SWS Partners Buys 2,806 Shares of Marathon Petroleum Co. (NYSE:MPC)

SWS Partners grew its stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum Co. (NYSE:MPC - Free Report) by 19.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 17,577 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after buying an additional 2,806 shares during the period. SWS Partners' holdings in Marathon Petroleum were worth $2,452,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gladius Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum during the third quarter worth $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Marathon Petroleum in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Marathon Petroleum by 88.9% in the 3rd quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 170 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum by 672.7% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 170 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Asset Planning Inc purchased a new position in shares of Marathon Petroleum during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. 76.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marathon Petroleum Stock Performance

Shares of MPC stock traded down $7.44 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $135.18. The stock had a trading volume of 4,056,956 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,840,105. The firm has a market cap of $43.44 billion, a PE ratio of 13.61, a P/E/G ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. Marathon Petroleum Co. has a one year low of $130.54 and a one year high of $221.11. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $148.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $154.95.

Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The oil and gas company reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.06 by $0.71. Marathon Petroleum had a net margin of 2.45% and a return on equity of 12.07%. The firm had revenue of $33.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $31.94 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.98 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Marathon Petroleum Co. will post 8.47 EPS for the current year.

Marathon Petroleum Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.69%. Marathon Petroleum's payout ratio is 36.66%.

Marathon Petroleum announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, November 5th that authorizes the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the oil and gas company to reacquire up to 10% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on MPC. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Marathon Petroleum from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating and set a $170.00 price target on shares of Marathon Petroleum in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $168.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $182.00 to $183.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $175.00 to $174.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $181.27.

Marathon Petroleum Company Profile

Marathon Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated downstream energy company primarily in the United States. The company operates through Refining & Marketing, and Midstream segments. The Refining & Marketing segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks at its refineries in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, and West Coast regions of the United States; and purchases refined products and ethanol for resale and distributes refined products, including renewable diesel, through transportation, storage, distribution, and marketing services.