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MPLX LP (MPLX)
NYSE:MPLX
US Market

MPLX (MPLX) AI Stock Analysis

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MPLX

MPLX

(NYSE:MPLX)

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Outperform 83 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:83Outperform
Price Target:
$64.00
â–²(15.69% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by strong financial performance (high margins and improving free cash flow) and attractive valuation (high dividend yield with a reasonable P/E). Technicals are supportive with the price above major moving averages and positive MACD. Earnings call guidance is constructive with a defined growth capital plan and continued distribution growth, tempered by near-term DCF pressure from higher interest expense and refinancing needs.
Positive Factors
High Profitability & Margins
Sustained high gross, net and EBITDA margins indicate durable operational efficiency in midstream services, supporting strong cash conversion. These margins provide resilience through commodity cycles and fund capex, distributions, and project reinvestment over the next several years.
Clear Growth Capital Plan
A defined multi-year capex program focused 90% on natural gas and NGL services and a 6.7% EBITDA CAGR reflect disciplined, value-accretive growth. Backlog projects targeting mid‑teens returns should expand fee-based cash flows and support sustainable EBITDA expansion into 2027–2028.
Aligned Governance & Management Continuity
Board additions and CEO-chair continuity deepen strategic and financial alignment with the controlling parent, improving governance and capital allocation cohesion. This continuity supports efficient execution of large, multi-year projects and consistent unitholder return policies.
Negative Factors
Leverage & Near-Term Refinancing
Material upcoming refinancing and elevated leverage targets increase funding risk and interest sensitivity. If market rates or credit conditions tighten, refinancing costs could rise, pressuring distributable cash flow and limiting financial flexibility over the next 2–3 years.
Distributable Cash Flow Pressure
A year‑over‑year DCF decline driven by incremental interest from acquisition and growth financing signals structural pressure on payout coverage. Persistent higher interest costs could constrain distribution growth and reduce excess cash for buybacks or additional projects.
Volume & Asset Base Contraction
Recent asset sales and modest declines in processing and fractionation volumes reduce fee-bearing throughput and near-term earnings. While strategic, shrinking the asset base can lower utilization headroom and delay the pace at which new projects fully offset lost cash flows.

MPLX (MPLX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

MPLX Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMPLX LP owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Logistics and Storage, and Gathering and Processing. The company is involved in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas; gathering, transportation, fractionation, exchange, storage, and marketing of natural gas liquids; gathering, storage, transportation, and distribution of crude oil and refined products, as well as other hydrocarbon-based products; and sale of residue gas and condensate. It also engages in the inland marine businesses comprising transportation of light products, heavy oils, crude oil, renewable fuels, chemicals, and feedstocks in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions, as well as owns and operates boats and barges, including third-party chartered equipment, and a marine repair facility located on the Ohio River; and distribution of fuel, as well as operates refining logistics, terminals, rail facilities, and storage caverns. In addition, the company operates terminal facilities for the receipt, storage, blending, additization, handling, and redelivery of refined petroleum products located through the pipeline, rail, marine, and over-the-road modes of transportation. MPLX GP LLC acts as the general partner of MPLX LP. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. MPLX LP operates as a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation.
How the Company Makes MoneyMPLX generates revenue primarily through the transportation and storage of crude oil and natural gas liquids via its extensive pipeline network. The company charges fees for the use of its services, which include gathering, processing, and transporting hydrocarbons. Key revenue streams come from long-term contracts with customers, providing stable cash flow. Additionally, MPLX benefits from its strategic partnerships with major energy companies, including Marathon Petroleum Corporation, which enhances its operational efficiency and market reach. The consistent demand for midstream services and the company's focus on infrastructure expansion further contribute to its earnings.

MPLX Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 03, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
Next Earnings Date:May 05, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presents a predominantly positive outlook driven by multi-year EBITDA growth (6.7% three‑year CAGR), aggressive capital deployment ($5.5B in 2025), a concrete $2.4B 2026 plan, sustained shareholder returns (12.5% distribution increase and $4.4B returned in 2025), and a robust project backlog targeting mid‑teens returns. Near-term headwinds include a 4% decline in distributable cash flow due to higher interest expense, modest YoY declines in processing and fractionation volumes (partly from asset sales), and weather-related temporary volume impacts. Management emphasizes disciplined capital allocation, liquidity ($2.1B cash), leverage and coverage targets, and confidence that 2026 growth will outpace 2025 with further ramp contributions into 2027–2028.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong multi-year EBITDA growth
Three-year adjusted EBITDA CAGR of 6.7%, with adjusted EBITDA for 2025 reaching just over $7.0 billion and fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $1.8 billion, up 2% year-over-year.
Material shareholder returns and distribution increase
Increased the distribution by 12.5% in 2025, returned $4.4 billion total in 2025, and returned $1.2 billion to unitholders in the quarter through distributions and unit repurchases; management plans 12.5% distribution growth for two more years.
Significant capital deployed and clear 2026 plan
Deployed $5.5 billion in 2025 to natural gas and NGL value chains; announced a $2.4 billion 2026 capital plan with ~90% directed to natural gas and NGL services.
High-return growth pipeline (mid‑teens target)
Multiple projects (Permian, Marcellus) expected to deliver mid‑teens returns when in service (primarily 2028+), including Secretariat II (300 MMcf/d, $320M) and downstream fractionation/LPG export capacity.
Permian execution and capacity expansion
Titan complex on time and budget; expecting >400 MMcf/d sour gas treating by 2026; Secretariat II to bring Delaware Basin processing capacity to ~1.7 Bcf/d; Eiger Express expansion to 3.7 Bcf/d announced.
Marcellus strengthening and near‑capacity utilization
Marcellus processing utilization at 97% for the quarter; Harmon Creek III (300 MMcf/d plus deethanizer) expected online in 2026, bringing Northeast processing to ~8.1 Bcf/d and fractionation to 800,000 barrels/day.
Crude & Logistics segment improvement
Crude Oil & Products and Logistics segment adjusted EBITDA increased $52 million year-over-year, driven largely by a $37 million benefit from a revised FERC tariff and higher rates; pipeline volumes +1%.
Healthy liquidity and disciplined balance‑sheet targets
Ended the quarter with $2.1 billion cash; $1.5 billion of 1.75% notes maturing in March to be refinanced; management expects leverage to trend down and targets not to exceed ~4.0x leverage and ~1.3x DCF coverage floor.
Negative Updates
Distributable cash flow decline
Distributable cash flow was $1.4 billion for the quarter, down 4% year-over-year, driven by higher interest expense from incremental debt used to finance acquisitions and growth capital.
Natural Gas & NGL segment near-term headwinds
Segment adjusted EBITDA decreased $10 million year-over-year; the divestiture of non‑core gathering and processing assets had a $23 million year-over-year EBITDA impact (after adjusting for divestiture, segment grew 2.1% YoY).
Processing and fractionation volume declines
Processing volumes decreased 1% year-over-year and total fractionation volumes decreased 2% year-over-year (impacted by higher ethane recoveries and sale of Rockies assets).
Terminal and some volumes down
Terminal volumes decreased 2% year-over-year despite pipeline volumes increasing 1%, indicating mixed near-term throughput results in the Crude & Logistics footprint.
Weather and operational disruptions
Freezing conditions recently impacted some producer customers and caused frozen well pads/equipment that affected volumes at a few Permian facilities (company reports minimal direct asset damage but some volume impacts).
Asset dispositions reduced near-term metrics
Sale of Rockies and other non-core assets reduced certain volumes and fractionation throughput and created a $23 million EBITDA headwind in the Natural Gas & NGL services segment for the year-over-year comparison.
Interest and refinancing needs
Incremental interest expense from acquisition and growth financing pressured DCF; $1.5 billion of senior notes maturing in March requires refinancing (company intends to refinance).
FERC inflation adjustment headwind
FERC index reset to PPI minus 0.6% represents a negative adder; management stated it was anticipated and is built into plans, but it remains a modest headwind (COPAL ~33% tied to FERC; MPLX ~20% exposure).
Company Guidance
MPLX's guidance centers on a $2.4 billion 2026 capital plan (90% to natural gas & NGL services) after deploying $5.5 billion to those value chains in 2025, with the company expecting 2026 growth to exceed 2025 and supporting mid‑single‑digit EBITDA growth into 2027; 2025 adjusted EBITDA was just over $7.0 billion (three‑year adjusted EBITDA CAGR 6.7%), Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 billion (+2% YoY) with distributable cash flow of $1.4 billion (-4%), $1.2 billion returned to unitholders in the quarter, and a cash balance of $2.1 billion. Key project metrics include treating >400 MMcf/d of sour gas by 2026, the $320 million Secretariat II 300 MMcf/d plant (online 2028) bringing Delaware processing to ~1.7 Bcf/d, Harmon Creek III 300 MMcf/d (online 2026) moving Northeast processing to 8.1 Bcf/d and fractionation to 800,000 bpd, Bengal incremental capacity online in Q4, Gulf Coast fractionation of 300,000 bpd and a 400,000 bpd LPG export terminal JV (online 2028), and the Eiger Express expansion to 3.7 Bcf/d — projects the company expects to deliver mid‑teens returns. Financial posture: distribution increased 12.5% in 2025 and is expected at a similar level for two more years, coverage modeled above ~1.3x, leverage managed to not exceed ~4.0x, and a $1.5 billion 1.75% note due in March is planned to be refinanced.

MPLX Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong profitability and efficiency (TTM gross margin 49.02%, net margin 39.71%, EBITDA margin 56.89%) and solid cash generation (free cash flow up 17.58%; operating cash flow to net income 1.74). Balance sheet is a mild constraint due to higher leverage (debt-to-equity 1.78), partly offset by strong ROE (34.44%).
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
MPLX has demonstrated strong revenue growth with a 7.47% increase in TTM, supported by robust gross and net profit margins of 49.02% and 39.71% respectively. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also impressive at 46.01% and 56.89%, indicating efficient operations. The consistent growth trajectory and high profitability metrics highlight a solid financial performance.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company maintains a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, which suggests significant leverage. However, the return on equity is strong at 34.44%, indicating effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio stands at 33.59%, showing a balanced asset structure. While leverage is a concern, the high ROE and stable asset management are positive indicators.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
MPLX's cash flow performance is commendable with a 17.58% growth in free cash flow. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 1.74, and the free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.95, reflecting strong cash generation relative to earnings. The positive cash flow growth and coverage ratios suggest healthy liquidity and operational efficiency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.13B10.90B10.43B10.54B9.57B8.40B
Gross Profit5.95B4.82B4.56B4.29B4.05B3.75B
EBITDA7.15B6.59B6.09B6.06B5.19B1.53B
Net Income4.82B4.32B3.93B3.94B3.08B-720.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets43.23B37.51B36.53B35.66B35.51B36.41B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.80B1.52B1.05B238.00M13.00M15.00M
Total Debt26.09B21.44B20.91B20.30B19.07B20.68B
Total Liabilities28.70B23.50B22.95B22.15B22.49B22.43B
Stockholders Equity14.30B13.78B13.35B13.48B12.78B13.74B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow5.78B4.89B4.46B4.21B4.38B3.34B
Operating Cash Flow6.09B5.95B5.40B5.02B4.91B4.52B
Investing Cash Flow-5.28B-2.00B-1.25B-956.00M-518.00M-1.26B
Financing Cash Flow-2.23B-3.48B-3.33B-3.84B-4.39B-3.26B

MPLX Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price55.32
Price Trends
50DMA
54.45
Positive
100DMA
52.03
Positive
200DMA
50.50
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.53
Negative
RSI
53.90
Neutral
STOCH
53.96
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MPLX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 55.32 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 54.78, above the 50-day MA of 54.45, and above the 200-day MA of 50.50, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.53 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 53.90 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.96 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MPLX.

MPLX Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
83
Outperform
$56.85B11.8534.35%7.31%5.19%11.09%
82
Outperform
$49.83B14.5617.14%5.61%58.76%13.74%
78
Outperform
$67.83B22.189.87%4.27%8.54%7.22%
75
Outperform
$71.80B12.5619.98%6.72%-6.46%-0.87%
74
Outperform
$43.14B27.0261.18%2.03%7.79%33.93%
73
Outperform
$63.35B14.7713.09%8.04%-4.67%-8.06%
65
Neutral
$15.17B7.614.09%5.20%3.87%-62.32%
* Energy Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MPLX
MPLX
55.32
5.72
11.53%
ET
Energy Transfer
18.14
-1.15
-5.96%
EPD
Enterprise Products Partners
33.10
2.30
7.47%
KMI
Kinder Morgan
29.61
3.25
12.31%
OKE
Oneok
75.32
-16.58
-18.04%
TRGP
Targa Resources
198.67
3.45
1.77%

MPLX Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
MPLX Appoints Maria Khoury to General Partner Board
Neutral
Dec 18, 2025

On December 18, 2025, MPLX GP LLC, the general partner of MPLX LP, elected Maria A. Khoury to its Board of Directors, effective January 19, 2026, maintaining the Board at ten members as she succeeds outgoing director John J. Quaid. Khoury will simultaneously join Marathon Petroleum Corporation as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on the same effective date, serving as a management director on MPLX’s general partner Board without additional Board compensation, a move that further consolidates financial and strategic alignment between MPLX and its controlling parent while affirming standard corporate governance practices through disclosures of no special arrangements, family relationships, or related-party transactions in connection with her appointment.

The most recent analyst rating on (MPLX) stock is a Buy with a $59.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MPLX stock, see the MPLX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
MPLX Announces New Chairman Amid Strategic Transition
Neutral
Nov 4, 2025

On October 29, 2025, MPLX GP LLC’s board elected Maryann T. Mannen as Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Michael J. Hennigan who will retire. This leadership change, announced on November 4, 2025, signifies a strategic transition for MPLX, with Mannen continuing her role as CEO while also assuming the chairman position, potentially impacting the company’s strategic direction and stakeholder engagement.

The most recent analyst rating on (MPLX) stock is a Buy with a $58.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MPLX stock, see the MPLX Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 03, 2026