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Marathon Petroleum Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose from prior-year quarter: Net income attributable to MPC was $7.4 billion, or $26.59 per diluted share; adjusted net income was $7.5 billion, or $26.93 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $11.7 billion: Adjusted EBITDA was $11.7 billion, compared with $3.2 billion a year earlier. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $22,952 million, against $8,467 million. Source
  • Refining segment drove the increase: Refining & Marketing segment adjusted EBITDA was $9.9 billion, versus $1.8 billion, or $34.15 per barrel against $6.37 a year earlier. Source
  • Crude utilization reached 100%: Crude capacity utilization was 100%, with total throughput of 3.2 million bpd, against 95% in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Refining margin rose to $45.70: Refining & Marketing margin was $45.70 per barrel, against $17.60 a year earlier, driven by higher crack spreads in all regions. Source
  • Capital returned totaled $3.3 billion: The company returned $3.3 billion of capital to shareholders. $3.1 billion remained under share repurchase authorizations before the new $5 billion addition. Source
  • Refinery and midstream divestiture announced: The sale of St. Paul Park and Mandan refineries with related midstream assets is priced at $4.2 billion. MPC receives $3.45 billion and MPLX $750 million. Source

“Our value chain capabilities remain a defining advantage for us, capturing opportunities to enhance margins across dynamic market conditions,”

Maryann Mannen, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
MPLX organic growth capital Source2026$2.9 billionKept
Distributions from MPLX to MPC Sourceannual$3.1 billion
Share repurchase authorizations Sourceas of September 30, 2026$8.1 billion available, including a new $5 billion authorizationNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Announced divestiture of the St. Paul Park and Mandan refineries with related midstream assets, for $4.2 billion. Source
  • New: Board approved an incremental $5 billion share repurchase authorization. Source
  • New: Quarterly dividend increase of 10% announced. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose from prior-year quarter: Net income attributable to MPC was $7.4 billion, or $26.59 per diluted share; adjusted net income was $7.5 billion, or $26.93 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $11.7 billion: Adjusted EBITDA was $11.7 billion, compared with $3.2 billion a year earlier. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $22,952 million, against $8,467 million. Source
  • Adjustments excluded from adjusted earnings: Adjusted net income excludes $123 million of tax and legal settlements, including a City of Carson municipal tax dispute, net of a $29 million tax impact. Source

Segments and regions

  • Refining segment drove the increase: Refining & Marketing segment adjusted EBITDA was $9.9 billion, versus $1.8 billion, or $34.15 per barrel against $6.37 a year earlier. Source
  • Regional refining margins rose sharply: Gulf Coast margin was $43.46 per barrel, against $14.77. West Coast was $47.46, against $19.17, and Mid-Continent was $47.33, against $19.88. Source
  • Midstream earnings rose on rates: Midstream segment adjusted EBITDA was $1.9 billion, versus $1.7 billion, on higher rates, throughputs, equity income and acquisitions, partly offset by a divestiture. Source
  • Renewable Diesel swung to positive EBITDA: Renewable Diesel segment adjusted EBITDA was $254 million, against $(56) million a year earlier, on a stronger margin, higher credit values and higher throughputs. Source

“Strong planning, commercial, and operational execution generated significant cash flows, supporting high-return investments while delivering substantial returns to shareholders.”

Maryann Mannen, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Refinery throughput and utilization

  • Crude utilization reached 100%: Crude capacity utilization was 100%, with total throughput of 3.2 million bpd, against 95% in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Crude runs and net throughput rose: Crude oil refined was 2,973 mbpd, against 2,822 mbpd. Net refinery throughput was 3,150 mbpd, against 3,005 mbpd a year earlier. Source
  • Gasoline and distillate yields rose: Refined product sales volume was 4,030 mbpd, against 3,783 mbpd. Gasoline yield was 1,519 mbpd and distillate yield 1,210 mbpd. Source
  • Heavy fuel oil yield fell, asphalt rose: Heavy fuel oil yield was 78 mbpd, against 102 mbpd. Asphalt yield was 94 mbpd, against 83 mbpd a year earlier. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Refining margin rose to $45.70: Refining & Marketing margin was $45.70 per barrel, against $17.60 a year earlier, driven by higher crack spreads in all regions. Source
  • Refining operating costs held steady: Refining operating costs were $5.60 per barrel, against $5.59 a year earlier. Distribution costs were $5.98 per barrel, against $5.69. Source
  • Corporate costs rose on incentives: Corporate expenses were $328 million, against $238 million, with the increase primarily from higher incentive compensation expense. Source
  • Turnaround costs excluded from segment EBITDA: Planned turnaround costs were $294 million, against $400 million, and are excluded from segment adjusted EBITDA. Source

“MPLX’s durable growth and increasing cash flow to MPC delivers a differentiated value proposition.”

Maryann Mannen, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Cash balance with no revolver borrowings: Cash, equivalents and short-term investments totaled $13.6 billion, including $1.3 billion at MPLX. No borrowings were outstanding under the $5 billion revolver. Source
  • December 2026 notes redeemed early: MPC redeemed all $749 million of its senior notes due December 2026 on September 15, 2026. Source
  • Capital returned totaled $3.3 billion: The company returned $3.3 billion of capital to shareholders. $3.1 billion remained under share repurchase authorizations before the new $5 billion addition. Source
  • MPLX distribution rose 12.5%: MPLX raised its quarterly distribution 12.5%, the third consecutive year of such increases, supporting $3.1 billion of expected annual distributions to MPC. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Refinery and midstream divestiture announced: The sale of St. Paul Park and Mandan refineries with related midstream assets is priced at $4.2 billion. MPC receives $3.45 billion and MPLX $750 million. Source
  • Proceeds to be reinvested mainly in Gulf Coast: MPC intends to reinvest its proceeds in projects meeting return thresholds, primarily in the Gulf Coast. MPLX will redeploy its $750 million in Permian and Marcellus growth plans. Source
  • MPLX gas and NGL growth in two basins: MPLX growth capital is concentrated in the Permian and Marcellus, with projects management expects to generate mid-teens returns. Source
  • Refinery yield projects completed or scheduled: Garyville jet flexibility, El Paso yield and Robinson product flexibility are complete. Galveston Bay distillate hydrotreater and Garyville feedstock projects are scheduled by year-end 2027. Source
  • Blackcomb pipeline began commissioning: The 2.5 Bcf/d Blackcomb pipeline, 34% owned by MPLX, began commissioning in July 2026 with in-service expected in the fourth quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Refinery divestiture closing: The St. Paul Park and Mandan divestiture is expected to close at the end of 2026. Source
  • Titan Complex treating expansion: Titan Complex sour gas treating capacity expansion in the Delaware Basin is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, with MPLX at 100%. Source
  • BANGL NGL pipeline expansion: BANGL pipeline expansion from 250 mbpd to 300 mbpd is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Monthly market data updates: Benchmark margin and market data will be updated monthly, no later than the second business day after each month ends. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total throughput Source3.2 million bpd
Refining margin per barrel Source$45.70
Refining segment adjusted EBITDA per barrel Source$34.15
Crude capacity utilization Source100%
Capital expenditure Source$1,444 million

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Harmon Creek III, 100% owned by MPLX, is reported as placed in service in August 2026, matching the earlier timing. Source
  • Met: El Paso yield improvement, which upgrades the FCC and alkylation units, is reported as completed in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Not stated: The Bay Runner pipeline in-service timing moved from third quarter 2026 in the prior release to fourth quarter 2026 in this release. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected 12.5% annual distribution growth in 2026 and 2027; this release reports a 12.5% quarterly distribution increase. Source

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.