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Marathon Petroleum Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 8 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose to $5.1 billion: Net income attributable to MPC was $5.1 billion, or $17.73 per diluted share, against $1.2 billion, or $3.96 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $8.5 billion: Adjusted EBITDA was $8.5 billion, against $3.3 billion a year earlier. For the six months it was $11.2 billion, against $5.3 billion. Source
  • Refining & Marketing led the gain: R&M segment adjusted EBITDA accounted for most of the increase, moving from $1.9 billion to $6.7 billion, while the other segments changed less. Source
  • Crack spreads lifted refining margin: R&M margin was $36.33 per barrel, against $17.58 a year earlier. Management attributed the results mainly to higher crack spreads in all regions. Source
  • El Paso and Robinson projects in service: The El Paso yield improvement enhances specialty gasoline output for El Paso, Phoenix and Mexico. The Robinson project enables about 10 mbpd of incremental jet fuel production. Source
  • $2.8 billion returned to shareholders: The company returned $2.8 billion of capital, which management linked to cash generation and capital allocation priorities. Source

“Strong planning, commercial, and operational execution enabled safe and reliable operations to meet resilient consumer demand. Our results reflect the differentiated capabilities of our value chains and the execution of our optimization strategies,”

Maryann Mannen, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
MPC capital spending (excluding MPLX) Source2026$1.5 billionKept
MPLX growth capital spending Source2026$2.9 billionRaised from $2.4 billion
MPLX distribution growth Source2026 and 202712.5% annualKept
R&M refining operating costs Sourcethird quarter of 2026$ 5.60 per barrelNew
Distribution costs Sourcethird quarter of 2026$ 1,650 millionNew
Refining planned turnaround costs Sourcethird quarter of 2026$ 290 millionNew
R&M depreciation and amortization Sourcethird quarter of 2026$ 390 millionNew
Refinery throughput Sourcethird quarter of 20263,005 mbpd total; 2,820 mbpd crude oil refinedNew
Corporate expenses Sourcethird quarter of 2026$ 260 millionNew
Galveston Bay distillate hydrotreater Sourceyear-end 202790 mbpd hydrotreaterKept
Garyville feedstock optimization Sourceyear-end 202730 mbpd crude throughput increaseNew
Garyville product export flexibility Sourceyear-end 202710 mbpd export premium gasolineNew
Blackcomb pipeline in service Sourcefourth quarter of 20262.5 Bcf/d pipelineKept
Gulf Coast fractionators Source2028 and 2029Frac I: 2028; Frac II: 2029Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: MPLX raised its 2026 growth capital spending plan by $500 million, to $2.9 billion, from $2.4 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 segment figures were given for refining operating costs, distribution costs, turnaround costs, throughput and corporate expenses. Source
  • New: El Paso yield improvement and Robinson product flexibility investments were placed in service in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • New: Secretariat I, a 200 MMcf/d gas processing plant in the Delaware Basin owned 100% by MPLX, was placed in service in April 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose to $5.1 billion: Net income attributable to MPC was $5.1 billion, or $17.73 per diluted share, against $1.2 billion, or $3.96 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $8.5 billion: Adjusted EBITDA was $8.5 billion, against $3.3 billion a year earlier. For the six months it was $11.2 billion, against $5.3 billion. Source
  • Refining & Marketing led the gain: R&M segment adjusted EBITDA accounted for most of the increase, moving from $1.9 billion to $6.7 billion, while the other segments changed less. Source

Refining margin and crack spreads

  • Crack spreads lifted refining margin: R&M margin was $36.33 per barrel, against $17.58 a year earlier. Management attributed the results mainly to higher crack spreads in all regions. Source
  • Segment EBITDA per barrel rose: R&M segment adjusted EBITDA was $24.84 per barrel, against $6.79. Segment figures exclude planned turnaround costs. Source
  • Operating costs rose on Mid-Con downtime: Refining operating costs were $5.72 per barrel, against $5.34. Management cited lower utilization from planned Mid-Continent downtime. Source

“The completion of two high-return, yield-enhancing refining investments further position us to deliver incremental value.”

Maryann Mannen, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Refining regions

  • Gulf Coast margin rose to $36.52: Gulf Coast R&M margin was $36.52 per barrel, against $15.17, and adjusted EBITDA was $27.01 per barrel, against $5.65. Source
  • West Coast EBITDA led per barrel: West Coast adjusted EBITDA was $27.26 per barrel, against $8.18, and margin was $41.28 per barrel, against $23.18. Source
  • Mid-Continent throughput fell with downtime: Mid-Continent adjusted EBITDA was $20.96 per barrel, against $7.45, while crude oil refined fell to 1,030 mbpd from 1,165 mbpd. Source

Midstream and renewable diesel

  • Midstream EBITDA rose on rates: Midstream adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 billion, against $1.6 billion, on higher rates and throughputs, partly offset by divested gathering and processing assets. Source
  • Renewable diesel EBITDA turned positive: Renewable diesel adjusted EBITDA was $258 million, against $(19) million a year earlier. Management cited a stronger margin environment and higher regulatory credit values. Source

“MPLX’s execution of its Natural Gas and NGL strategy supports durable growth and increasing distributions that differentiate MPC, allowing us to lead in capital return.”

Maryann Mannen, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and turnarounds

  • Turnaround costs excluded from segments: Planned turnaround costs were $275 million, against $250 million a year earlier, and are excluded from segment adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Corporate expenses edged up: Corporate expenses were $256 million, against $243 million. Net interest and other financial costs were $340 million, against $319 million. Source

Product mix and sales volumes

  • Gasoline yield fell, distillates rose: Gasoline yield was 1,439 mbpd, against 1,526. Distillate yield was 1,131 mbpd, against 1,117, and heavy fuel oil fell to 29 mbpd from 61. Source
  • Sour crude share rose to 48%: Sour crude was 48% of crude oil throughput, against 45%, while sweet crude fell to 52% from 55%. Source
  • Refined product sales volume rose: R&M refined product sales volume was 3,842 mbpd, against 3,835 mbpd, including intersegment sales. Source

Capital spending and projects

  • El Paso and Robinson projects in service: The El Paso yield improvement enhances specialty gasoline output for El Paso, Phoenix and Mexico. The Robinson project enables about 10 mbpd of incremental jet fuel production. Source
  • Capital mix 65% value-enhancing: About 65% of overall capital spending is focused on value-enhancing investments and 35% on sustaining operations, with projects at four refineries. Source
  • Total capital spending rose: Total capital expenditures and investments were $1,386 million, against $1,065 million, with midstream at $1,021 million. Source

MPLX midstream growth

  • Over 90% of growth capital to gas: MPLX plans to put over 90% of organic growth capital into natural gas and NGL infrastructure, concentrated in the Permian and Marcellus basins. Source
  • Mid-teens returns expected on projects: Management expects the MPLX natural gas and NGL projects to generate mid-teens returns. Source

Cash and capital returns

  • $2.8 billion returned to shareholders: The company returned $2.8 billion of capital, which management linked to cash generation and capital allocation priorities. Source
  • Cash $7.8 billion, revolver undrawn: Cash and equivalents were $7.8 billion, including $1.0 billion at MPLX, and nothing was drawn on the $5 billion revolving credit facility. Source
  • $6.1 billion buyback authority remaining: Remaining share repurchase authorization was $6.1 billion at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell to 283 million: Shares outstanding were 283 million at June 30, against 293 million at March 31. Equity rose to $25.7 billion from $23.4 billion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Harmon Creek III begins operations: Harmon Creek III, a 300 MMcf/d gas processing plant and 40 mbpd de-ethanizer in the Marcellus, is listed to begin operations in August 2026. Source
  • Blackcomb pipeline due fourth quarter: The 2.5 Bcf/d Blackcomb pipeline is listed for 4Q26 and began commissioning in July 2026. Source
  • Bay Runner pipelines in service: The Bay Runner pipeline, with up to 5.3 Bcf/d of transport capacity, is listed for 3Q26; the Bay Runner Twin pipeline is listed for 2029. Source
  • BANGL expansion due fourth quarter: The BANGL NGL pipeline expansion, from 250 mbpd to 300 mbpd, is listed for 4Q26. Source
  • Galveston Bay hydrotreater by year-end: The 90 mbpd distillate hydrotreater at Galveston Bay is listed for year-end 2027. Source
  • Gulf Coast fractionators in 2028 and 2029: The two Gulf Coast fractionation facilities near Galveston Bay are listed for 2028 (Frac I) and 2029 (Frac II). Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Throughput Source2.9 million bpd total; 2,944 mbpd net refinery throughput
Refining margin per barrel Source$36.33 per barrel
Crude capacity utilization Source94%
Capital expenditure Source$325 million (R&M, second quarter)

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The El Paso upgrade was targeted for 2Q26 completion in the prior release; the second-quarter release lists it as completed in 2Q26.
  • Met: The Garyville jet flexibility project was brought online in the first quarter, as the prior release stated.
  • Not stated: The Robinson project was targeted for 3Q26 completion in the prior release; the second-quarter release lists its product flexibility investment as placed in service in 2Q26.

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.