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MPC vs. SHEL: Marathon Petroleum vs. Shell Stock Comparison

How do Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though MPC is classified under Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing while SHEL falls under Integrated Oil & Gas.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) trades as ordinary local shares, while Shell (SHEL) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
Profile ItemMPCSHEL
NameMarathon Petroleum Corp.Shell plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary shares)
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Refining & MarketingIntegrated Oil & Gas
Market Capitalization101.49 billion USD280.59 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 24, 2011March 12, 1984
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MPC
SHEL
GSPC
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
Total Return (1Y)104.94%36.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)42.97%19.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)45.42%21.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MPC
SHEL
GSPC
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.53%23.60%
Beta (5Y)0.560.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.75%-25.04%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.56M6.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MPC and SHEL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.681.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)4.101.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 60.46% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Shell (SHEL) at 17.43%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

MPC

Energy industry group

60.46%

MPC
60.46%
Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

SHEL

Energy industry group

17.43%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
SHEL
17.43%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 8.34% and Shell (SHEL) at 10.18% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

MPC

Energy industry group

8.34%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
MPC
8.34%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

SHEL

Energy industry group

10.18%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
SHEL
10.18%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 17.98% and Shell (SHEL) at 18.76% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

MPC

Energy industry group

17.98%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
MPC
17.98%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

SHEL

Energy industry group

18.76%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
SHEL
18.76%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
ROE (TTM)60.46%17.43%
ROA (TTM)13.75%7.67%
Net Margin (TTM)8.34%10.18%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.98%18.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)16.20%26.93%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at -4.44% and Shell (SHEL) at -6.13% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 31.15% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 18.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for MPC.

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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.44%-6.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-9.23%-11.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)31.15%18.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-22.24%-19.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 1.45 and Shell (SHEL) at 1.38 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

MPC

Energy industry group

1.45

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
MPC
1.45
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.38

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
SHEL
1.38
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Shell (SHEL) at 0.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 1.15 uses more debt funding than most peers.

MPC

Energy industry group

1.15

Max
1.75
MPC
1.15
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.38

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
SHEL
0.38
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.451.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.150.38
Net Debt / EBITDA0.880.59

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 1.09% and Shell (SHEL) at 1.54% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

MPC

Energy industry group

1.09%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
MPC
1.09%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.54%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
SHEL
1.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 7.93% and Shell (SHEL) at 26.24% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

MPC

Energy industry group

7.93%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
MPC
7.93%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHEL

Energy industry group

26.24%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
SHEL
26.24%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.09%1.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)7.93%26.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 7.39 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 8.60 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MPC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

MPC

Energy industry group

7.39

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
MPC
7.39
Min
2.99

SHEL

Energy industry group

8.60

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
SHEL
8.60
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 0.58 and Shell (SHEL) at 0.87 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

MPC

Energy industry group

0.58

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
MPC
0.58
Min
0.00

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.87

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
SHEL
0.87
Min
0.00
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Shell (SHEL) at 1.43 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Marathon Petroleum (MPC) at 4.42 prices above its benchmark range — MPC looks rich relative to book.

MPC

Energy industry group

4.42

MPC
4.42
Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.43

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
SHEL
1.43
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Marathon Petroleum (MPC) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricMPCSHEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)7.398.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.580.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.421.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)16.00%10.35%