9%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.34 0.34
After-tax WACC 7.1% 8.9%

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: 8.0% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $6,680 (FY12-2023) to $8,581 (FY12-2033)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 23% to 27%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 32% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $40 $27,270M 73.8%
10-Year Growth $47 $30,645M 53.3%
5-Year EBITDA $31 $21,793M 67.2%
10-Year EBITDA $39 $26,181M 45.4%

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: 19.0%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 9.2%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $29.73 (4.1% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 10.5% (Low) to 8.0% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $16 to $30
  • Selected fair value: $23.19 (-18.8% 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 $5,479M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.9% - 7.1%
Enterprise Value $61,686M - $76,773M
Net Debt $4,619M
Equity Value $57,067M - $72,154M
Outstanding Shares 559M
Fair Value $102 - $129
Selected Fair Value $115.50

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $15971M
Enterprise Value $20590M
Trailing P/E 12.01
Forward P/E 8.96
Trailing EV/EBITDA 4.55
Current Dividend Yield 158.41%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 11.57%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.34

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% $13.96
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $10.12
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $5.95
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $3.48
Earnings Power Value 10% $11.55
Weighted Average 100% $45.05

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Marathon Oil Corp's intrinsic value is $45.05, which is approximately 57.8% above the current market price of $28.55.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (23% to 27% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 11.57%

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