Is Marathon Petroleum (MPC) Stock Undervalued Right Now?

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The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.

Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.

In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.

One stock to keep an eye on is Marathon Petroleum (MPC). MPC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), as well as a Value grade of A.

We should also highlight that MPC has a P/B ratio of 1.72. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 1.92. MPC's P/B has been as high as 1.74 and as low as 0.91, with a median of 1.21, over the past year.

Finally, investors should note that MPC has a P/CF ratio of 3.86. This figure highlights a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find firms that are undervalued when considering their impressive cash outlook. MPC's current P/CF looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 5.54. Over the past 52 weeks, MPC's P/CF has been as high as 16.69 and as low as 2.96, with a median of 3.44.

Investors could also keep in mind PBF Energy (PBF), an Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing stock with a Zacks Rank of # 1 (Strong Buy) and Value grade of A.

PBF Energy sports a P/B ratio of 1.47 as well; this compares to its industry's price-to-book ratio of 1.92. In the past 52 weeks, PBF's P/B has been as high as 1.52, as low as 0.40, with a median of 0.79.

These are just a handful of the figures considered in Marathon Petroleum and PBF Energy's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that MPC and PBF is an impressive value stock right now.


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