Murphy Oil Corp falls amid sector rotation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jul 26 2024
0mins
Should l Buy MUR?
Source: SeekingAlpha
Murphy Oil Corp's stock price fell by 5.03% as it crossed below its 5-day SMA, reflecting a shift in market dynamics.
The decline in Murphy Oil's stock is attributed to sector rotation, as investors moved away from energy stocks in favor of technology and consumer discretionary sectors, despite the S&P 500 showing slight gains. This shift indicates a changing sentiment among investors, who are reallocating their portfolios based on current market trends.
As the market continues to evolve, Murphy Oil may need to reassess its strategies to attract investor interest, especially in a competitive landscape where energy stocks are facing headwinds.
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Analyst Views on MUR
Wall Street analysts forecast MUR stock price to fall
11 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
9 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 41.800
Low
22.00
Averages
28.40
High
34.00
Current: 41.800
Low
22.00
Averages
28.40
High
34.00
About MUR
Murphy Oil Corporation is a global oil and natural gas exploration and production company, with both onshore and offshore operations and properties. The Company produces crude oil and condensate (collectively, crude oil), natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) primarily in the United States and Canada and explores for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs in targeted areas worldwide. In the United States, it produces crude oil, natural gas and NGLs primarily from fields in the Gulf of America and in the Eagle Ford Shale area of South Texas. In Canada, the Company holds working interests in Tupper Montney (100% working interest), Kaybob Duvernay and two non-operated offshore assets - the Hibernia and Terra Nova fields, located offshore Newfoundland and Labrador in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin. In Vietnam, the Company holds an interest in approximately 7.3 million gross acres, consisting of 65% working interest in Blocks 144 & 145, and a 40% interest in Block 15-1/05 and Block 15-2/17.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Executive Participation: Each session will feature prepared remarks from Murphy's senior leadership team, ensuring participants receive detailed information about the company's offshore capabilities and international portfolio, thereby enhancing investor confidence in the company's future growth.
- Interactive Q&A Sessions: A live question and answer session will follow each webinar, allowing participants to engage directly with management through a toll-free dial-in, fostering interaction and strengthening investor relations.
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- Impact of Global Events: The ongoing war in Iran is expected to further accelerate the search for resources in distant regions.
See More
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Stock Sale Announcement: Clade Randrew intends to sell 10,584 shares of Murphy Oil's common stock.
Market Value: The total market value of the shares being sold is approximately $4.88 million.
See More
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- Rating Upgrade: Piper Sandler upgraded Murphy Oil (MUR) from Neutral to Overweight with a price target increase from $33 to $41, reflecting optimism about future oil prices and expected tight crude balances that could drive stock price appreciation.
- Market Outlook: Analyst Mark Lear noted that despite disappointing Q3 2025 results, further appraisal work at the Hai Su Vang project in Vietnam could serve as a catalyst for stock performance in H1 2026, highlighting the company's long-term resource potential.
- Industry Comparison: Murphy Oil exhibits some of the best operating leverage among the stocks covered, and while FY 2026 guidance fell short of expectations, the company's proactive market education efforts may enhance investor recognition of its long-term resource potential.
- Peer Analysis: In addition to Murphy, Piper Sandler raised price targets for several other oil and gas companies, including Chord Energy and Devon Energy, indicating a positive trend across the industry that could further bolster Murphy's market performance.
See More
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- Wells Fargo Double Upgrades Occidental: Wells Fargo upgrades Occidental from underweight to overweight with a $69 target price, citing its peer-leading capital efficiency trends in the Permian as a significant opportunity, albeit with associated risks.
- Citi Maintains Buy on Delta Air: Citigroup reaffirms its buy rating on Delta Air and issues a positive 30-day catalyst watch, believing that recent macro shocks and fuel price volatility have been largely priced into airline stocks with minimal fuel exposure.
- UBS Upgrades Aptiv to Buy: UBS raises Aptiv's rating from hold to buy, anticipating that the upcoming Versigent spin-off will unlock substantial value, setting a target price of $97.
See More
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- Oil Price Surge: Brent crude prices soared approximately 8% to about $78.70 per barrel on Monday, driven by heightened concerns over potential supply disruptions due to U.S.-Iran hostilities.
- Market Reaction: Following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, traders rushed to gain energy exposure, resulting in significant pre-market gains for related ETFs, highlighting the market's sensitivity to energy price fluctuations.
- Strait of Hormuz Risks: The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for over 27% of global crude oil shipments, has raised alarm among retail traders, further exacerbating market uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
- Military Action Outlook: President Trump indicated that the current military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, intensifying market expectations for future oil price volatility and prompting investors to reassess their energy asset allocations.
See More
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- Webinar Schedule: Murphy Oil Corporation is set to host a three-part webinar series on March 3, 10, and 24, 2026, focusing on strategic development, its Vietnam operations, and the basics of production sharing contracts, aimed at providing investors with in-depth business insights.
- Executive Participation: Each session will feature prepared remarks from Murphy's senior leadership team, ensuring participants receive detailed information about the company's offshore capabilities and international portfolio, thereby enhancing investor confidence in the company's future growth.
- Interactive Q&A Sessions: A live question and answer session will follow each webinar, allowing participants to engage directly with management through a toll-free dial-in, fostering interaction and strengthening investor relations.
- Recordings Available: For those unable to attend live, recordings will be made available on Murphy's Investor Relations page after each session, ensuring all stakeholders can access critical information and enhancing transparency.
See More
