On February 13, 2024, Eric Bartko, Senior Vice President of Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA), sold 345 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction valued at approximately $139,669.80. The shares were sold at an average price of $404.84 each, resulting in Bartko’s ownership decreasing to 352 shares, with a total value of around $142,503.68. This represents a significant drop of 49.50% in his stake.
Stock Performance and Financial Metrics
Following the sale, Murphy USA’s stock experienced a slight increase, trading up $22.94 to reach $407.77 on the same day. The trading volume was notable, with 540,455 shares exchanged, significantly above the average volume of 347,425. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $345.23 and a high of $523.09.
Financially, Murphy USA holds a market capitalization of $7.57 billion. The company reflects a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.47, a quick ratio of 0.36, and a current ratio of 0.80. Its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 16.79, with a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66, indicating stable performance metrics. The fifty-day moving average is $413.22, while the 200-day moving average is $391.91.
Recent Earnings and Institutional Trading
Murphy USA’s latest earnings report, released on February 4, 2024, showed earnings per share (EPS) of $7.53, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $6.67 by $0.86. Revenue for the quarter reached $4.74 billion, slightly below the forecast of $4.88 billion. The company reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 0.7%, with a return on equity of 75.75% and a net margin of 2.43%.
Institutional trading activity shows an increase in investment interest in Murphy USA. Notably, Barclays PLC raised its position in the company by 318.6% in the third quarter, acquiring 424,818 shares worth approximately $164.94 million. Similarly, Norges Bank entered a new stake valued at roughly $93.97 million, while Neuberger Berman Group LLC expanded its holdings by an impressive 3,650.7%.
Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds own approximately 80.81% of Murphy USA’s stock, reflecting strong confidence in the company’s performance.
Analyst Ratings and Market Outlook
Market analysts have recently adjusted their ratings for Murphy USA. Royal Bank of Canada lowered its price target from $467.00 to $445.00, maintaining a “sector perform” rating. Meanwhile, Stephens adjusted its price objective from $475.00 to $450.00 with an “overweight” rating. KeyCorp set its target price at $500.00.
On the other hand, Wells Fargo & Company has reduced its price objective from $410.00 to $400.00 while maintaining an “equal weight” rating. In total, one analyst has issued a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating, and one has issued a Sell rating. The average rating for Murphy USA is currently “Hold,” with a target price of $457.50 according to MarketBeat.com.
Founded in El Dorado, Arkansas, Murphy USA is a prominent downstream marketer of gasoline, diesel, and convenience store products in the United States. Having spun off from Murphy Oil Corporation in 2013, the company has since focused on retail fueling services and convenience offerings aimed at enhancing consumer value and convenience.
