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3 Reasons Why Marathon Petroleum (MPC) is a Great Momentum Stock
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Many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for momentum investors in the near term.
This method discovered several great candidates for momentum-oriented investors, but today let’s focus on Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous ways in which this company could be a great choice, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for MPC’s status as a solid momentum stock below:
Short Term Price Change for Marathon Petroleum
A great place to look for finding momentum stocks is by inspecting short term price activity. This can help to reflect the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand right now. It is especially useful to compare it to the industry as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
With a one week price change of 0.03% compared to an industry average of 0.01%, MPC is certainly well-positioned in this regard. The stock is also looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the four week price change compares favorably with the industry at large.
Longer Term Price Change for Marathon Petroleum
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics—such as performance over the past three months or year-- and comparing these to an industry at large can be very useful.
And in the case of MPC, the results are quite impressive. The company has beaten the industry at large over the past 12 weeks by a margin of 24.9% to 12.7%, while it has also outperformed when looking at the past year, putting up a gain of 45.3%. Clearly, MPC is riding a bit of a hot streak and is worth a closer look by investors.
MPC Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction
While the great momentum factors outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, we should also take into account broad earnings estimate revision trends. A nice path here can really help to show us a promising stock, and we have actually been seeing that with MPC as of late.
Over the past two months, four earnings estimates have gone higher same as three lower for the full year, while we are also seeing that seven estimates have move upwards with one downward revision for the next year time frame. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate, as two months ago; MPC was expected to post earnings of $3.76 per share for the full year, though today it looks to have EPS of $3.76 for the full year, representing a solid increase which is something that should be welcome news to would-be investors.
So if you are looking for a fresh pick that has potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep MPC on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned to soar in the near term.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2018
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2018?
Last year's 2017 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio produced double-digit winners, including FMC Corp. and VMware which racked up stellar gains of +67.9% and +61%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
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3 Reasons Why Marathon Petroleum (MPC) is a Great Momentum Stock
Many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for momentum investors in the near term.
This method discovered several great candidates for momentum-oriented investors, but today let’s focus on Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous ways in which this company could be a great choice, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for MPC’s status as a solid momentum stock below:
Short Term Price Change for Marathon Petroleum
A great place to look for finding momentum stocks is by inspecting short term price activity. This can help to reflect the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand right now. It is especially useful to compare it to the industry as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
With a one week price change of 0.03% compared to an industry average of 0.01%, MPC is certainly well-positioned in this regard. The stock is also looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the four week price change compares favorably with the industry at large.
Longer Term Price Change for Marathon Petroleum
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics—such as performance over the past three months or year-- and comparing these to an industry at large can be very useful.
And in the case of MPC, the results are quite impressive. The company has beaten the industry at large over the past 12 weeks by a margin of 24.9% to 12.7%, while it has also outperformed when looking at the past year, putting up a gain of 45.3%. Clearly, MPC is riding a bit of a hot streak and is worth a closer look by investors.
MPC Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction
While the great momentum factors outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, we should also take into account broad earnings estimate revision trends. A nice path here can really help to show us a promising stock, and we have actually been seeing that with MPC as of late.
Over the past two months, four earnings estimates have gone higher same as three lower for the full year, while we are also seeing that seven estimates have move upwards with one downward revision for the next year time frame. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate, as two months ago; MPC was expected to post earnings of $3.76 per share for the full year, though today it looks to have EPS of $3.76 for the full year, representing a solid increase which is something that should be welcome news to would-be investors.
Bottom Line
Given these factors, investors shouldn’t be surprised to note that we have MPC as a security with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Score of A.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
So if you are looking for a fresh pick that has potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep MPC on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned to soar in the near term.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2018
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2018?
Last year's 2017 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio produced double-digit winners, including FMC Corp. and VMware which racked up stellar gains of +67.9% and +61%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2018 today >>