Southernsun Asset Management LLC Buys 2,032 Shares of Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA)

Southernsun Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA - Free Report) by 3.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 69,806 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 2,032 shares during the quarter. Murphy USA comprises about 4.4% of Southernsun Asset Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Southernsun Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.34% of Murphy USA worth $35,025,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MUSA. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. bought a new position in Murphy USA in the fourth quarter valued at about $50,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in Murphy USA by 37.0% in the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 100 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC raised its position in Murphy USA by 186.1% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 103 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in Murphy USA in the fourth quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Murphy USA in the fourth quarter valued at about $67,000. 80.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Rosemary Turner sold 797 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $496.10, for a total value of $395,391.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CMO Renee M. Bacon sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $469.58, for a total transaction of $939,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 5,927 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,783,200.66. The trade was a 25.23 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 3,594 shares of company stock worth $1,695,043. Insiders own 9.04% of the company's stock.

Murphy USA Stock Up 0.9 %

MUSA traded up $4.36 during trading on Friday, hitting $490.72. 163,564 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 204,661. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The business's 50 day moving average is $470.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $493.73. Murphy USA Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $382.04 and a fifty-two week high of $561.08. The stock has a market cap of $9.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.28 and a beta of 0.73.

Murphy USA (NYSE:MUSA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The specialty retailer reported $6.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.46 by $0.50. Murphy USA had a net margin of 2.48% and a return on equity of 61.60%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Murphy USA Inc. will post 26.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Murphy USA Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. This is an increase from Murphy USA's previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.40%. Murphy USA's dividend payout ratio is presently 8.10%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MUSA has been the subject of several research reports. KeyCorp began coverage on Murphy USA in a research report on Friday, April 11th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $550.00 target price for the company. Melius began coverage on Murphy USA in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $600.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Murphy USA from $555.00 to $550.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Stephens raised Murphy USA to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Murphy USA from $550.00 to $554.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $539.00.

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.