Who Owns Marathon?
Marathon is a fuel brand owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: MPC), America's largest refiner. The brand's heritage traces to Ohio Oil Company's Marathon gasoline introduced in 1930. As of December 31, 2025, approximately 7,882 Marathon-branded outlets operated across 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Mexico, nearly all run by independent jobbers under supply agreements.
Parent Company
Founded
1930
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Who Owns Marathon?
- Parent Company: Marathon Petroleum Corporation
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: MPC
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Marathon Petroleum Corporation | Subsidiary |
History of Marathon
- Founded: 1930
- Founders: Ohio Oil Company
Ohio Oil Company began in 1887 in Lima, Ohio, becoming the largest oil producer in the state before Standard Oil absorbed it. After the 1911 antitrust breakup it went independent again, and in 1930 it adopted the Marathon name for its gasoline, borrowed from its "Marathon" brand of motor fuel marketed since the late 1920s. The runner-and-torch imagery fit the era's performance marketing.
The Marathon brand grew across the Midwest and South through service stations tied to the company's Findlay refining base. In 1962, the parent officially became Marathon Oil Company, cementing the brand identity. Marathon stations expanded through the interstate era, and the company built one of the largest jobber networks in American fuel retail.
The 2009 spin-off created Marathon Petroleum as the downstream company, and the 2018 acquisition of Andeavor for roughly $23 billion transformed it into the largest US refiner, adding ARCO and western marketing to the Marathon brand. Speedway, the company-owned convenience chain acquired through the Emro lineage and expanded for decades, was sold to 7-Eleven for $21 billion in 2021, leaving Marathon and ARCO as the brand portfolio.
Today the Marathon brand anchors a ~7,882-outlet network that is one of the largest in the country, marketing about 2.4 million barrels per day of refined product to end users alongside ARCO.
About Marathon Petroleum Corporation
What does Marathon Petroleum own?
Marathon Petroleum Corporation owns 13 petroleum refineries across the United States with approximately 3 million barrels per day of capacity, approximately 7,300 Marathon-branded and ARCO-branded retail stations (operated by independent dealers), and a controlling approximately 64% interest in MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX), a midstream master limited partnership that operates approximately 14,000 miles of pipelines and 150-plus storage terminals. MPC also owns renewable diesel production facilities in Dickinson, North Dakota.
Is Marathon Petroleum the same as Marathon Oil?
No. Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: MPC) and Marathon Oil Corporation were separate companies following a 2011 spin-off. MPC is the downstream refining and marketing company. Marathon Oil was the upstream exploration and production company. In 2024, Marathon Oil was acquired by ConocoPhillips for approximately $22.5 billion. MPC is not affected by this acquisition and remains an independent company. The two companies share a name due to their common origin but have no shared ownership or governance.
Is Marathon Petroleum publicly traded?
Yes, Marathon Petroleum Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MPC. The company has a single-class share structure with one vote per share. Its largest shareholders are institutional investors including Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street, none of which have controlling ownership.
Does Marathon Petroleum still own Speedway?
No. MPC sold Speedway to 7-Eleven (owned by Seven and i Holdings) in 2021 for $21 billion in cash. The sale included approximately 3,900 Speedway stores across 36 states. Speedway is now a brand owned by 7-Eleven and is no longer affiliated with Marathon Petroleum. MPC retained its Marathon-branded wholesale marketing network, which operates through independent dealers rather than company-owned stores.
What is MPLX?
MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX) is a master limited partnership that operates Marathon Petroleum's midstream business. MPLX owns and operates approximately 14,000 miles of crude oil and refined product pipelines, 150-plus storage terminals, natural gas gathering and processing facilities, and marine transportation assets. MPC owns approximately 64% of MPLX's common units and 100% of its general partner interest, giving MPC control of MPLX's operations. MPLX is consolidated into MPC's financial statements but also files its own public reports with the SEC.
What is Marathon Petroleum's revenue?
MPC reported FY2024 revenue of $148.4 billion (calendar year ended December 31, 2024), down from $156.8 billion in FY2023. Net income was $3.6 billion, down from $9.7 billion in FY2023. The decline reflects lower refining margins compared to the record highs of 2022, when net income was $14.8 billion. The company generated $7.8 billion in cash from operations in FY2024 and returned $5.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
- Founded: 1984
- Headquarters: Findlay, Ohio, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: MPC
- Revenue: $140.4 billion (FY2025, calendar year ended December 31, 2025)
- Employees: Approximately 18,000
Where Is Marathon Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Findlay, Ohio, USA
Marathon Categories & Tags
Marathon Recalls & Controversies
Marathon's controversies sit mostly at the parent level: refinery emissions and environmental enforcement (including Clean Air Act settlements at various refineries), the Detroit refinery's community air-quality debates, and climate-transition questions facing all refiners.
Retail-side issues are typical of dealer fuel networks: station pricing complaints during spikes and periodic franchise disagreements. The Speedway sale in 2021 removed the company from direct convenience retail scrutiny, and the FTC required modest divestitures when MPC bought Andeavor in 2018.
Brands Owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Marathon Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Nearly 7,900 branded outlets make it a top-tier national network
- +Backed by the largest US refining system (~3M bpd, 13 refineries)
- +Jobber model extends reach without company retail capital
- +95-year brand heritage with Midwest/South recognition
- +MakeItCount loyalty and MPLX logistics integration
Considerations
- -Dealer-operated network limits retail experience control
- -Gasoline demand faces long-term EV erosion
- -Refining margin cyclicality drives parent economics
- -Brand concentration in the eastern US leaves the West to ARCO
Frequently Asked Questions About Marathon
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Marathon
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips 66 | USA | 1875 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Phillips 66 | USA | 1927 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Exxon Mobil | USA | 1972 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Exxon Mobil | USA | 1966 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| Phillips 66 | USA | 1932 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Imperial Oil | Canada | 1911 | Mass market | Canada | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Energy UtilitiesConoco
Owned by Phillips 66
Conoco is a historic American fuel brand owned by Phillips 66, fronting branded gas stations primarily in the western and midwestern United States.
fuelgasolinepetroleum
Energy UtilitiesPhillips 66
Owned by Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is the flagship fuel marketing brand of the downstream energy company of the same name, fronting about 7,620 branded US outlets alongside Conoco and 76.
fuelgasolinepetroleum
Energy UtilitiesExxon
Owned by Exxon Mobil Corporation
American petroleum fuel brand providing gasoline and diesel products globally, owned by Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM), one of the world's largest integrated energy companies.
fuelgasolinepetroleum
Energy UtilitiesMobil
Owned by Exxon Mobil Corporation
American petroleum fuel and lubricants brand owned by ExxonMobil, sold globally alongside Exxon and Esso-branded fuel stations and Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil.
fuelgasolinepetroleum
Energy Utilities76
Owned by Phillips 66
76 is a classic American fuel brand owned by Phillips 66, famous for its orange ball logo, fronting branded gas stations primarily in the western United States.
fuelgasolineclassic-brand
Energy UtilitiesEsso
Owned by Imperial Oil Limited
Canadian gasoline and convenience store brand operated by Imperial Oil Limited, majority-owned (69.6%) by ExxonMobil. Esso operates service stations across all Canadian provinces, supplying gasoline, diesel, and convenience products.
gasolinefuelconvenience
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Marathon competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to Marathon
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Energy UtilitiesPhillips 66
Owned by Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is the flagship fuel marketing brand of the downstream energy company of the same name, fronting about 7,620 branded US outlets alongside Conoco and 76.
fuelgasolinepetroleum
Publicly Traded
Phillips 66 operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Energy UtilitiesChevron
Owned by Chevron Corporation
American fuel retail brand operating more than 7,000 gas stations across the United States, known for gasoline with Techron additive and ExtraMile convenience stores.
gas-stationfuel-retailtechron
Publicly Traded
Chevron operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Energy UtilitiesCMS Energy
Owned by CMS Energy
American energy company providing electricity and natural gas utility services to Michigan residents through Consumers Energy subsidiary.
energy-utilityelectricitynatural-gas
Publicly Traded
CMS Energy operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Energy UtilitiesAdani Power
Owned by Adani Group
India's largest private thermal power producer, operating approximately 17,550 megawatts of installed capacity across eight states, listed on NSE and BSE.
power-generationenergythermal-power
Privately Owned
Adani Power is privately owned, unlike Marathon which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Energy UtilitiesCenex
Owned by CHS Inc.
American fuel, lubricant, and convenience store brand owned by CHS Inc., the nation's largest farmer-owned cooperative, operating roughly 1,400 locations across 19 states.
fuelgas-stationsconvenience-stores
Privately Owned
Cenex is privately owned, unlike Marathon which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Energy UtilitiesConoco
Owned by Phillips 66
Conoco is a historic American fuel brand owned by Phillips 66, fronting branded gas stations primarily in the western and midwestern United States.
fuelgasolinepetroleum
Publicly Traded
Conoco is owned by Phillips 66, offering a different ownership alternative.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation Stock Information
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