Marathon Petroleum
This is a solid way for investors who are more conservative to play the energy sector. Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) operates as an integrated downstream energy company, primarily in the United States.
The Refining & Marketing segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks at its refineries in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent and West Coast regions of the United States. It purchases refined products and ethanol for resale. Its refined products include transportation fuels, such as reformulated and blend-grade gasolines, as well as heavy fuel oil and asphalt.
This segment also manufactures aromatics, propane, propylene and sulfur. It sells refined products to wholesale marketing customers in the United States and internationally, buyers on the spot market and independent entrepreneurs who operate primarily Marathon branded outlets, as well as through long-term fuel supply contracts to direct dealer locations primarily under the ARCO brand.
The Midstream segment transports, stores, distributes and markets crude oil and refined products through refining logistics assets, pipelines, terminals, towboats and barges. It gathers, processes and transports natural gas, and it gathers, transports, fractionates, stores and markets natural gas liquids. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 7,159 brand jobber outlets in 37 states, the District of Columbia and Mexico through independent entrepreneurs.
Shareholders receive a 1.28% dividend. Marathon Petroleum stock has a $48 price target at Raymond James. The consensus target is $34.40, and shares closed on Tuesday at $27.85.
Starwood Property Trust
This high-yielding REIT is run by real estate legend Barry Sternlicht and offers big-time total return potential. Starwood Property Trust Inc. (NYSE: STWD) operates in the United States, Europe and Australia through the following segments.
The Commercial and Residential Lending segment originates, acquires, finances and manages commercial first mortgages, non-agency residential mortgages, subordinated mortgages, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and residential mortgage-backed securities, as well as other real estate and real estate-related debt investments, including distressed or nonperforming loans.
The Infrastructure lending segment originates, acquires, finances and manages infrastructure debt investments. The Property segment engages primarily in acquiring and managing equity interests in stabilized commercial real estate properties, such as multifamily properties and commercial properties subject to net leases, that are held for investment.
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