We recently published Top 9 AI and Non-Tech Stocks to Watch Amid Latest Earnings Season. Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC) is one of the top AI and non-tech stocks. Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, talked about this best stocks list during a recent program on CNBC and mentioned Marathon Petroleum Corp (NYSE:MPC). Brown recommended investors stay with the stock despite its gains. The stock is up 30% over the past one year. Brown believes it can touch $200. “ I think is worth getting ...

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Sc ...

Core Viewpoint - US oil stocks are regaining momentum due to resilient refining margins and shareholder-friendly capital allocation, with specific companies identified as having potential for upside in the coming months [1] Group 1: Industry Insights - The oil industry is experiencing a recovery phase, driven by strong refining margins which support profitability [1] - Capital allocation strategies that favor shareholders are becoming more prevalent, indicating a shift towards enhancing shareholder value [1] Group 2: Company Opportunities - Two specific companies within the oil sector are highlighted as particularly well-positioned for growth in the near future, suggesting targeted investment opportunities [1]

Stock Recommendations & Analysis - Josh Brown highlights energy sector opportunities, despite its reduced prominence, citing positive reports from Baker Hughes and Valero [1][2] - Philip 66 is identified as a potential breakout stock, with revenue expectations around 30 billion USD and earnings per share at 229 USD, focusing on returning capital to shareholders [3][4] - Marathon is recommended to "stay the course," with a potential target price of 200 USD, based on the strong performance of publicly traded refineries [4][5] Company Financial Health & Strategy - Phillips 66 needs to prioritize debt reduction to the mid-teens billion USD range from above 20 billion USD, potentially impacting dividend payouts [6] - Refiners benefit from a 60 USD per barrel oil environment, emphasizing the importance of driving volume production in the United States [7] Investment Strategy & Portfolio Management - The firm exited Marathon due to overexposure to refiners [6] - The firm focuses on natural gas and dependent power producers within the energy ecosystem [8]

Core Viewpoint - The energy sector, while less discussed, still presents investment opportunities, particularly in companies like Baker Hughes, Valero, and Phillips 66, which are expected to report earnings soon [2][3]. Company Insights - Baker Hughes and Valero have shown strong performance and are considered among the best stocks in the energy market [2]. - Phillips 66 is anticipated to report earnings soon, with expectations of improved performance after being a laggard in the sector [3][4]. - Marathon Petroleum is also highlighted as a strong stock, with a recommendation to maintain positions despite recent fluctuations [5]. Financial Performance - Phillips 66 is projected to generate approximately $30 billion in revenue, with a share price target of $229 [4]. - The focus for these companies is on returning capital to shareholders, which will be closely monitored in upcoming earnings reports [4]. Debt Management - There is concern regarding Phillips 66's high debt levels, which need to be reduced to the mid-teens from above $20 billion, potentially impacting shareholder dividends [6]. Market Conditions - The current environment of $60 oil is favorable for refiners, emphasizing the importance of production volume in the U.S. rather than just oil prices [7]. - The energy ecosystem is also shifting focus towards natural gas and its role in power production [8].

Core Insights - Crude oil prices have surged by 5% following a significant move by former President Trump, indicating potential volatility in the energy sector [1] - Marathon Petroleum's Relative Strength Rating (RS Rating) has improved from 76 to 82, surpassing the critical threshold of 80, which suggests strong technical performance [1][2] - The upgrade in Marathon Petroleum's RS Rating reflects a positive trend in its stock performance, aligning with broader market movements [4] Company Performance - Marathon Petroleum has achieved an RS Rating above 80, indicating a strong relative price strength compared to other stocks [4] - The increase in RS Rating is a positive signal for investors, suggesting that Marathon Petroleum is gaining momentum in the market [4] Industry Trends - The energy sector, particularly crude oil, is experiencing fluctuations influenced by political events, which can impact stock performance [1] - Other companies in the sector, such as HF Sinclair, are also seeing improvements in their RS Ratings, indicating a broader trend of rising relative strength among energy stocks [4]

Core Viewpoint - Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is positioned for strong earnings growth, with analysts projecting significant increases in earnings per share (EPS) for the upcoming fiscal quarters [2][3]. Company Overview - Marathon Petroleum Corporation has a market capitalization of $56.1 billion and operates as an integrated downstream energy company, focusing on the transportation and marketing of petroleum products [1]. - The company is based in Findlay, Ohio, and also provides transportation, storage, and logistics services for crude oil and refined products [1]. Earnings Projections - Analysts expect MPC to report a profit of $2.86 per share for fiscal Q3 2025, which represents a 52.9% increase from $1.87 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the current fiscal year, EPS is projected to be $9.76, a slight increase from $9.71 in fiscal 2024 [3]. - EPS is anticipated to grow by 30.8% annually, reaching $12.77 in fiscal 2026 [3]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, MPC shares have increased by 17.7%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's return of 14.8% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund's decline of 3.8% [4]. - On September 30, shares of Marathon Petroleum fell by over 1% due to a drop in WTI crude oil prices [5]. Analyst Ratings - Wall Street analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating for MPC, with 20 analysts covering the stock: eight recommend "Strong Buy," three suggest "Moderate Buy," and nine indicate "Hold" [6]. - The mean price target for MPC is set at $197.65, suggesting a potential upside of 6.1% from current price levels [6].

Core Insights - Global equity markets experienced broad positive returns in Q3 2025, driven by resilient corporate earnings, enthusiasm for AI, and the U.S. Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut of the year [3][21] - Emerging markets, particularly China, led the gains, supported by a U.S. trade truce and strength in the tech sector [3][4] - The Polaris Global Equity Composite gained 5.04% (net of fees) for the quarter, underperforming the MSCI World Index, which returned 7.36% [5][6] Market Performance - Developed markets saw weaker currencies benefiting export-oriented indices, with Japan's TOPIX Index up 11.0% and the U.K.'s FTSE All-Share Index up 6.9% [4] - The U.S. market, represented by the S&P 500 Index, gained over 8%, primarily due to tech and communication stocks [4] - France and Germany underperformed due to geopolitical and fiscal concerns, with tepid growth projections under new U.S. trade policy [4] Sector Analysis - The healthcare sector was the best performer, with notable gains from pharmaceutical stocks, while financials, consumer discretionary, and IT also contributed positively [5][6] - Health insurers faced challenges, with UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health posting over 10% returns, while Elevance Health's shares dropped sharply due to profit guidance cuts [7] - In IT, Samsung Electronics excelled with strong performance in HBM technology and a significant deal with Tesla for AI chip manufacturing [11] Company Highlights - United Therapeutics Corp. was a top contributor to portfolio performance, driven by positive clinical trial results for its drug Tyvaso, potentially adding $4-5 billion in peak sales [6] - AbbVie, Inc. expects high single-digit revenue growth through 2029, with flagship drugs projected to exceed $31 billion in sales by 2027 [6] - The Carlyle Group Inc. outperformed in the financial sector, up over 20% due to strong fee-based credit and secondaries business [8] Investment Strategy - The current economic environment is characterized by a "two-speed" economy, with a concentrated AI-driven boom amidst subdued growth in other sectors [21][22] - Financials are seen as attractive due to stable net interest margins and loan growth, while defensives like consumer staples and healthcare are expected to perform well [22] - Opportunities in economically-sensitive sectors are being explored, with a focus on industrials benefiting from AI integration and supply chain modernization [22][23]

Group 1: Market Overview - The oil market is currently oversupplied, leading to a challenging environment for the sector [2] - There is a risk of downside asymmetrically in the near term, prompting a focus on identifying stocks that can grow dividends [3] Group 2: Company Recommendations - Wells Fargo has an overweight rating on major integrated oil companies such as Chevron, Exxon, and Marathon Petroleum, despite declining oil prices [1][4] - The refining sector is also highlighted, with companies like Dell, Philip 66, and Valero performing well [6] Group 3: Refining and Gasoline Prices - The refining environment is better than that for crude oil, but refining margins need to increase significantly to impact retail gasoline prices [7] - Retail gasoline prices are primarily driven by inflation and increased retail margins at convenience stores, rather than just refining margins [8]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividends for income investors, highlighting that dividends significantly contribute to long-term returns, often exceeding one-third of total returns [2] Company Overview - Marathon Petroleum (MPC), based in Findlay, operates in the Oils-Energy sector and has experienced a share price increase of 29.86% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.91 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.01%, which is lower than the industry average of 3.16% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52% [3] Dividend Growth - Marathon Petroleum's annualized dividend of $3.64 has increased by 7.5% from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has raised its dividend three times, achieving an average annual increase of 12.49% [4] - The current payout ratio stands at 57%, indicating that the company distributes 57% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year, MPC anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $9.73 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 2.31% [5] Investment Considerations - The article notes that while high-growth firms typically do not offer dividends, established companies like Marathon Petroleum are viewed as attractive dividend options [6] - MPC is characterized as a compelling investment opportunity, not only for its dividend but also due to its strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]