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Marathon Petroleum Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 3 lowered, 2 new, 12 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported EPS includes asset-sale gain: Net income attributable to MPC was $1.4 billion, or $4.51 per diluted share. Excluding a $738 million pre-tax gain on sale of assets and other items, adjusted net income was $915 million, or $3.01 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $3.2 billion: Adjusted EBITDA was $3.2 billion, versus $2.5 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $8.5 billion, against $9.2 billion a year earlier. Source
  • R&M segment EBITDA rose to $1.8 billion: R&M segment adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 billion, versus $1.1 billion, or $6.37 per barrel compared with $4.15 a year earlier. The company cited higher crack spreads for the margin change. Source
  • Refining margin rose to $17.60 per barrel: R&M margin was $17.60 per barrel, versus $14.63 a year earlier. Crude capacity utilization was 95%, with 3.0 million barrels per day of total throughput. Source
  • Midstream EBITDA rose 5%: Midstream segment adjusted EBITDA was $1.7 billion, versus $1.6 billion, a 5% increase, driven by higher rates and throughputs plus recent acquisitions. Source
  • Eiger Express pipeline reached FID: MPLX and its partners took the Eiger Express natural gas pipeline to final investment decision, connecting the Permian to Katy, Texas, and to Agua Dulce via the Traverse pipeline. Source
  • $926 million returned to shareholders: Capital returned in the quarter was $926 million, including $650 million of share repurchases. Remaining share repurchase authorization was $5.4 billion, against $6.0 billion at June 30. Source
  • Throughput guidance lowered: Fourth-quarter total throughput guided at 2,905 mbpd, down from 2,940 mbpd; crude oil refined guided at 2,675 mbpd, down from 2,730 mbpd. Source

“In the third quarter, Refining & Marketing delivered strong cash generation,”

Maryann Mannen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
R&M refining operating costs Sourcefourth quarter 2025$5.80 per barrelRaised from $5.70 per barrel
R&M distribution costs Sourcefourth quarter 2025$1,575 millionRaised from $1,525 million
R&M planned turnaround costs Sourcefourth quarter 2025$420 millionRaised from $400 million
R&M depreciation and amortization Sourcefourth quarter 2025$400 millionLowered from $415 million
R&M crude oil refined throughput Sourcefourth quarter 20252,675 mbpdLowered from 2,730 mbpd
Other charge and blendstocks throughput Sourcefourth quarter 2025230 mbpdRaised from 210 mbpd
Total refinery throughput Sourcefourth quarter 20252,905 mbpdLowered from 2,940 mbpd
Corporate expense Sourcefourth quarter 2025$240 million, including $20 million of D&AKept
Los Angeles refinery capital spending Source2025$100 million in 2025Kept
Robinson refinery capital spending Source2025 and 2026$150 million in 2025; $50 million in 2026Kept
Galveston Bay distillate hydrotreater capital spending Source2025 through 2027$200 million in 2025; $575 million in 2026 and 2027Kept
Eiger Express pipeline in service Sourcemid-2028mid-2028New
Secretariat processing plant in service Sourceend of 2025200 MMcf/d plant; Permian processing capacity 1.4 Bcf/dKept
Titan Complex second sour gas treating plant Sourcesecond half 2026over 400 MMcf/d Permian sour gas treating capacityKept
Harmon Creek III processing and fractionation Sourcesecond half 20268.1 Bcf/d Northeast processing; 800 mbpd fractionationKept
BANGL pipeline expansion Sourcesecond half 2026250 mbpd to 300 mbpdKept
Blackcomb and Rio Bravo pipelines Sourcesecond half 2026up to 2.5 Bcf/d and 4.5 Bcf/dKept
Traverse pipeline Source20272.5 Bcf/dKept
Gulf Coast fractionators Source2028 and 2029two 150 mbpd facilitiesKept
LPG export terminal Source2028400 mbpdKept
MPLX distributions to MPC Sourceannualized$2.8 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fourth-quarter crude oil refined throughput guided at 2,675 mbpd, from 2,730 mbpd; total throughput guided at 2,905 mbpd, from 2,940 mbpd. Source
  • Guidance raised: Refining operating cost guidance raised to $5.80 per barrel from $5.70; distribution cost guidance raised to $1,575 million from $1,525 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Refining and Marketing depreciation and amortization guidance lowered to $400 million from $415 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Corporate expense guidance held at $240 million, including $20 million of D&A. Source
  • New: Eiger Express natural gas pipeline reached final investment decision during the quarter, with capacity up to 2.5 Bcf/d from the Permian to Katy, Texas. Source
  • New: Quarterly dividend increased 10%; MPLX quarterly distribution increased 12.5%. Source
  • Ended: Sale of interest in an ethanol production joint venture to its partner completed, with $427 million gross proceeds. Source
  • New: Rockies divestiture described as recently announced; the release gives no amount or timing for it. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Reported EPS includes asset-sale gain: Net income attributable to MPC was $1.4 billion, or $4.51 per diluted share. Excluding a $738 million pre-tax gain on sale of assets and other items, adjusted net income was $915 million, or $3.01 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $3.2 billion: Adjusted EBITDA was $3.2 billion, versus $2.5 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $8.5 billion, against $9.2 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month earnings lower than a year ago: Nine-month net income attributable to MPC was $2.5 billion, or $8.15 per diluted share, against $3.1 billion, or $8.83, a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS for nine months was $6.67, against $8.62. Source

Refining & Marketing segment

  • R&M segment EBITDA rose to $1.8 billion: R&M segment adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 billion, versus $1.1 billion, or $6.37 per barrel compared with $4.15 a year earlier. The company cited higher crack spreads for the margin change. Source
  • Refining margin rose to $17.60 per barrel: R&M margin was $17.60 per barrel, versus $14.63 a year earlier. Crude capacity utilization was 95%, with 3.0 million barrels per day of total throughput. Source
  • Margin rose in all three regions: Gulf Coast R&M margin was $1.7 billion, versus $1.6 billion; Mid-Continent $2.2 billion, versus $1.7 billion; West Coast $947 million, versus $743 million. Source
  • Regional per-barrel margins were higher: Per-barrel R&M margin was $14.77 in the Gulf Coast, against $13.66; $19.88 in Mid-Continent, against $15.72; and $19.17 on the West Coast, against $14.47. Source
  • Refined product sales volumes rose: Refined product sales volume was 3,783 mbpd, against 3,644 mbpd a year earlier, including intersegment sales. Source

“In Midstream, we took actions to grow and optimize the portfolio, strengthening the durability of mid-single digit segment adjusted EBITDA growth.”

Maryann Mannen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Midstream growth and projects

  • Midstream EBITDA rose 5%: Midstream segment adjusted EBITDA was $1.7 billion, versus $1.6 billion, a 5% increase, driven by higher rates and throughputs plus recent acquisitions. Source
  • Gas processing and fractionation rose: Natural gas processed averaged 10,075 MMcf/d, against 9,775 a year earlier; NGLs fractionated were 677 mbpd, against 635 mbpd. Pipeline throughput was 6,024 mbpd, against 6,036 mbpd. Source
  • Eiger Express pipeline reached FID: MPLX and its partners took the Eiger Express natural gas pipeline to final investment decision, connecting the Permian to Katy, Texas, and to Agua Dulce via the Traverse pipeline. Source
  • Permian gas treating capacity expanding: Secretariat adds a 200 MMcf/d processing plant, and the Titan Complex second sour gas treating plant will lift Permian sour gas treating above 400 MMcf/d in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Pipeline and fractionation buildout continues: Harmon Creek III, the BANGL expansion, and Blackcomb and Rio Bravo are expected in the second half of 2026; Traverse in 2027; Gulf Coast fractionators in 2028 and 2029. MPC will buy fractionator offtake. Source
  • LPG export terminal with ONEOK: A 400 mbpd LPG export terminal and associated pipeline are being built in an advantaged location for global market access, through a strategic partnership with ONEOK. Source

Renewable Diesel and corporate

  • Renewable Diesel loss narrowed: Renewable Diesel segment adjusted EBITDA was a $56 million loss, against a $61 million loss a year earlier, with utilization at 86%. Source
  • Renewable Diesel margin fell to $8 million: Renewable Diesel margin was $8 million, against $17 million a year earlier; nine-month margin was $83 million, against $49 million. Source
  • Corporate expense includes stock-comp charge: Corporate expenses were $238 million, against $224 million, largely from quarterly fair value remeasurement of performance-based stock compensation. The $56 million charge reduced diluted EPS by $0.14. Source

“Our integrated value chains and geographically diversified assets position us to lead in capital allocation.”

Maryann Mannen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Refining costs and turnaround

  • Refining operating cost per barrel rose: Refining operating costs were $5.59 per barrel, against $5.23 a year earlier. Refining operating costs exclude planned turnaround and depreciation. Source
  • Distribution costs rose per barrel: Distribution costs were $5.69 per barrel, against $5.38; fees paid to MPLX within distribution costs were $3.67 per barrel, against $3.66. Source
  • Turnaround costs rose year on year: Planned turnaround costs totaled $400 million, against $287 million; per barrel, turnaround costs were $1.45, against $1.05. Segment EBITDA excludes these costs. Source

Refinery investment projects

  • Galveston Bay hydrotreater project: Galveston Bay project adds a 90 mbpd distillate hydrotreater to upgrade high-sulfur distillate into ultra-low sulfur diesel, with completion of the hydrotreater expected by year-end 2027. Source
  • Robinson jet fuel flexibility project: Robinson project lets the refinery produce more higher-value jet fuel to meet growing demand, with completion expected by year-end 2026. Source
  • Los Angeles utility modernization project: Los Angeles investment modernizes utility systems to improve reliability and energy efficiency, with completion targeted for year-end 2025. Source
  • Shorter projects target margin and cost: Beyond multi-year investments, the company is running shorter projects aimed at margin enhancement and cost reduction, which it describes as high-return. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • $926 million returned to shareholders: Capital returned in the quarter was $926 million, including $650 million of share repurchases. Remaining share repurchase authorization was $5.4 billion, against $6.0 billion at June 30. Source
  • Cash rose to $2.7 billion: Cash and equivalents were $2.7 billion, including $1.8 billion at MPLX, with no borrowings under the $5 billion revolver. Cash was $1.7 billion at June 30. Source
  • MPLX issued $4.5 billion of notes: MPLX issued $4.5 billion of unsecured senior notes on August 11. Consolidated debt was $32.8 billion, with MPLX debt at $25.6 billion and MPC debt at $7.2 billion. Source

Strategy and portfolio actions

  • Ethanol venture interest sold: The ethanol venture interest was sold to the partner, against a $425 million divestiture announced in the second quarter; gross proceeds were $427 million.
  • Permian to Gulf Coast value chain expands: MPC’s Midstream segment is expanding its Permian to Gulf Coast integrated value chain, progressing long-haul pipelines for expected producer activity, and adding Permian and Marcellus processing. Source
  • Northwind acquisition completed: The Northwind Midstream acquisition, announced in the second quarter at $2.375 billion in cash, is described as recently completed. Source

Fourth-quarter guidance changes

  • Throughput guidance lowered: Fourth-quarter total throughput guided at 2,905 mbpd, down from 2,940 mbpd; crude oil refined guided at 2,675 mbpd, down from 2,730 mbpd. Source
  • Operating cost and distribution guidance raised: Refining operating cost guided at $5.80 per barrel, up from $5.70; distribution costs at $1,575 million, up from $1,525 million; turnaround costs at $420 million, up from $400 million. Source
  • D&A lower, corporate held: D&A guided at $400 million, down from $415 million; corporate expense held at $240 million, including $20 million of D&A. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2025

  • Monthly market data updates: Market data, including crack spreads and the R&M Margin Indicator, is to be updated monthly by the second business day after each month end. Source
  • Project start-ups from 2026 to 2029: Scheduled start-ups include Harmon Creek III, BANGL, Blackcomb and Rio Bravo in 2026, Traverse in 2027, Gulf Coast fractionators in 2028 and 2029, and Eiger Express in mid-2028. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Refinery throughput Source3.0 million barrels per day (3,005 mbpd net refinery throughputs)
Refining margin per barrel Source$17.60 per barrel (R&M margin); $6.37 per barrel (segment adjusted EBITDA)
Crude capacity utilization Source95%
Capital expenditure Source$1,390 million total capital expenditures and investments; $423 million R&M

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The Los Angeles project is also intended to address a regulation requiring emissions reductions at all Southern California refineries. Source
  • External: Renewable Diesel results were offset by a lower margin environment compared with a year earlier, despite higher utilization. Source
  • Operational: Higher operating expenses partly offset Midstream growth from higher rates, throughputs and acquisitions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The second-quarter release expected closing in the third quarter of 2025; the third-quarter release describes the acquisition as recently completed.
  • Met: Announced at $425 million in the second quarter; completed in the third quarter with $427 million in gross proceeds.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.