MUSA
Consumer CyclicalMurphy USA Inc. · Specialty Retail · $10B
What is Murphy USA Inc.?
Murphy USA Inc. is a mid-cap fuel and convenience retailer operating across the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States. The company runs more than 1,600 retail gasoline locations under three distinct store brands.
Murphy USA generates revenue primarily through retail motor fuel sales and convenience merchandise at its store network. The company operates under the Murphy USA, Murphy Express, and QuickChek banners, targeting everyday consumers seeking fuel and quick-stop shopping. Its locations are frequently co-situated near Walmart stores, driving consistent foot traffic. Revenue comes from fuel margin, in-store merchandise sales, and tobacco products — a mix that ties performance closely to fuel price cycles and consumer spending patterns.
Murphy USA was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Retail motor fuel sales across Murphy USA and Murphy Express locations
- Convenience merchandise and grocery items at QuickChek stores
- Tobacco and nicotine products
- Quick-service food and beverage offerings at select locations
- Loyalty and fuel savings programs for repeat customers
Is MUSA a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates MUSA as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.
Valuation is the clearest bright spot in MUSA's profile — the stock screens as Good on that pillar, suggesting the market may not be pricing in an optimistic scenario. Quality lands at Neutral, meaning the business is not fundamentally broken, but it lacks the financial characteristics that distinguish higher-rated peers.
Moat, Growth, and Risk all register as Weak, pointing to limited competitive insulation, constrained expansion prospects, and elevated vulnerability to external pressures such as fuel price swings and consumer spending shifts.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does MUSA pay dividends?
Yes — Murphy USA Inc. pays a dividend.
Murphy USA pays a regular dividend, which may appeal to income-oriented investors in the consumer cyclical space. Given the company's fuel-retail business model, dividend sustainability depends on fuel margin stability and merchandise sales trends. Investors should weigh the dividend against the Weak Risk pillar rating before treating it as a reliable income source.
When does MUSA report earnings?
Murphy USA reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Results tend to fluctuate with wholesale fuel costs and regional consumer demand. Merchandise margins at convenience locations provide some buffer, but fuel-driven revenue remains the dominant earnings driver. Quarterly swings can be meaningful.
For the most recent quarter's results and upcoming reporting dates, visit Murphy USA's investor relations page directly.
MUSA Price History
+289.7% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Murphy USA Inc.?
Based on Murphy USA Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
MUSA Long-term Outlook
MUSA's Growth and Risk pillars both rate as Weak, suggesting the fundamental outlook carries more caution than optimism. The business operates in a mature, commoditized segment where volume growth is difficult to sustain without significant network expansion or margin improvement. The Good Valuation rating does leave room for the stock to perform if operational execution stabilizes, but the path to meaningful upside depends on resolving the structural pressures reflected in the Moat and Risk scores.
Growth drivers
- Potential network expansion through new store openings or acquisitions
- Merchandise and food-service mix shift toward higher-margin categories
- QuickChek brand development in the Northeast convenience market
Key risks
- Fuel price volatility compressing retail margins
- Weak competitive moat leaving market share vulnerable to larger convenience chains
- Consumer spending pullbacks disproportionately affecting discretionary in-store purchases
MUSA vs Peers
Murphy USA operates in a competitive landscape that includes both pure-play convenience retailers and diversified consumer businesses.
Instacart competes in consumer convenience through digital grocery delivery rather than physical fuel retail, representing a technology-driven alternative to the in-store model.
Canadian Tire is a diversified Canadian retailer with automotive, sporting goods, and fuel operations — offering broader category exposure than Murphy USA's fuel-focused format.
The Class A shares of Canadian Tire represent a non-voting equity stake in the same diversified retail and fuel business, traded separately on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Murphy USA do?
Murphy USA operates retail gasoline stations and convenience stores across the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States. The company sells motor fuel, convenience merchandise, tobacco products, and food and beverage items through its Murphy USA, Murphy Express, and QuickChek store brands.
Does MUSA pay dividends?
Yes, Murphy USA pays a regular dividend. Income-focused investors should review the company's investor relations page for current dividend details, and weigh the payout against MUSA's Weak Risk pillar rating when assessing sustainability.
When does MUSA report earnings?
Murphy USA reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. For confirmed dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of Murphy USA's official website.
Is MUSA a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates MUSA as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is the strongest element of the profile, while Moat, Growth, and Risk all rate as Weak. Whether that profile suits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — the full breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is MUSA overvalued?
MUSA's Valuation pillar rates as Good within the UQS framework, suggesting the stock is not obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. However, a reasonable valuation does not offset the Weak scores across Moat, Growth, and Risk. View the complete valuation metrics with a Pro account.
How does MUSA compare to its competitors?
Murphy USA focuses narrowly on fuel retail and convenience merchandise, while peers like Canadian Tire operate across broader retail categories. Instacart represents a digitally native convenience model. MUSA's concentrated fuel-retail exposure creates a different risk and growth profile than these more diversified businesses.
What is MUSA's market cap bracket?
Murphy USA is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a segment that typically carries more liquidity than small-caps but less institutional coverage and scale than large-cap peers in the consumer cyclical sector.
Who founded Murphy USA?
Murphy USA was spun off from Murphy Oil Corporation in 2013. The company traces its retail fuel heritage to Murphy Oil's long-running gasoline operations, which had been co-located with Walmart stores for many years prior to the separation.
Is MUSA a long-term quality indicator?
As a long-term quality indicator, MUSA's UQS profile raises caution. Weak scores across Moat, Growth, and Risk suggest the business lacks the durable competitive advantages and growth trajectory typically associated with high-quality long-term holdings. The Neutral Quality pillar indicates baseline operational adequacy without distinction.
What is the main competitive advantage of Murphy USA?
Murphy USA's historical edge has been its co-location strategy near Walmart stores, driving consistent foot traffic at low real estate cost. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates as Weak, suggesting this advantage has not translated into durable pricing power or structural competitive insulation relative to sector peers.
What sector does MUSA belong to?
Murphy USA is classified in the Consumer Cyclical sector. This means its performance is sensitive to consumer spending levels, fuel price cycles, and broader economic conditions — factors that contribute to the Weak Risk rating in the UQS framework.
Is MUSA a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, MUSA leans toward value territory — the Valuation pillar rates as Good while the Growth pillar rates as Weak. This profile is more consistent with a value-oriented holding than a growth play, though the overall Below Average UQS Score reflects meaningful trade-offs.
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Pro Analysis
MUSA — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2026 | 37.9 | 52.7 | 24.0 | 31.2 | 18.2 | 65.3 | +7.7 |
| May 10, 2026 | 30.2 | 4.2 | 24.0 | 31.2 | 46.3 | 66.1 | +0.1 |
| May 8, 2026 | 30.1 | 4.2 | 24.0 | 31.2 | 46.3 | 65.9 | -5.1 |
| May 7, 2026 | 35.2 | 48.1 | 24.0 | 31.2 | 10.0 | 62.7 | +0.3 |
| May 4, 2026 | 34.9 | 48.1 | 24.0 | 31.2 | 10.0 | 61.2 | +1.2 |
| May 3, 2026 | 33.7 | 48.1 | 24.0 | 27.5 | 10.0 | 57.9 | -0.7 |
| May 2, 2026 | 34.4 | 48.1 | 24.0 | 27.5 | 10.0 | 62.6 | +0.2 |
| May 1, 2026 | 34.2 | 48.1 | 24.0 | 26.4 | 10.0 | 62.3 | +0.5 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | 33.7 | 48.1 | 24.0 | 24.6 | 10.0 | 61.8 | +1.4 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 32.3 | 48.1 | 24.0 | 20.2 | 10.0 | 58.1 | -0.5 |
MUSA — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 53.1/100 (25%)Murphy USA Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 31.2/100 (20%)Murphy USA Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 18.2/100 (15%)Murphy USA Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 67.5/100 (15%)Murphy USA Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 24/100 (25%)Murphy USA Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for MUSA.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the MUSA UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Murphy USA Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Murphy USA Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Murphy USA Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.