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Murphy USA Inc (MUSA)
NYSE:MUSA

Murphy USA (MUSA) AI Stock Analysis

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Murphy USA

(NYSE:MUSA)

Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$462.00
▲(14.84%Upside)
Murphy USA's overall stock score of 64.6 is primarily driven by its solid financial performance and improvements noted during the earnings call. However, the score is moderated by weak technical indicators and valuation concerns, alongside challenges noted in same-store sales.
Positive Factors
Competitive Advantage
Murphy USA's Every Day Low Price (EDLP) model acts as a self-reinforcing flywheel to drive long-term margin expansion, free cash flow generation, and greater market share.
Market Share Growth
MUSA continues to take fuel market share and expects to ultimately reach approximately 5 billion gallons.
Strategic Initiatives
MUSA is well-positioned for continued growth, leveraging multiple strategic initiatives, including store expansions, targeted promotions, and operational efficiencies.
Negative Factors
Core Business Challenges
The company’s recent results and forward commentary illustrated some concerns about the pathway for the core business to grow EBITDA.
Earnings Performance
Q1 earnings per share of $2.63 fell 34% below the consensus of $3.96.
Sales Decline
Same-store merchandise sales decreased, driven by a decline in both nicotine and non-nicotine sales, which were below estimates.

Murphy USA (MUSA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Murphy USA Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMurphy 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 of December 31, 2021, it operated 1,679 retail gasoline stores principally in the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas.
How the Company Makes MoneyMurphy USA generates revenue primarily through the sale of motor fuel and convenience merchandise. The company leverages its strategic locations, often adjacent to Walmart stores, to attract high volumes of customer traffic, which leads to significant fuel sales. Additionally, Murphy USA offers a variety of convenience store products, including snacks, beverages, tobacco products, and other general merchandise, which contribute to its revenue streams. The company also benefits from partnerships with major oil companies for fuel supply, enabling it to offer competitive pricing. Ancillary services such as car washes at select locations also add to the company's earnings.

Murphy USA Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -20.44%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 23, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
While the company saw improvements in fuel margins, loyalty program growth, and new store performance, it faced challenges with a decline in same-store gallons, lower PS&W contributions, and pressures on inside store sales due to temporal factors.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Fuel Margins Improvement
Retail margins were $0.02 per gallon higher in the first quarter versus the prior year, partly due to a flatter price environment. Retail margins in April were over $0.28 per gallon, $0.03 higher than the previous year.
New Store Performance
The 2022 and 2023 build classes outperformed the fleet average by nearly 20% in gallons and 40% in merchandising margin, with EBITDA 18% higher than the chain average.
Loyalty Program Growth
Murphy Drive Rewards and QuickChek Rewards loyalty programs saw membership growth of 11% and 30%, respectively, in the first quarter.
Food and Beverage Sales Growth
Food and beverage at QuickChek saw sandwich unit growth of 8% and increased breakfast traffic, resulting in total food and beverage sales being up nearly 1% in the quarter.
Negative Updates
Decline in Same-Store Gallons
Same-store gallons declined by 4.2%, impacted by non-repeating leap year and storms, which together accounted for almost half of the decline.
Challenges in Product Supply Margin
The oversupplied environment resulted in lower Product Supply & Wholesale (PS&W) contribution year-over-year, with the cycle expected to remain long and loose until the supply-demand balance returns in the second half of 2025.
Pressure on Inside Store Sales
Temporal factors and not repeating a $1 billion jackpot affected merchandise sales, with a 30 basis point headwind in Q1.
Company Guidance
During the Murphy USA First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided several key metrics and insights into its performance and strategic positioning. Murphy USA reported a 4.2% decline in same-store gallons, with temporal factors such as the non-repeating leap year and Easter in March impacting same-store gallons by 1.5% and additional storm-related store closures affecting another 50 basis points. Despite these challenges, retail margins increased by $0.02 per gallon compared to the previous year. Merchandise sales faced a 30 basis point headwind due to the absence of a $1 billion jackpot from the first quarter of 2024, yet categories like candy saw a 15% sales increase. The company also highlighted strong performance in the nicotine category, with noncombustible same-store sales up over 7% and same-store margin growth of 15%. Additionally, Murphy USA added eight new stores during the quarter and emphasized robust construction activity with 18 new stores and 20 raise and rebuilds in progress. The company maintained a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.0 and reported cash flow from operations of $129 million, with $88 million in capital expenditures. Overall, Murphy USA continues to focus on its structural advantages and value-driven business model to navigate the current economic environment.

Murphy USA Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Murphy USA shows robust financial health with strong profitability and cash flow generation. Despite high leverage indicated by a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 3.45, operational efficiency and strong shareholder returns bolster its financial standing.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Murphy USA has shown a stable financial performance with a Gross Profit Margin of 11.61% and a Net Profit Margin of 2.46% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The company has maintained a consistent EBIT Margin of 3.64% and EBITDA Margin of 4.95%. While experiencing a slight decline in revenue growth compared to previous years, the company remains profitable, indicating strong operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The company's Debt-to-Equity Ratio stands at 3.45, indicating significant leverage, which could pose risks if not managed properly. However, Murphy USA has a reasonable Equity Ratio of 15.98%, demonstrating a solid capital structure. Return on Equity (ROE) is 68.05%, showcasing strong profitability relative to shareholder investments.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Murphy USA's cash flow performance is commendable, with an Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio of 1.72 and a Free Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio of 0.76. Although Free Cash Flow Growth Rate is negative, the company maintains healthy cash flow metrics, ensuring adequate liquidity to support operations and investments.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
19.93B20.24B21.53B23.45B17.36B11.26B
Gross Profit
2.31B2.31B2.31B2.40B1.85B1.44B
EBIT
725.70M742.90M826.00M968.40M604.00M559.00M
EBITDA
986.70M996.70M1.07B1.19B820.30M722.70M
Net Income Common Stockholders
489.70M502.50M556.80M672.90M396.90M386.10M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
49.40M47.00M124.90M78.40M256.40M163.60M
Total Assets
4.50B4.54B4.34B4.12B4.05B2.69B
Total Debt
2.48B2.37B2.27B2.27B2.24B1.14B
Net Debt
2.43B2.32B2.15B2.21B1.99B981.30M
Total Liabilities
3.78B3.70B3.51B3.48B3.24B1.90B
Stockholders Equity
719.60M840.10M828.90M640.70M807.20M784.10M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
370.40M389.50M448.40M689.40M462.70M333.00M
Operating Cash Flow
840.10M847.60M784.00M994.70M737.40M563.70M
Investing Cash Flow
-458.60M-445.80M-323.60M-319.30M-914.20M-224.30M
Financing Cash Flow
-388.80M-472.60M-403.10M-871.30M269.60M-456.10M

Murphy USA Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price402.30
Price Trends
50DMA
462.96
Negative
100DMA
466.81
Negative
200DMA
486.75
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-14.22
Positive
RSI
31.27
Neutral
STOCH
20.23
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MUSA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 402.3 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 430.63, below the 50-day MA of 462.96, and below the 200-day MA of 486.75, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -14.22 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 31.27 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 20.23 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MUSA.

Murphy USA Risk Analysis

Murphy USA disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Murphy USA reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Murphy USA Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
75
Outperform
$17.10B46.6776.24%7.64%369.79%
ASASO
75
Outperform
$2.90B8.0220.14%1.19%-3.57%-17.43%
74
Outperform
$18.79B34.5716.75%0.40%6.56%14.06%
65
Neutral
$7.95B16.9665.24%0.50%-6.43%-0.81%
63
Neutral
$479.75M176.892.45%2.85%-9.67%-89.84%
62
Neutral
$6.82B11.052.80%4.32%2.67%-24.92%
AAAAP
52
Neutral
$3.04B59.62-23.77%2.06%-16.55%-941.57%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MUSA
Murphy USA
402.30
-76.25
-15.93%
AAP
Advance Auto Parts
48.47
-14.17
-22.62%
CASY
Casey's General
506.16
130.27
34.66%
CHWY
Chewy
41.67
18.86
82.68%
ARKO
ARKO Corp
4.21
-1.73
-29.12%
ASO
Academy Sports and Outdoors
43.55
-9.78
-18.34%

Murphy USA Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesDividends
Murphy USA Appoints David C. Haley to Board
Positive
May 1, 2025

On May 1, 2025, Murphy USA announced the appointment of David C. Haley to its Board of Directors, where he will serve on the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Audit Committee as a Class II Director until 2027. Additionally, Murphy USA declared a 2% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, setting it at $0.50 per share, payable on June 2, 2025, to stockholders of record as of May 12, 2025.

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.