ARKO vs MPC

For growth investors, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is the stronger pick with -4.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 5% for Arko Corp. (ARKO). Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) offers the better valuation at 19. 6x trailing P/E (11. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is the cheapest at 19.

6x versus Arko Corp. at 43. 8x. On forward P/E, Marathon Petroleum Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) delivered a total return of +364.

8%, compared to -32. 2% for Arko Corp. (ARKO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MPC returned +654. 2% versus ARKO's -29. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

30β versus Arko Corp. 's 1. 14β — meaning ARKO is approximately 277% more volatile than MPC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Arko Corp. (ARKO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 43% versus 143% for Marathon Petroleum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is pulling ahead at -4.

4% versus -12. 5% for Arko Corp. (ARKO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Marathon Petroleum Corporation grew EPS 31. 5% year-over-year, compared to 15. 4% for Arko Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARKO leads at -5. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is the more profitable company, earning 3.

0% net margin versus 0. 5% for Arko Corp. — meaning it keeps 3. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MPC leads at 4. 3% versus 1. 3% for ARKO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ARKO leads at 11. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) trades at 11.

1x forward P/E versus 25. 1x for Arko Corp. — 14. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARKO: 15. 4% to $7. 58.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Arko Corp. (ARKO) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 1. 4% for Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

30), 1. 4% yield, +654. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MPC: +654. 2%, ARKO: -29. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (ARKO (Consumer Cyclical) and MPC (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.