Marathon Petroleum Corp's Dividend Analysis

In This Article:

Assessing the Sustainability and Growth of MPC's Dividends

Marathon Petroleum Corp (NYSE:MPC) recently announced a dividend of $0.83 per share, payable on 2024-03-11, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-02-20. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Marathon Petroleum Corp's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Marathon Petroleum Corp Do?

Marathon Petroleum is an independent refiner with 13 refineries in the midcontinent, West Coast, and Gulf Coast of the United States with total throughput capacity of 2.9 million barrels per day. Its Dickinson, North Dakota, facility produces 184 million gallons a year of renewable diesel. Its Martinez, California, facility will have the ability to produce 730 million gallons a year of renewable diesel once converted. The firm also owns and operates midstream assets primarily through its listed master limited partnership, MPLX.

Marathon Petroleum Corp's Dividend Analysis
Marathon Petroleum Corp's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Marathon Petroleum Corp's Dividend History

Marathon Petroleum Corp has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2011, distributing dividends on a quarterly basis. As a dividend achiever, the company has increased its dividend each year for at least the past 13 years, reflecting a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share to track historical trends.

Breaking Down Marathon Petroleum Corp's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Marathon Petroleum Corp currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.81% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.94%, suggesting an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, the company's annual dividend growth rate was 5.50%, which increased to 9.70% per year over a five-year horizon. Impressively, the annual dividends per share growth rate over the past decade stands at 15.50%. Consequently, the 5-year yield on cost for Marathon Petroleum Corp stock as of today is approximately 2.88%.

Marathon Petroleum Corp's Dividend Analysis
Marathon Petroleum Corp's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. Marathon Petroleum Corp's dividend payout ratio is 0.13 as of 2023-12-31, indicating that a significant part of its earnings is retained for future growth and unexpected downturns. The company's profitability rank, at 7 out of 10, suggests good profitability prospects, with net profit reported in 9 out of the past 10 years.