Marathon Petroleum's profit beats on midstream unit strength
Adds details on share buyback and results throughout
Nov 5 (Reuters) -Top U.S. refiner Marathon Petroleum MPC.N reported a third-quarter profit on Tuesday that beat Wall Street estimates as strength in the company's midstream unit helped offset a decline in refining margins.
The company also approved an additional $5 billion share repurchase program, and now has $8.5 billion available under its share buyback authorization.
Marathon's shares rose 2.9% to $149.10 before the bell.
Adjusted core earnings at the company's midstream unit rose 5.8% to $1.6 billion in the third quarter, primarily driven by higher rates and volumes transported.
Marathon joined rivals such as Valero Energy VLO.N and Phillips 66 PSX.N in beating analysts' estimates, but posting a drop in income.
Global oil refiners are experiencing a decline in profitability, marking a downturn for an industry that had previously thrived in the post-pandemic period, highlighting the slowdown in global demand, especially in China.
Marathon said its third-quarter refining and marketing margin was $14.35 per barrel, compared with $26.16 per barrel a year earlier.
The company's quarterly crude capacity utilization was about 94%, resulting in total throughput of 3 million barrels per day (bpd), same as last year.
For the fourth quarter, Marathon forecast total refinery throughput of 2.88 million bpd.
Net income attributable to the company in the third quarter dropped 82% to $622 million, from last year.
Marathon earned $1.87 per share, compared with the average analyst estimate of 98 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Reporting by Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta
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