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Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR)
NYSE:MUR

Murphy Oil (MUR) AI Stock Analysis

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MUR

Murphy Oil

(NYSE:MUR)

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Neutral 62 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:62Neutral
Price Target:
$33.00
▲(9.67% Upside)
The score is primarily supported by manageable leverage and still-healthy operating cash generation, plus a constructive earnings call highlighting cost discipline, liquidity, and exploration/appraisal upside. It is held back by materially weaker TTM profitability and free-cash-flow contraction, mixed/neutral technical momentum, and a high P/E despite an attractive dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Free Cash Flow Strength
Sustained +51% FCF growth and high cash conversion provide durable funding for dividends, debt reduction and discretionary capex. Strong cash generation reduces sensitivity to commodity swings and underpins financial flexibility across multi‑year cycles.
Improved Liquidity & Maturity
Extending and expanding the revolver materially reduces near‑term rollover risk and increases liquidity headroom for multi‑year exploration and development programs. This structural improvement supports capital planning and lowers refinancing risk across cycles.
Operational Execution
Consistently exceeding production guidance and cutting unit operating costs by ~20% indicates persistent operational strength and execution. Durable improvements in onshore assets and low breakevens boost margin resilience and free cash flow in varied commodity environments.
Negative Factors
Revenue & Profitability Trend
Declining revenue and falling margins signal weakening top‑line momentum and reduced capital efficiency. Over months this can constrain reinvestment, limit ability to grow reserves organically, and pressure returns to shareholders if trends persist amid volatile oil markets.
Exploration Risk
Non‑commercial results in frontier Cote d’Ivoire highlight the high technical and commercial risk of exploration projects. Repeated non‑commercial outcomes can deplete exploration budgets, delay reserve replacement, and reduce long‑term growth optionality despite improved subsurface understanding.
Asset Impairment & Rising Unit Costs
An impairment tied to high operating expenses and guidance for higher per‑BOE costs due to falling volumes reveal asset‑level cost sensitivity. This weighs on sustainable margins and may force capital reallocation or asset sales to restore returns if volumes don’t recover.

Murphy Oil (MUR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Murphy Oil Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMurphy Oil Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and natural gas exploration and production company in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. The company was formerly known as Murphy Corporation and changed its name to Murphy Oil Corporation in 1964. The company was incorporated in 1950 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
How the Company Makes MoneyMurphy Oil generates revenue primarily through the sale of crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. The company engages in exploration and production activities, which are crucial for finding and extracting hydrocarbons. A significant portion of its revenue comes from the sale of oil and gas at prevailing market prices, which can fluctuate based on global supply and demand dynamics. Additionally, Murphy Oil benefits from hedging strategies that help stabilize cash flows during periods of price volatility. The company has also entered into joint ventures and partnerships that enhance its operational capabilities and expand its resource base, contributing to its overall earnings. Furthermore, Murphy Oil invests in technology and infrastructure to improve efficiency and reduce costs, ultimately supporting its profitability.

Murphy Oil Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 28, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasizes strong operational execution, disciplined cost control (LOE down 20%), material exploration and appraisal successes (80% success rate, promising Hai Su Vang results, 12,000 bbl/d test rates) and a solid balance sheet (> $2B liquidity), while acknowledging near-term challenges including a modest production decline in 2026 (~6% lower), a dry hole at Civette, increases in royalties on Tupper Montney gas, and some proved developed reserve declines. Management is prioritizing targeted investments (Vietnam and Gulf of America) to generate medium- to long-term growth, and retains capital flexibility if prices deteriorate.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Exploration and Appraisal Results
80% success rate in exploration efforts in 2025; advanced 4 exploration/appraisal wells across 3 continents in Q4. Hai Su Vang (Golden Sea Lion) appraisal reported 429 feet of net oil pay in the primary reservoir and no oil-water contact, implying resources significantly above the initial midpoint of 170 million BOE. Hai Su Vang-2X well flow-tested two intervals (~6,000 bbl/d each) producing a combined ~12,000 bbl/d without facility constraints — well productivity ~6x typical Cuu Long basin wells (~2,000 bbl/d).
Vietnam Growth Opportunity
Management expects Hai Su Vang development to be a material new growth business that could surpass the scale of current Eagle Ford operations by the early 2030s. Target FID for Hai Su Vang expected ~2027 with first oil guidance centered around 2031 (possible earlier slip to late 2030) and peak production possibly by ~2033. Lac Da Vang (Golden Camel) achieved first oil in Q4 2025 and is expected to peak at ~10,000–15,000 bbl/d net with peak timing in late 2027 / early 2028.
Operational Execution and Cost Discipline
Production (Q4 and full year 2025) exceeded guidance. Lease operating expenses were reduced by 20% year-over-year and company maintains LOE guidance in the $10–$12 per barrel range. Eagle Ford Shale production to be maintained flat in 2026 while spending 25% less capital in the Eagle Ford program.
Balance Sheet Strength and Liquidity
Company reports low leverage and over $2 billion in available liquidity, enabling flexibility to adjust capital plans if commodity prices soften.
Reserve Replacement and Total Resource Base
Proved reserve replacement was ~103% for the period, and total company reserves remain in the ~700 million BOE range — demonstrating maintenance of long-term inventory.
Gulf of America and Chinook Upside
Recent Gulf of America exploration and new block acquisitions (7 new blocks; apparent high bidder for another 7 pending) expand the exploration pipeline. Chinook 8 development well targets a previously producing reservoir and is expected to be a high-rate well (~15,000 bbl/d gross) with relatively low subsurface uncertainty, contributing materially in H2 2026 and supporting year-end production trajectory.
Low-cost New Entrants and Portfolio Optionality
Entered offshore Morocco with low upfront cost (estimated up to ~$5 million over 3 years) and attractive fiscal terms; added 7 Gulf of America blocks focused on exploration, increasing future optionality.
Negative Updates
Civette Dry Hole in Côte d'Ivoire
Civette well encountered oil pay in multiple reservoirs but did not find commercial volumes and is classified as a dry hole relative to commerciality; further analysis ongoing. Management states Civette results do not materially change outlook for the two other independent prospects (Caracal and Bubale) in the program.
2026 Production Decline
2026 net production guidance is 171,000 BOE/d versus 182,000 BOE/d in 2025 — a decrease of ~6.0% (down ~11,000 BOE/d). Most of the production decrease is from Tupper Montney natural gas volumes driven by higher realized gas prices (and correspondingly higher royalties).
Proved Developed Reserve Decline
Preliminary year-end 2025 results showed an approximate 7% decline in proved developed reserves and roughly a ~13% year-over-year decline in oil proved developed reserves, creating some near-term reserve profile headwinds despite overall ~103% proved reserve replacement.
Commodity Price and Market Risk
Management acknowledges a softening commodity price environment and uncertainty in the market. Company notes it may need to tighten capital plans with potential reductions of ~10% in 2026 and up to ~30–40% in a more severe low-price 2027 scenario.
Higher Royalties Impacting Net Gas Volumes
Tupper Montney royalty rate rose from 4.6% in 2025 to an expected ~8.4% in 2026 (an increase of ~3.8 percentage points), which reduces net gas volumes and creates some short-term noise in cash flow despite muted cash-flow impact overall.
Planned Downtime and Weather Risk
2026 includes planned downtime (including additional non-operated facility downtime) and a provision for weather downtime of ~1,500 bbl/d, which contributes to the softer 2026 annual oil profile versus 2025.
Long Lead Time to Realize Vietnam Upside
While Hai Su Vang has significant upside, development is multi-year: appraisal through mid-2026, FID targeted around 2027, and first oil expected circa 2031 with peak production years later — meaning material production gains are medium-term rather than immediate.
Company Guidance
Murphy guided 2026 net production of about 171,000 BOE/d (down from 182,000 BOE/d in 2025), with Eagle Ford volumes to remain flat while capital is cut ~25% there, and company lease operating expenses expected to stay in the $10–$12/boe range (after a 20% YoY LOE reduction in 2025); they carry a ~1,500 bbl/d weather downtime provision, project flexibility to trim ~10% of 2026 CapEx (and 30–40% in a deeper pullback), and a strong balance sheet with low leverage and over $2 billion of liquidity. Key program metrics include two Hai Su Vang appraisal wells (the field has 429 feet of net oil pay to date and a combined 12,000 bbl/d test rate from two ~6,000 bbl/d flow tests, implying productivity well above the basin norm and resources well above the prior 170 MMboe midpoint), two Côte d’Ivoire exploration wells, Lac Da Vang first oil (Q4 2025) ramping toward a ~10,000–15,000 net bbl/d peak in late‑2027/early‑2028, Chinook targeting a high‑rate ~15,000 bbl/d gross well in H2 2026, and a 2025 exploration success rate of ~80%.

Murphy Oil Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Balance sheet is a clear support (debt-to-equity ~0.43) and operating cash flow remains solid (~$1.25B, exceeding net income). However, TTM fundamentals cooled sharply: net income fell to ~$104M with net margin ~5.2% and free cash flow dropped to ~$396M, highlighting cycle sensitivity.
Income Statement
56
Neutral
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) profitability weakened materially versus prior years: net income fell to about $104M and the net margin compressed to ~5.2% (vs ~13.5% in 2024 and ~19–23% in 2022–2023). Revenue has also been trending down over the last several periods (negative growth in 2023–TTM), consistent with a tougher commodity backdrop. A key positive is that operating profitability remains positive in TTM, and the company has shown it can generate strong margins in up-cycles (2022–2023), but earnings look more volatile and less resilient at current levels.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Leverage appears manageable for the industry: total debt is ~$2.2B in TTM against ~$5.1B of equity, with debt-to-equity around ~0.43 (improved from ~0.68 in 2020 and ~0.57 in 2021). Equity remains sizable and relatively stable across the period, supporting balance-sheet durability. The main weakness is reduced profitability translating into a lower return on equity in TTM (~2.8%) versus the stronger 2022–2023 period, which can limit balance-sheet momentum if the lower-earnings environment persists.
Cash Flow
63
Positive
Cash generation remains a strength, with TTM operating cash flow of ~$1.25B exceeding net income (coverage ~1.67x), indicating earnings are backed by cash. However, free cash flow declined sharply to ~$396M in TTM and contracted versus 2024, signaling less cash available for debt reduction, buybacks, or dividends. Overall, cash flow is still positive and supportive, but it is clearly more pressured than the prior two years.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.72B3.02B3.45B4.22B2.80B
Gross Profit1.95B1.00B2.62B2.38B1.28B
EBITDA1.25B1.54B1.95B2.38B1.06B
Net Income104.20M407.17M661.56M965.05M-73.66M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets9.83B9.67B9.77B10.31B10.30B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments377.00M423.57M317.07M491.96M521.18M
Total Debt2.20B2.07B2.09B2.79B3.37B
Total Liabilities4.60B4.33B4.22B5.16B5.98B
Stockholders Equity5.12B5.19B5.36B4.99B4.16B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow396.40M820.83M647.16M1.05B733.95M
Operating Cash Flow1.25B1.73B1.75B2.17B1.42B
Investing Cash Flow-1.03B-908.16M-998.68M-1.11B-417.71M
Financing Cash Flow-264.06M-716.54M-923.72M-1.08B-794.51M

Murphy Oil Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price30.09
Price Trends
50DMA
31.78
Negative
100DMA
29.99
Positive
200DMA
26.46
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.19
Positive
RSI
42.68
Neutral
STOCH
29.15
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MUR, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 30.09 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 31.82, below the 50-day MA of 31.78, and above the 200-day MA of 26.46, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.19 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 42.68 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 29.15 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for MUR.

Murphy Oil Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$5.77B8.5037.10%50.79%32.97%
72
Outperform
$2.34B3.989.56%7.36%-6.52%-32.26%
72
Outperform
$4.64B3.0816.58%4.38%34.93%-11.85%
71
Outperform
$4.78B12.4411.06%3.56%33.85%-34.08%
66
Neutral
$3.94B-107.020.08%38.16%-115.65%
65
Neutral
$15.17B7.614.09%5.20%3.87%-62.32%
62
Neutral
$4.30B41.582.01%4.15%-13.92%-68.34%
* Energy Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MUR
Murphy Oil
30.09
5.55
22.62%
CIVI
Civitas Resources
27.38
-19.45
-41.53%
SM
SM Energy
19.47
-16.57
-45.98%
VIST
Vista Oil & Gas SAB de CV
60.49
7.69
14.56%
CRC
California Resources Corp
53.50
6.63
14.15%
GPOR
Gulfport Energy
204.17
22.98
12.68%

Murphy Oil Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and Financing
Murphy Oil Posts Strong 2025 Results, Raises Dividend
Positive
Jan 28, 2026

On January 28, 2026, Murphy Oil Corporation reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, highlighting net income of $11.9 million for the quarter and $104.2 million for the year, total 2025 production of 182,300 BOEPD at the high end of guidance, and preliminary year-end proved reserves of 715 MMBOE, maintaining an 11-year reserve life and 103 percent reserve replacement. The company emphasized strong operational execution, including successful oil discoveries and appraisal activity in offshore Vietnam and the Gulf of Mexico, reduced lease operating and drilling costs, a strategic FPSO acquisition, and a strengthened balance sheet and liquidity profile via debt reduction, an upsized revolving credit facility, and new long-dated notes, while returning $286 million to shareholders in 2025 and raising its quarterly dividend by 8 percent to $0.35 per share, payable March 2, 2026 to shareholders of record on February 17, 2026, signaling confidence in its cash generation and long-term growth outlook.

The most recent analyst rating on (MUR) stock is a Hold with a $34.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Murphy Oil stock, see the MUR Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Murphy Oil Completes $500 Million Senior Notes Offering
Positive
Jan 23, 2026

On January 23, 2026, Murphy Oil closed a $500 million offering of 6.500% notes maturing in 2034, issued under its existing indenture structure and sold through a syndicate of underwriters. The company plans to use the proceeds to redeem in full its 5.875% notes due 2027 and 6.375% notes due 2028, repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility, cover transaction-related costs and fund general corporate purposes, a move that reshapes its debt maturity profile and may lower near‑term refinancing and liquidity risk while adding longer-duration fixed‑rate capital under covenants that restrict additional liens, certain sale-leasebacks, major asset transfers and new subsidiary indebtedness.

The most recent analyst rating on (MUR) stock is a Sell with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Murphy Oil stock, see the MUR Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Murphy Oil Announces $500 Million Senior Notes Offering
Positive
Jan 8, 2026

On January 8, 2026, Murphy Oil Corporation announced it planned to issue $500 million of senior notes due 2034 under an existing shelf registration, subject to market and other conditions. The company said it expects to use the proceeds to redeem in full its 5.875% notes due 2027 and 6.375% notes due 2028, repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility, cover transaction-related fees and expenses, and fund general corporate purposes, a move that would refinance nearer-term debt and potentially strengthen its balance sheet and capital structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (MUR) stock is a Hold with a $30.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Murphy Oil stock, see the MUR Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Murphy Oil highlights Vietnam appraisal success and outlook
Positive
Jan 6, 2026

On January 2, 2026, Murphy Oil Corporation amended its existing revolving credit facility, extending the maturity from October 7, 2029 to January 2, 2031, increasing total lender commitments from $1.35 billion to $2.0 billion, and expanding letter of credit capacity from $250 million to $415 million, moves that significantly enhanced the company’s liquidity and financial flexibility. Separately, on January 6, 2026, the company reported that a subsidiary had successfully drilled the Hai Su Vang-2X appraisal well offshore Vietnam in Block 15-2/17, and management scheduled investor meetings and a conference appearance at the Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference 2026 for January 7, underscoring Murphy Oil’s ongoing international exploration progress and its efforts to highlight growth prospects and capital allocation priorities to the market.

The most recent analyst rating on (MUR) stock is a Hold with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Murphy Oil stock, see the MUR Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 30, 2026