Murphy USA Inc. $MUSA Stock Acquired by EULAV Asset Management

Key Points

• EULAV Asset Management increased its Murphy USA stake by 4.1% in the third quarter, adding 2,001 shares and bringing its holdings to 50,406 shares valued at approximately $25.4 million. Institutional investors own 80.81% of the company.
• Murphy USA reported quarterly EPS of $11.27, surpassing the $9.95 analyst consensus, while revenue rose 36% year over year to $6.81 billion. Analysts expect full-year EPS of $34.64.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.72 per share from $0.65, representing an annualized payout of $2.88 and a 0.5% yield. Analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with a $605.33 target price, versus a recent share price of $534.56.

EULAV Asset Management boosted its position in shares of Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA - Free Report) by 4.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 50,406 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 2,001 shares during the period. EULAV Asset Management owned approximately 0.27% of Murphy USA worth $25,406,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Murphy USA by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,625 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $876,000 after buying an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Kenora Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Murphy USA by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Kenora Financial LLC now owns 654 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $323,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Murphy USA by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 826 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $416,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Murphy USA by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 864 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $427,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Murphy USA by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 802 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $433,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. 80.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Murphy USA Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE MUSA opened at $534.56 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $9.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.29. Murphy USA Inc. has a twelve month low of $349.83 and a twelve month high of $636.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.77. The business's fifty day moving average is $527.83 and its 200 day moving average is $548.14.

Murphy USA (NYSE:MUSA - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The specialty retailer reported $11.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $9.95 by $1.32. The business had revenue of $6.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.03 billion. Murphy USA had a return on equity of 96.01% and a net margin of 2.87%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 36.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $7.36 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Murphy USA Inc. will post 34.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Murphy USA Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 4th. This is a positive change from Murphy USA's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Murphy USA's payout ratio is 7.92%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Eric J. Bartko sold 100 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $523.60, for a total value of $52,360.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 252 shares of the company's stock, valued at $131,947.20. This represents a 28.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Rosemary Turner sold 966 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.88, for a total transaction of $552,436.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 449 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $256,774.12. This trade represents a 68.27% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 9.02% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on MUSA. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Murphy USA from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Murphy USA from $520.00 to $570.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, July 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Murphy USA from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $380.00 to $550.00 in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Murphy USA from $619.00 to $612.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Murphy USA from $633.00 to $626.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Murphy USA has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $605.33.

Murphy USA Profile

Murphy USA Inc is a U.S. operator of retail fuel and convenience stores. The company sells gasoline and diesel fuel along with tobacco products, packaged beverages, snacks, candy, grocery items, general merchandise and other convenience products. Many locations also offer prepared food and related services.

The company operates stores under the Murphy USA and Murphy Express brands, with a network concentrated primarily in the Southern, Southeastern and Midwestern United States. Murphy USA locations are commonly situated near Walmart stores, while Murphy Express sites generally operate as standalone convenience stores.

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