MPLX LP

Pipe Lines (No Natural Gas)
Stock Price
$57.68
+$0.78 (+1.37%)
Jun 23, 2026
Debt to Equity
170.5%
ROE
33.1%
PE Ratio
12.27
EPS (Diluted)
$4.65

Mplx Lp (MPLX) Fundamental Analysis

MPLX LP is a midstream energy infrastructure partnership that operates pipelines, terminals and related logistics assets and exhibits a cash-generative, high-margin financial profile rather than a low-margin commodity merchant model.

Profitability and Growth Outlook

The company's profitability and growth stand out: gross margin remains very high at 88.0% and the most recent net profit margin is 38.1%, with operating margin last reported at 79.4% (Profit Margin Trends). MPLX has also delivered strong per-share and EPS compounding — a five‑year EPS CAGR of roughly 37.8% and a five‑year revenue‑per‑share CAGR near 33.3%, with the most recent revenue‑per‑share growth at about 8.9% (Revenue & EPS Growth; EPS Diluted & Revenue per Share). Earnings quality is supported by operating cash flow that has risen from $1.29B in 2016 to $5.02B in the TTM observation and currently exceeds reported net income ($5.02B OCF vs $4.74B net income), underscoring cash conversion strength (Earnings Quality Analysis; Revenue & Net Income).

Areas of Concern

At the same time, there are clear areas of concern. Liquidity metrics are weak: the current ratio is below 1.0 at 0.925, which signals tighter short‑term liquidity despite interest coverage of a comfortable 5.54x. Capital‑flow volatility is notable — investing cash flow was -$956M (TTM) and financing cash flow showed a large negative of -$1.99B as of 2026‑03‑31 — and revenue exhibits large quarter-to-quarter swings (most recent reported revenue was $9.13B for 2025 Q4 but the series contains previous negative quarterly revenue entries), pointing to operational and timing variability in top-line recognition (Strategic Capital Allocation; Revenue & Net Income).

Key Metrics to Monitor

Key fundamental metrics to watch going forward are ongoing operating cash flow versus net income (to confirm persistent cash conversion), revenue‑per‑share growth and quarterly revenue volatility, the current ratio and other short‑term liquidity measures, and margin and ROE trends (most recent ROE ~33.1%) as well as the trajectory of the P/E ratio (most recent 12.3x) to track how earnings and market multiple evolve (Earnings Quality Analysis; Return on Equity (ROE); Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio Trend).

Revenue and Growth

Revenue Trend

Revenue & Net Income

The foundation of business quality and long-term value creation

Revenue & Net Income Growth

MPLX LP’s revenue history shows pronounced volatility with large year-end spikes and several quarters of much smaller or negative amounts. In 2025 the company reported sequential revenues of $197.0M (Q1), $3.14B (Q2), $535.0M (Q3) and a large $9.13B in Q4; comparable year-end peaks include $13.18B (Q4 2024) and $12.35B (Q4 2022). The series also includes multiple negative quarterly revenue entries in earlier periods (e.g., -$1.25B on 2024-06-30, -$1.19B on 2022-09-30, -$6.82B on 2020-12-31), representing notable inflection points in the revenue pattern.

Net income has been consistently positive across recent quarters, generally near the high hundreds of millions in most quarters and substantially larger in some year-end periods. Recent net income readings include $1.14B (2025-03-31) and $3.82B (2025-12-31), with the most recent quarter (2026-03-31) reporting $922.0M. The most recent reported revenue was $9.13B (period ending 2025-12-31) and the most recent reported net income was $922.0M (period ending 2026-03-31).

Why Growth Matters

Consistent revenue and earnings growth are the lifeblood of successful long-term investments. Companies that can grow their top line (revenue) and bottom line (net income) over many years demonstrate they have products or services customers value and are willing to pay for repeatedly.

Revenue Growth shows whether the company is expanding its market reach, gaining market share, or successfully launching new products.Net Income Growth demonstrates the company can convert that revenue into actual profits while managing costs effectively.

Look for steady, sustainable growth rather than erratic spikes. The best businesses compound earnings year after year, creating tremendous value for shareholders over time. Companies that can grow earnings faster than revenue are improving their profitability—a sign of operational excellence and competitive strength.

MPLX LP (MPLX) quarterly revenue and net income trend analysis showing historical financial performance over multiple years. Interactive chart displaying revenue growth, net income trends, and profitability patterns for MPLX stock with quarterly and annual data points.

Revenue & Net Income Trend

Revenue
Net Income

EPS Diluted & Revenue per Share

Per-share earnings and revenue — the shareholder's view of growth

Why Per-Share Metrics Matter

Total revenue and net income can grow simply because a company issues more shares or makes acquisitions. Per-share metrics cut through that noise — they show how much value each single share of stock is generating, which is what actually matters to shareholders.

Revenue per Share (split-adjusted) tells you how much revenue the business generates for every share outstanding. Growing revenue per share means the company is either expanding the business or shrinking the share count — both shareholder-friendly signals.EPS Diluted (split-adjusted) captures bottom-line earnings per share after accounting for all dilutive instruments such as stock options and convertible debt.

The most powerful signal is when both lines rise together over many years. If revenue per share grows but EPS lags, margins are being squeezed. If EPS grows faster than revenue per share, the company is becoming more profitable — a hallmark of businesses with durable competitive advantages. Watch for share buybacks, which can mechanically lift EPS even if total earnings are flat.

MPLX LP (MPLX) EPS diluted and revenue per share trend showing historical per-share earnings and revenue performance over time.

EPS Diluted & Revenue per Share

Revenue Per Share
Earnings Per Share (Diluted)

Revenue & EPS Growth

Year-over-year growth rates for revenue and earnings per share

Reading the Growth Rate Chart

This chart converts the absolute per-share figures into year-over-year percentage changes, making it easy to see whether growth is accelerating, decelerating, or reverting to trend — regardless of the company's absolute size.

Revenue per Share Growth (1-year, split-adjusted) measures how quickly the top line is expanding on a per-share basis. Sustained positive growth signals that the company continues to win customers and grow its addressable market.EPS Diluted Growth (1-year, split-adjusted) measures how quickly earnings are compounding for each shareholder. When EPS growth consistently outpaces revenue growth, operating leverage and margin expansion are at work.

Look for consistency, not just magnitude. A company that reliably grows EPS 10–15% per year is far more valuable than one that alternates between 50% spikes and deep contractions. Negative EPS growth during a period of positive revenue growth is a red flag — costs are rising faster than sales. Quarters where both lines converge near zero or go negative deserve close scrutiny.

MPLX LP (MPLX) year-over-year revenue per share and EPS diluted growth rate trend analysis showing historical growth performance.

Revenue & EPS Growth

Avg:
Revenue Per Share year-on-year growth rate
Diluted EPS year-on-year growth rate
10Y rolling avg (dashed)

Revenue Analysis

Revenue Waterfall Analysis

How revenue converts to net income for the most recent annual period

MPLX LP (MPLX) revenue waterfall chart showing the breakdown from total revenue to net income. Displays cost of goods sold, operating expenses, selling and administrative costs, research and development expenses, tax expenses, and final net income for MPLX. Annual financial statement waterfall analysis showing profit margin components and expense structure.

Over the period Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, Mplx Lp converts approximately 88¢ of every revenue dollar into gross profit (gross margin: 88.0%).After accounting for operating expenses and taxes and expenses, the company retains 38.1% as net profit margin, resulting in $4.95B in net earnings.

Starting Revenue
Expenses
Other Items
Net Income

Period Information

Report Type: Annual (10-K)

Period: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025

Revenue Sources

Revenue composition by disclosure category for the latest period

Customer Profile

Our sponsor and customer identified in the filing is "MPC", defined explicitly as Marathon Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries. The filing refers to MPC as both the Partnership's sponsor and a customer. No other customer types or specific customer relationships are explicitly described in the provided Item 1 excerpt.

Key Dependencies or Concentration Risks

The filing explicitly identifies MPC as the Partnership's sponsor and customer, indicating a direct dependence on MPC for sponsorship and customer activity. No additional concentration metrics, other single-customer dependencies, or further details about reliance on specific customers are included in the provided excerpt.

Period: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025
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Profitability

Profit Margins

Earnings Quality

Earnings Quality Analysis

Comparing reported earnings to actual cash generation

Earnings Quality Analysis — Net Income vs Operating Cash Flow (TTM)

MPLX LP's trailing twelve‑month net income rose into the high single‑digit billions in recent years, peaking at $4.95B at 2025‑12‑31 and then edging down to $4.74B as of 2026‑03‑31. The available operating cash flow TTM datapoint in the series is $5.02B as of 2022‑12‑31; that operating cash flow value is slightly higher than the most recent net income observations, though the cash flow figure is from an earlier period in the series.

Over the longer term both metrics show substantial growth from mid‑2010s levels (net income of $233M in 2016 and operating cash flow of $1.29B in 2016) to multibillion dollar figures by 2019–2022, with notable inflection points around 2016–2017 (earnings increase to $794M) and the 2018–2019 period when operating cash flow climbed above $2.8B to roughly $4.08B. The most recent Net Income (TTM) was $4.74B (period end 2026‑03‑31). The most recent Operating Cash Flow (TTM) was $5.02B (period end 2022‑12‑31).

The Earnings vs. Cash Flow Gap

Reported earnings (Net Income) doesn't always reflect actual cash generation. Companies use accrual accounting, which recognizes revenue when earned and expenses when incurred—not when cash actually changes hands. This creates timing differences and opportunities for accounting discretion that can mask underlying business health.

Net Income (the "earnings" number) can be influenced by non-cash items like depreciation, stock-based compensation, and changes in accounting estimates.Operating Cash Flow, however, shows the actual cash the business generates from its core operations—a harder number to manipulate.

Net Income vs Operating Cash Flow

Trailing Twelve Months

Net Income (Trailing Twelve Months)
Operating Cash Flow (Trailing Twelve Months)

What to Look For

  • Consistent Alignment: High-quality earnings show operating cash flow tracking closely with or exceeding net income over time. This indicates the company is actually collecting cash from its reported profits.
  • Warning Sign - Divergence: If net income consistently exceeds cash flow, the company may be reporting earnings that aren't translating to cash. This could indicate aggressive revenue recognition, growing receivables that may not be collected, or inventory building up.
  • Positive Sign - Cash Exceeds Earnings: When cash flow exceeds net income, it often reflects conservative accounting (like accelerated depreciation) or strong working capital management. This is generally a sign of high earnings quality.
  • Quarterly Volatility is Normal: Some variation is expected due to timing of collections, seasonal factors, and one-time items. Focus on the trend over multiple quarters rather than any single period.

Key Insight: Companies with durable competitive advantages typically show operating cash flow that meets or exceeds net income over time, demonstrating they convert accounting profits into actual cash that can be returned to shareholders or reinvested in the business.

Return on Equity

Return on Equity (ROE)

Measuring management's efficiency at generating profits from shareholder capital

Return on Equity (ROE)

MPLX LP's return on equity has been elevated in recent quarters, with a slight decline from 34.1% at 2025-12-31 to 33.1% at 2026-03-31.

The series shows a multi-year increase from 7.2% in 2017 to 25.5% in 2021 and then to 31.4% at 2022-12-31, followed by a peak of 40.5% reported for both 2023-03-31 and 2023-06-30.

Key Inflection Points

  • The substantial rise between 2017 and 2021
  • The peak at 40.5% in early-mid 2023
  • The subsequent moderation into the low-to-mid 30% range by late 2025 and early 2026

The most recent quarterly Return on Equity (ROE) was 33.1%.

The Gold Standard of Profitability

Return on Equity (ROE) is a powerful measure of how effectively a company's management is using the money shareholders have invested. Calculated by dividing Net Income by Shareholders' Equity, it reveals how much profit is generated for every dollar of equity capital.

A consistently high ROE (typically above 15-20%) is often the signature of a "quality" business with a durable competitive advantage. It indicates that the company can generate high returns on its own capital, which it can then reinvest at these high rates to compound value over time.

What to Look For:

  • Consistency: Look for an ROE that is stable or rising over time. Erratic ROE can signal cyclicality or inconsistent management.
  • Quality vs. Leverage: While a high ROE is generally positive, it can sometimes be artificially inflated by high debt (leverage). Always cross-reference ROE with the company's Debt-to-Equity ratio to ensure the profitability is coming from operational excellence rather than excessive borrowing.
  • Comparison: ROE is most meaningful when compared against industry peers or the company's own historical average.
MPLX LP (MPLX) Return on Equity (ROE) historical trend analysis. Quarterly chart showing the company's return on equity over time, reflecting management's efficiency in using shareholder capital.

Return on Equity Trend

Avg:
Return on Equity
10Y rolling avg (dashed)

Capital Allocation & Cash Flow

Capital Strategy

Strategic Capital Allocation

How the company generates and deploys its cash

Strategic Capital Allocation — Cash Flow Allocation Trend (TTM)

MPLX LP's trailing-twelve-month operating cash flow shows a clear upward trend over the series, rising from $1.29B in 2016 to $1.91B in 2017, $2.83B in 2018, $4.08B in 2019 and reaching $5.02B in the most recent operating TTM observation (period end 2022-12-31). Investing cash flow moved from a small positive $87.4M in 2012 to increasingly negative levels, with recent TTM values of -$518.0M (2021-12-31) and -$956.0M (2022-12-31), reflecting larger investing outflows in the latest investing TTM data.

Financing Cash Flow Variability

Financing cash flow has been more variable: relatively modest negatives earlier in the series shifted to large outflows around 2021 (-$4.39B) and early 2022 (-$4.19B TTM), then showed smaller negative TTM at -$435.0M as of 2025-12-31 and moved to a larger negative again at -$1.99B as of 2026-03-31. The most recent TTM values are: Operating Cash Flow $5.02B (period end 2022-12-31), Investing Cash Flow -$956.0M (period end 2022-12-31), and Financing Cash Flow -$1.99B (period end 2026-03-31).

Understanding Company Strategy

Capital allocation refers to how management decides to spend and invest the company's cash. Analyzing the three primary categories of cash flow reveals a company's true operational strategy:

  • Operating Cash Flow: The engine of the business. This shows how much cash is generated from core operations. Sustainable businesses should ideally fund their growth and shareholder returns primarily from this source.
  • Investing Cash Flow: The future of the business. This includes spending on new equipment, R&D, and acquisitions. Consistent negative values are normal for growing companies as they reinvest in their future.
  • Financing Cash Flow: The funding of the business. This reflects capital raising (issuing stock or debt) versus returning capital to shareholders (dividends and buybacks) or repaying debt.

What to look for: Is the company bootstrapping (funding growth solely from operating cash)? Are they borrowing to fund aggressive expansion or dividends? Or are they capital raising by issuing new shares, potentially diluting your ownership? A healthy, mature company typically generates strong operating cash, moderately invests in growth, and returns the surplus to shareholders through financing activities.

MPLX LP (MPLX) cash flow allocation analysis. Quarterly chart displaying the three pillars of cash flow: net cash from operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities, providing insight into the company's capital allocation strategy.

Cash Flow Allocation Trend

Trailing Twelve Months

Operating CF (TTM)
Investing CF (TTM)
Financing CF (TTM)

Balance Sheet

Book Value per Share

Book Value per Share

Net assets attributable to each share — the accounting floor of intrinsic value

Why Book Value per Share Matters

Book value per share is the net worth of the company — total assets minus total liabilities — divided by shares outstanding (split-adjusted). It represents the theoretical liquidation value per share if every asset were sold and every liability repaid at balance-sheet carrying values. It is the accounting foundation upon which much of equity valuation is built.

A steadily rising book value per share is one of the most reliable signals of compounding wealth creation. It means the company is retaining earnings and building net worth faster than it is returning capital or eroding it. Warren Buffett famously tracked Berkshire Hathaway's book value per share for decades as his primary measure of intrinsic value growth.

Context is essential. Asset-heavy businesses (banks, manufacturers, utilities) should be judged by book value more directly than asset-light businesses (software, consumer brands), where intangible assets like intellectual property and customer loyalty may far exceed their balance-sheet carrying values. A company trading at a large premium to book value is not necessarily overvalued — it may simply possess competitive advantages that accounting rules do not capture. Conversely, a declining book value per share — especially over multiple years — is a serious warning sign of capital destruction.

MPLX LP (MPLX) book value per share trend showing historical net asset value per share over time, split-adjusted.

Book Value per Share

Book Value Per Share

Debt to Equity

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

How much of the company is financed by debt versus shareholders' equity

Reading the Debt-to-Equity Ratio

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio compares total financial debt to shareholders' equity. A ratio of 1.0 means the company has borrowed one dollar for every dollar of equity; a ratio of 2.0 means it has borrowed twice as much as it owns. Financial leverage amplifies both returns and risk: in good times, debt turbocharges equity returns; in bad times, it accelerates losses and can threaten solvency.

Trends matter more than a single number. A rising D/E ratio can mean the company is taking on debt to fund growth — potentially value-creating if returns exceed the cost of capital. But it can also mean equity is being eroded through losses or that the business is borrowing simply to sustain operations. A falling D/E ratio generally reflects strengthening financial health: earnings are being retained, debt maturities are being paid down, or both.

Industry norms vary enormously. Capital-intensive sectors (utilities, real estate, financials) routinely carry high D/E ratios that would be alarming in, say, a technology company. Always compare against sector peers. As a rough rule of thumb, a D/E above 2× in a cyclical business warrants careful scrutiny of interest coverage and refinancing risk.

MPLX LP (MPLX) debt-to-equity ratio trend showing the historical balance between financial leverage and shareholders' equity.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

Current Ratio

Current Ratio

Short-term liquidity — can the company cover its near-term obligations?

Liquidity: Can the Business Pay Its Bills?

The current ratio is calculated as current assets divided by current liabilities. A ratio of 1.5 means the company has $1.50 of short-term assets — cash, receivables, inventory — for every $1.00 of obligations due within the next twelve months. It is the most direct measure of near-term financial resilience: can the business meet its obligations without needing to raise new capital or sell long-term assets at a discount?

A ratio above 1.0 is generally healthy, meaning current assets exceed current liabilities. A ratio consistently above 2.0 may indicate the company is holding excess cash or inventory that could be deployed more productively. A ratio below 1.0 is a warning sign — the company is relying on future cash generation or external financing to cover its near-term obligations, which is manageable in normal conditions but dangerous during a downturn.

Trends and context matter.A declining current ratio isn't always alarming — highly efficient businesses (e.g., large retailers with reliable daily cash flows) often run leaner balance sheets intentionally. Conversely, a rapidly rising current ratio can signal slowing sales causing inventory to build, or customers taking longer to pay. Always compare the trend against industry peers and cross-reference with the cash flow statement to assess whether the business is genuinely liquid or just holding non-cash current assets.

MPLX LP (MPLX) current ratio trend showing the ratio of current assets to current liabilities over time, a measure of short-term liquidity.

Current Ratio

Current Ratio

Valuation

PE Ratio

Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio Trend

How much the market is paying for each dollar of company earnings

Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio

MPLX LP's trailing twelve-month P/E has ticked higher in the most recent quarter, rising to 12.3x at from 11.0x at . This recent uptick follows a period of single-digit P/Es in 2021–2023 (9.8x in ; 8.4x in ; 7.2x in ; 7.0x in ), so the latest quarters show a move back into low double-digit territory.

Over the longer horizon the P/E for MPLX LP has compressed materially from very elevated levels in the mid-2010s (582.3x in ; 617.1x in ; 153.9x in ; 46.2x in ) down to the single digits by 2021–2023 and now modestly higher in 2025–2026. The most recent P/E ratio for MPLX LP was 12.3x as of .

What Is the PE Ratio?

The Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio is one of the most widely used valuation metrics in investing. It divides the current stock price by the company's earnings per share (EPS), revealing how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings. A high PE can signal that the market expects strong future growth, while a low PE may suggest undervaluation—or reflect genuine concerns about the company's prospects.

Context matters:PE ratios vary significantly across industries. High-growth technology companies routinely trade at PE ratios above 30x or 40x, while mature, low-growth sectors like utilities or financials often trade closer to 10–15x. Always compare a company's PE to its own history and its industry peers, not just an absolute number.

What to Look For:

  • Expanding PE (Re-rating):If the PE is rising while earnings are also growing, the market is assigning increasing confidence in the company's future. If PE rises while earnings stagnate, it may signal speculative excess.
  • Contracting PE (De-rating): A falling PE can indicate the market is losing confidence in growth prospects. If earnings grow but the PE shrinks, total returns may be muted.
  • Negative PE: When a company is loss-making, the PE ratio is negative or undefined. In these cases, investors typically use other metrics such as Price-to-Sales (P/S) or EV/EBITDA.
  • Spikes and Troughs: Sudden PE spikes often occur when earnings temporarily collapse (making the divisor small) rather than when the stock price surges. Context is key.

Key Insight:The PE ratio is a snapshot of market sentiment and expectations. Tracking it over time alongside earnings trends reveals whether the market's valuation has expanded or contracted—and whether that change is justified by fundamentals.

MPLX LP (MPLX) Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio historical trend analysis. Quarterly chart showing how the market has valued the company's earnings over time.

PE Ratio Trend

Price-to-Earnings Ratio