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KMI
Kinder Morgan, Inc. · Energy
$32.24
+0.94% this month
VERSUS
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COMPARE
MPLX
MPLX LP · Energy
$56.70
-0.30% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
KMI
2
MPLX
2
Comparison scoreboard
MIXED SETUPAI Score
KMI ✓42.2
MPLX 40.6
1Y Return
KMI +15.80%
MPLX ✓+20.39%
Fwd P/E
KMI 21.41
MPLX ✓11.52
Target Up.
KMI ✓+10.00%
MPLX +7.33%
Op. Margin
KMI 29.91%
MPLX N/A
Metrics last refreshed: 7/14/2026
Quick take
KMI vs MPLX: Kinder Morgan vs MPLX Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Kinder Morgan is a corporation-structured pipeline company with the largest US natural gas pipeline network, while MPLX is a Marathon Petroleum-sponsored MLP with Appalachian gas gathering and refined products pipelines. Kinder Morgan offers broader institutional access; MPLX offers higher distribution yield through MLP structure.
KMI vs MPLX is large corporation pipeline infrastructure for LNG and data center demand versus high-yield MLP gas gathering and refinery logistics — Kinder Morgan wins if LNG export volumes and data center gas demand grow; MPLX wins if Appalachian gas production and Marathon refining volumes sustain high distribution coverage.
Live analysis · updated 7/14/2026
KMI and MPLX are closely matched — they split the tracked metrics evenly. MPLX leads on both 1-year return (+20.39%) and forward P/E quality (11.52x vs 21.41x for KMI), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. Analyst consensus implies similar upside for both: +10.00% for KMI and +7.33% for MPLX.
Normalized 1Y performance
KMI
MPLX
Recent returns
KMI
MPLX
Analyst price targets & sentiment
KMI
Price target range
analyst mean$35.33
current price$32.24
+10.0% upside to analyst mean
MPLX · 14 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.1/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$54.00
analyst high$73.00
analyst mean$60.86
current price$56.70
+7.3% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
KMI may suit investors who:
- →want natural gas pipeline exposure for LNG export and data center power demand growth
- →prefer corporate structure (no K-1) for simpler tax reporting vs MLP
- →value Kinder Morgan's large network scale and broad fee-based cash flow diversification
- →believe natural gas infrastructure is essential for the energy transition as a backup to intermittent renewables
MPLX may suit investors who:
- →want a higher distribution yield from MLP structure for income-focused portfolios
- →value fee-based Appalachian gas gathering tied to Marcellus and Utica shale production
- →are comfortable with MLP K-1 tax complexity in exchange for MLP distribution tax advantages
- →prefer Marathon Petroleum's sponsorship as a parent that has financially supported MPLX consistently
Performance & AI score
| Metric | KMI | MPLX |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 42.2 | 40.6 |
| AI rank | #947 | #1120 |
| Latest close | $32.24 | $56.70 |
| 1M return | +0.94% | -0.30% |
| 6M return | +18.88% | +9.47% |
| 1Y return | +15.80% | +20.39% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | KMI | MPLX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.38K (+13.8%) started 2025-07-14 | $13.06K (+30.6%) started 2025-07-14 |
| 5Y ago | $29.65K (+196.5%) started 2021-07-14 | $53.79K (+437.9%) started 2021-07-14 |
| 10Y ago | $44.42K (+344.2%) started 2016-07-14 | $166.52K (+1565.2%) started 2016-07-14 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | KMI | MPLX |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $71.46B | $57.54B |
| Trailing P/E | 21.56 | 12.27 |
| Forward P/E | 21.41 | 11.52 |
| Price/Sales | N/A | 4.90 |
| EV/Revenue | 5.98 | 7.07 |
| Analyst target | $35.33 | $60.86 |
| Target upside | +10.00% | +7.33% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | KMI | MPLX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 13.80% | -2.80% |
| Earnings growth | 36.00% | -18.40% |
| EPS growth | +36.00% | -18.40% |
| FCF margin | +9.40% | +16.45% |
| Operating margin | 29.91% | N/A |
| Profit margin | 18.92% | 40.03% |
| ROIC proxy | 10.60% | 33.41% |
| Return on equity | 10.60% | 33.41% |
| Dividend yield | 3.63% | 7.56% |
| Beta | 0.53 | 0.45 |
| Debt/equity | 98.84 | 182.79 |
| Current ratio | 0.52 | 1.10 |
| Quick ratio | 0.32 | 1.02 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
KMI max drawdown10.08%
MPLX max drawdown7.71%
KMI max wkly drop8.70%
MPLX max wkly drop5.19%
5Y risk snapshot
KMI max drawdown20.31%
MPLX max drawdown18.46%
KMI max wkly drop15.66%
MPLX max wkly drop15.94%
10Y risk snapshot
KMI max drawdown55.13%
MPLX max drawdown75.21%
KMI max wkly drop35.61%
MPLX max wkly drop45.62%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | KMI | MPLX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +13.84% | +20.39% |
| CAGR | +13.90% | +20.40% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.52 | 0.96 | |
| Max drawdown | 10.08% | 7.71% | |
| Max daily drop | 4.75% | 3.51% | |
| Max wkly drop | 8.70% | 5.19% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +127.61% | +209.82% |
| CAGR | +17.89% | +25.38% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.65 | 1.04 | |
| Max drawdown | 20.31% | 18.46% | |
| Max daily drop | 9.28% | 7.07% | |
| Max wkly drop | 15.66% | 15.94% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +146.00% | +304.85% |
| CAGR | +9.42% | +15.01% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.30 | 0.46 | |
| Max drawdown | 55.13% | 75.21% | |
| Max daily drop | 21.04% | 17.61% | |
| Max wkly drop | 35.61% | 45.62% |
Business comparison
| Category | KMI | MPLX |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Kinder Morgan, Inc. | MPLX LP |
| Sector | Energy | Energy |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | One of the largest US energy infrastructure companies with 82,000+ miles of pipeline transporting natural gas, refined products, crude, and CO2. Kinder Morgan is structured as a corporation (not an MLP), having converted in 2014. | Midstream MLP owned ~65% by Marathon Petroleum. MPLX operates natural gas gathering and processing and refined products pipelines and storage primarily in the Midwest and Appalachia. MPLX has a high distribution yield supported by fee-based cash flows. |
| Investor focus | Natural gas pipeline volume growth from LNG export and data center demand, project backlog expansion, dividend growth, and balance sheet deleveraging. | Distributable cash flow per unit, distribution growth, Appalachian gas gathering and processing volume, and the MLP structure's tax treatment for income investors. |
KMI strengths
- →Kinder Morgan's natural gas pipeline network is essential infrastructure for US LNG export terminal feed gas supply
- →Data center electricity demand is creating new natural gas pipeline volume as utilities add gas-fired generation
- →Corporation structure (vs MLP) makes KMI eligible for more mainstream institutional and index fund ownership
MPLX strengths
- →MPLX's fee-based cash flows from long-term contracts with Marathon Petroleum provide high distribution coverage
- →Appalachian natural gas gathering provides exposure to the Marcellus and Utica shale basin production growth
- →High distribution yield makes MPLX attractive for income investors seeking midstream cash flows
Risks to watch — KMI
- →Natural gas pipeline volume depends on LNG export terminal construction and US natural gas production levels
- →Kinder Morgan reduced its dividend in 2015 — investors still monitor dividend coverage carefully relative to that history
- →CO2 pipeline segment for enhanced oil recovery is in secular decline as US tertiary oil recovery matures
Risks to watch — MPLX
- →MLP tax structure (K-1 forms) creates administrative complexity for some investors, particularly tax-exempt entities
- →Marathon Petroleum's parent ownership concentration means MPLX's strategy is tied to Marathon's refining business needs
- →MLP units are less liquid and widely owned than corporations like KMI
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