CVI vs MPC

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

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 9% for CVR Energy, Inc. (CVI). Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) offers the better valuation at 18. 5x 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 18.

5x versus CVR Energy, Inc. at 121. 4x. 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 +339.

3%, compared to +161. 3% for CVR Energy, Inc. (CVI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MPC returned +654. 2% versus CVI's +250. 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), CVR Energy, Inc.

(CVI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 11β versus Marathon Petroleum Corporation's 0. 30β — meaning MPC is approximately 173% more volatile than CVI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 143% versus 2% for CVR Energy, Inc. — 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 -5. 9% for CVR Energy, Inc. (CVI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CVR Energy, Inc. grew EPS 287. 4% year-over-year, compared to 31. 5% for Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, MPC leads at -9. 2% 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. 4% for CVR Energy, Inc. — 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 2. 3% for CVI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MPC leads at 7. 5%, 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 35. 5x for CVR Energy, Inc. — 24. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CVI: -8. 5% to $30. 00.

In this comparison, MPC (1.

5% yield) pays a dividend. CVI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 5% yield, +654. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MPC: +654. 2%, CVI: +250. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

MPC pays a dividend while CVI does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.