ConocoPhillips (COP)
ConocoPhillips is one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies, focused on the upstream business. It holds a deep inventory of low-cost US shale drilling locations.
Energy stock comparison
COP vs MPC: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare ConocoPhillips with Marathon Petroleum Corporation using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Energy
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 0
- Updated
- 2026-02-26
COP vs MPC: quick comparison
| Company fact | COP | MPC |
|---|---|---|
| Company | ConocoPhillips | Marathon Petroleum Corporation |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas | — |
| Founded | 1917 | — |
| SEC industry | Petroleum Refining | Petroleum Refining |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-17 | 10-K · 2026-02-26 |
COP vs MPC: audited financials
MPC reported about 2.3× the revenue of COP in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, COP converted a larger share of revenue into net income (13.6% versus 3.0%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | COP | MPC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $58.9B | $132.7B |
| Net income | $8.0B | $4.0B |
| Operating cash flow | $19.8B | $8.3B |
| Diluted EPS | $6.35 | $13.22 |
| Net margin | 13.6% | 3.0% |
COP: FY ending 2025-12-31 · MPC: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
COP and MPC share the SEC industry classification “Petroleum Refining,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC)
Marathon Petroleum refines crude oil and markets fuel through a large US refining and pipeline network.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. COP is classified by the SEC as Petroleum Refining, while MPC is classified as Petroleum Refining. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study COP when…
- Crude and natural-gas prices
- OPEC+ supply decisions
- Geopolitics and supply disruptions
- Capital discipline and shareholder returns
Study MPC when…
- Crude and natural-gas prices
- OPEC+ supply decisions
- Geopolitics and supply disruptions
- Capital discipline and shareholder returns
Shared research themes
Petroleum Refining (SEC industry)
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.COP's fiscal year ends December 31, while MPC's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 26matched transaction rows for COPand 15 for MPC. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
COP primary filings
MPC primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
More comparisons involving COP or MPC
COP vs MPC FAQs
Are COP and MPC direct competitors?
ConocoPhillips and Marathon Petroleum Corporation share the SEC industry classification “Petroleum Refining.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, COP or MPC?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this COP vs MPC comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers ConocoPhillips and Marathon Petroleum Corporation tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
COP vs MPC shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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