Murphy Oil (MUR) Reports Civette-1X Well Non-Commercial Hydrocarbons, Shares Drop 10.4%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 20 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Exploration Setback: Murphy Oil's Civette-1X well offshore Côte d'Ivoire reached a depth of 13,950 feet but encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons across multiple intervals, resulting in a 10.4% drop in stock price on Tuesday, reflecting market concerns about its exploration prospects.
- Continued Exploration Plans: Despite the disappointing results from Civette-1X, Murphy Oil holds a 90% working interest in Block CI-502 and plans to drill the Caracal and Bubale prospects, which are believed to have significant resource potential, indicating a commitment to its exploration strategy.
- Partnership Dynamics: As the operator, Murphy Oil collaborates with state-owned Petroci, which owns a 10% stake, and both partners are set to advance their exploration program, aiming for future commercialization of discovered resources.
- Market Reaction: The failure to find commercial hydrocarbons has raised investor concerns about Murphy Oil's future profitability, leading to short-term pressure on its stock price, which may impact the company's strategic expansion in the West African market.
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Analyst Views on MUR
Wall Street analysts forecast MUR stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MUR is 28.40 USD with a low forecast of 22.00 USD and a high forecast of 34.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
11 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
9 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 31.420
Low
22.00
Averages
28.40
High
34.00
Current: 31.420
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.
Murphy Oil Corporation Q4 2025 Earnings Call Insights
- Production Exceeds Expectations: Murphy Oil's production for Q4 2025 and the full year surpassed guidance, particularly with some of the best-performing onshore wells in company history, demonstrating strong uptime at key offshore facilities.
- Significant Cost Control: Lease operating expenses decreased by 20% year-over-year, and capital expenditures were below guidance, partly due to efficiency gains in the Eagle Ford Shale program, enhancing the company's financial flexibility.
- Strategic Investment Focus: In 2026, Murphy Oil plans to invest in development, exploration, and appraisal activities in the Gulf of America, Vietnam, and Côte d'Ivoire to grow its portfolio and enhance shareholder value in the mid- to long term.
- Solid Financial Position: The company maintains a low leverage ratio and over $2 billion in liquidity, allowing for disciplined investment in high-impact exploration and appraisal despite the unpredictable market environment.
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Murphy Oil Reports Strong 2025 Financial Highlights
- Production Growth: In 2025, Murphy Oil achieved an average production of 182 MBOEPD, up from 177 MBOEPD in 2024, indicating strong momentum in core business execution, which is expected to enhance market share further.
- Financial Performance: The company generated $1.2 billion in cash from continuing operations and approximately $300 million in free cash flow in 2025, with $286 million returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, reflecting a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
- Cost Management: The lease operating expense per BOE was $10.89 in 2025, a 20% reduction from the previous year, demonstrating significant achievements in cost control that will enhance overall profitability.
- Strategic Investment: Murphy's projected capital expenditures for 2026 range from $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion, focusing on development projects, which is expected to drive long-term value creation, particularly with the high-impact Chinook #8 development well.
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