Here’s What Makes Marathon Petroleum (MPC) a Top Momentum Pick

Maximizing Your Investment Potential with Zacks Premium

No matter your background or how long you've been investing, making the most of the stock market and investing with certainty are goals shared by all. Zacks Premium provides a variety of resources to help you achieve both.

Subscribers receive daily updates on the Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, full access to the exclusive Zacks #1 Rank List, in-depth equity research reports, and advanced stock screening tools. These features are designed to empower you to become a more knowledgeable and confident investor.

Another valuable component of Zacks Premium is the Zacks Style Scores.

Understanding Zacks Style Scores

The Zacks Style Scores system evaluates stocks based on three widely-used investment approaches, serving as a complementary tool to the Zacks Rank. By combining these ratings, investors can identify stocks with the greatest potential to outperform the market in the short term.

Each stock receives a grade from A to F, reflecting its value, growth, and momentum attributes. Similar to academic grading, an A is superior to a B, and so forth—higher scores suggest a stronger likelihood of outperformance.

The Style Scores are divided into four main categories:

Value Score

Value investors seek out companies trading below their intrinsic worth. The Value Score evaluates metrics such as price-to-earnings, price/earnings-to-growth, price-to-sales, and price-to-cash flow ratios, among others, to spotlight stocks that are attractively priced and potentially undervalued.

Growth Score

Growth-focused investors prioritize a company's future prospects and financial strength. The Growth Score examines factors like projected and historical earnings, revenue, and cash flow to pinpoint stocks with the potential for sustained expansion.

Momentum Score

Momentum investing is built on the principle that trends tend to persist. This score assesses factors such as recent price movements and changes in earnings estimates, helping investors identify stocks experiencing strong upward or downward trends.

VGM Score

For those seeking a blend of value, growth, and momentum, the VGM Score combines all three styles into a single rating. This score helps investors find stocks that are attractive across multiple dimensions and is especially effective when used alongside the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Enhance the Zacks Rank

The Zacks Rank is a proprietary rating system that leverages changes in earnings estimates to guide investors toward building successful portfolios.

Historically, stocks rated #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have delivered an average annual return of +23.86% since 1988, more than twice the performance of the S&P 500. However, with over 200 stocks earning a Strong Buy and another 600 rated as #2 (Buy) at any given time, narrowing down your choices can be challenging.

This is where the Style Scores prove invaluable.

To maximize your chances of success, focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you’re considering a stock with a #3 (Hold) rating, ensure it also boasts an A or B Style Score to enhance its potential.

Since the Style Scores are designed to work in tandem with the Zacks Rank, it’s important to consider the direction of earnings estimate revisions when making investment decisions.

For example, even if a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating has high Style Scores, a negative trend in earnings estimates suggests a higher risk of price decline.

Owning more stocks with top Zacks Ranks and high Style Scores increases your odds of strong performance.

Featured Stock: Marathon Petroleum (MPC)

Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Marathon Petroleum Corporation is a major independent refiner, transporter, and marketer of petroleum products. The company was established in its current form after Marathon Oil Corporation spun off its refining and sales operations in 2011. In 2018, Marathon Petroleum acquired Andeavor for $23.3 billion, making it the largest U.S. refiner by market value and the fifth largest globally by capacity.

MPC currently holds a #3 (Hold) Zacks Rank and has earned an A for its VGM Score.

Momentum-oriented investors should pay attention to this energy sector stock. MPC has achieved an A in the Momentum Style Score, with its share price rising 5.4% over the past month.

In the past two months, two analysts have raised their earnings projections for fiscal 2026, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has climbed by $0.31 to $14.45 per share. The company also boasts an average earnings surprise of +32.7%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top Momentum and VGM Scores, MPC stands out as a stock worth considering for your portfolio.

Top Analyst’s “Best Pick to Double”

Out of thousands of stocks, five Zacks experts have each selected their top choice for potential gains of 100% or more in the coming months. From these, Director of Research Sheraz Mian has identified the one stock he believes has the greatest upside potential.

This company targets millennial and Gen Z consumers, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter. A recent dip in its share price could present an excellent entry point. While not every top pick is a winner, this stock could outperform previous Zacks selections like Nano-X Imaging, which surged over 129% in just nine months.