In September 22, 2023, it was reported that ProShare Advisors LLC reduced its holdings in Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA) by 11.2% during the first quarter of the year. According to the company’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the institutional investor sold 449 shares, resulting in a total ownership of 3,562 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock. At the time of the filing, ProShare Advisors LLC estimated the value of its holdings in Murphy USA to be approximately $919,000.
Murphy USA, a leading specialty retailer, had recently released its quarterly earnings data on August 2nd. The company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $6.02 for the quarter, which fell short of analysts’ consensus estimates by ($0.07). Despite this slight miss, Murphy USA still boasted a net profit margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 80.20%. The firm reported revenue amounting to $5.59 billion for the quarter, slightly lower than analyst projections of $5.61 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Murphy USA Inc. will achieve an EPS figure of 21.38 for the current fiscal year.
Various equities analysts have provided their opinions on Murphy USA’s stock performance as well. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a price objective of $370.00 per share in a research report published on August 3rd. Another analyst at StockNews.com upgraded their rating on Murphy USA from “hold” to “buy.” Meanwhile, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target from $362.00 to $360.00 and assigned a “sector perform” rating to the stock in another research report on August 3rd. Overall, there were mixed reviews with one analyst giving a sell rating while four others issued either hold or buy ratings for Murphy USA’s stock. The consensus rating based on Bloomberg.com’s data was a “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $318.60.
This news showcases the activity within the institutional investor landscape and highlights the market perception of Murphy USA Inc. Given the discrepancies between analysts’ estimates and actual earnings, it will be interesting to monitor how the company performs in the future and whether adjustments will be made to their strategic plans. With various ratings from equities analysts, investors may consider these opinions as they navigate their investment decisions.
Murphy USA Inc.
MUSA
Strong Buy
Updated on: 23/09/2023
Investor Activity and Insider Selling Shine Spotlight on Murphy USA Inc.’s Stock Performance
On September 22, 2023, several large investors made notable changes to their positions in Murphy USA Inc., a specialty retailer. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in the company by 5.2% during the first quarter, now owning 6,175 shares worth $1,593,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. also increased its stake in Murphy USA by 1.4% during the fourth quarter, now holding 6,228 shares valued at $1,744,000.
Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC saw a significant boost in its holdings of Murphy USA stock by 56% during the first quarter. The firm now owns 1,139 shares worth $293,000. Likewise, CWM LLC experienced a remarkable increase of 1,171.8% in its position in Murphy USA with ownership of 4,731 shares valued at $1,221,000. LSV Asset Management raised its holdings in the specialty retailer by 2.4%, now owning 50,264 shares worth $12,971,000.
It’s worth noting that these institutional investors hold approximately 83.95% of Murphy USA’s stock.
In other news related to Murphy USA Inc., SVP Christopher A. Click sold 700 shares of the company’s stock on August 7th at an average price of $302.31 per share for a total value of $211,617. Additionally, CEO R Andrew Clyde sold 18,971 shares on August 21st at an average price of $314.40 per share amounting to a total value of $5,964,.482.
Following this transaction by CEO R Andrew Clyde, he now directly owns approximately226 ,473 shares valued at around $71 ,203 ,111 .
Insiders have been actively selling their shares over the past quarter and collectively sold off a total of70 ,815sharesworth$22 ,153,785 . It should be noted that insiders now own 9.04% of the company’s shares.
On Friday, shares of Murphy USA Inc. opened at $339.73 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The stock has exhibited a fifty-day moving average of $316.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $290.14. With a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.94, the company maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.38. Over the past year, its share price has fluctuated between a low of $231.65 and a high of $343.50.
With a market capitalization of around $7.29 billion, Murphy USA Inc. currently holds a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.42 and boasts a beta value of 0.80, signaling moderate volatility in relation to the overall market trends.
In conclusion, recent changes to positions by large investors in Murphy USA Inc., coupled with insider transactions, have sparked interest in the company’s stock movement. As it continues to navigate through various developments within the industry and capital markets, shareholders and potential investors will closely observe how the specialty retailer performs in an ever-evolving market environment
