Malynda West, the CEO of Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA), has sold 3,967 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that took place on February 4, 2024. The shares were sold at an average price of $450.00, amounting to a total value of $1,785,150.00. Following this sale, West now directly owns 117,389 shares of Murphy USA, which are valued at approximately $52,825,050. This sale represents a 3.27% decrease in her total position within the company.
The details of the transaction were disclosed in a legal filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which can be accessed on the SEC’s official website.
Stock Performance and Market Analysis
On the following trading day, Murphy USA’s stock price dropped by 4.8%, closing at $378.50. The trading volume for that day reached 719,982 shares, significantly higher than the average volume of 334,727 shares. The company’s stock has experienced fluctuations, with a 12-month low of $345.23 and a 12-month high of $523.09.
Financial metrics indicate that Murphy USA has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.07. Its quick ratio stands at 0.40, while the current ratio is 0.81. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $414.65, and its 200-day moving average price is $393.70. Murphy USA boasts a market capitalization of $7.09 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.59, and a P/E to growth (P/E/G) ratio of 3.90.
In its latest quarterly earnings report, also released on February 4, Murphy USA reported earnings of $7.53 per share, surpassing analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.67 by $0.86. The company’s net margin was recorded at 2.43%, with a return on equity of 75.34%. Revenue for the quarter totaled $4.74 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $4.88 billion. This reflects a 0.7% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter the previous year.
Institutional Investor Activity
Recent activity among institutional investors has shown a noteworthy trend. Several hedge funds have modified their stakes in Murphy USA. For instance, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings by 82.4% in the fourth quarter, now owning 62 shares valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares.
Additionally, Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake worth approximately $26,000 during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC significantly boosted its holdings by 423.1% in the second quarter, now owning 68 shares valued at $28,000. Furthermore, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC and AlphaQuest LLC have also expanded their positions in Murphy USA.
Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 80.81% of the company’s stock.
Founded in El Dorado, Arkansas, Murphy USA operates as a leading downstream marketer of gasoline, diesel, and convenience store products in the United States. Originally part of Murphy Oil Corporation, the company became an independent entity in 2013 and has since focused on providing retail fueling services and convenience offerings aimed at delivering value to consumers.
