Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Invests $1.93 Million in Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 5,400 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $1,925,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Murphy USA by 15.1% in the fourth quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 18,801 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $6,704,000 after purchasing an additional 2,471 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Murphy USA by 17.5% during the fourth quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 323 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $115,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Murphy USA by 1,146.7% during the fourth quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 64,193 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $22,889,000 after acquiring an additional 59,044 shares in the last quarter. Narus Financial Partners LLC lifted its stake in Murphy USA by 44.6% in the fourth quarter. Narus Financial Partners LLC now owns 960 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $342,000 after acquiring an additional 296 shares during the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Murphy USA by 35,556.0% in the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 269,916 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $96,241,000 after acquiring an additional 269,159 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.81% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Murphy USA news, SVP Christopher A. Click sold 664 shares of Murphy USA stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $415.55, for a total value of $275,925.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,413 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,002,722.15. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, VP Donald R. Smith, Jr. sold 1,235 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $407.96, for a total transaction of $503,830.60. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 21,564 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,797,249.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Christopher A. Click sold 664 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $415.55, for a total transaction of $275,925.20. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,413 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,002,722.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 10,440 shares of company stock valued at $4,244,582 over the last 90 days. 9.04% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Murphy USA Stock Performance

NYSE MUSA traded up $4.38 on Friday, reaching $417.23. The stock had a trading volume of 171,633 shares, compared to its average volume of 206,221. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The company has a market cap of $8.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.36 and a beta of 0.76. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $411.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $380.49. Murphy USA Inc. has a 1-year low of $267.61 and a 1-year high of $430.83.

Murphy USA (NYSE:MUSA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The specialty retailer reported $7.00 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $5.79 by $1.21. The business had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.32 billion. Murphy USA had a net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 70.92%. Murphy USA's revenue for the quarter was down 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.21 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Murphy USA Inc. will post 26.4 EPS for the current year.

Murphy USA Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th were paid a $0.42 dividend. This is a boost from Murphy USA's previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.40%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 23rd. Murphy USA's payout ratio is 6.59%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Murphy USA from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the company from $375.00 to $425.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Murphy USA from $382.00 to $408.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $470.00 target price on shares of Murphy USA in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Murphy USA from $440.00 to $460.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $408.60.

About Murphy USA

Murphy USA Inc engages in marketing of retail motor fuel products and convenience merchandise. The company operates retail stores under the Murphy USA, Murphy Express, and QuickChek brands, as well as operates non-fuel convenience stores. It operates retail gasoline stores principally in the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States.