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If You Invested $1000 in Murphy USA 10 Years Ago, This Is How Much You'd Have Now
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For most investors, how much a stock's price changes over time is important. Not only can it impact your investment portfolio, but it can also help you compare investment results across sectors and industries.
FOMO, or the fear of missing out, also plays a role in investing, particularly with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.
What if you'd invested in Murphy USA (MUSA - Free Report) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to MUSA for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?
Murphy USA's Business In-Depth
With that in mind, let's take a look at Murphy USA's main business drivers.
Murphy USA Inc. is a leading independent retailer of motor fuel and convenience merchandise in the United States. The El Dorado, AR-based company, in its current form, came into existence following the 2013 spin-off of Murphy Oil Corporation’s downstream business into a separate, independent and publicly-traded entity.
Murphy USA markets refined products through a chain of retail stations, almost all of which are located near a Walmart supercenter, primarily in the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest United States.
As of Mar 31, 2025, the company had a total of 1,761 Company stores – under Murphy USA and Murphy Express brands – encompassing 27 states. Of the total, majority of the stores are branded Murphy USA, some are standalone Murphy Express locations, while the remaining are branded as QuickChek stores. Apart from the retail outlets, Murphy USA operates certain product distribution terminals and ethanol production plants.
The company, which caters to approximately 1.6 million customers daily, also owns a dedicated line space on the Colonial Pipeline - the largest refined products system in the country and the biggest gasoline mover.
Meanwhile, Murphy USA’s revenue increased by 0.7% year over year to $4.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, while the company’s income was $141.9 million (or $7.53 per diluted share), down 0.4% year over year. Operating cash flow decreased to $245.5 million in Q4 2025 from $248.7 million in the prior year period.
Murphy USA remains committed to returning excess cash to shareholders through continued share buyback programs. As part of this initiative, the fuel retailer repurchased $175.4 million in shares in the fourth quarter of 2025 at an average price of $67.5 per share.
Total retail gallons increased by 3.1% to 1,234.2 million gallons for the fourth quarter of 2025, but same-store sales (SSS) volumes were down 0.6%. Murphy USA’s 2026 guidance includes between 45 to 55 new stores and up to 30 raze-and-rebuilds, $890-$900 million in merchandise margin contribution, and $475-$525 million in capital expenditures.
Bottom Line
Anyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of a few things: research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in Murphy USA a decade ago, you're probably feeling pretty good about your investment today.
A $1000 investment made in October 2016 would be worth $7,853.28, or a 685.33% gain, as of October 20, 2026, according to our calculations. Investors should note that this return excludes dividends but includes price increases.
The S&P 500 rose 258.66% and the price of gold increased 215.30% over the same time frame in comparison.
Going forward, analysts are expecting more upside for MUSA.
Murphy USA benefits from its high-volume, low-cost model, Walmart-adjacent network, advantaged fuel sourcing, nicotine leadership, loyalty platform and disciplined store growth. Favorable fuel economics and rational competitor behavior support margins, while new stores and larger formats expand long-term earnings capacity. However, fuel results remain exposed to volatile markets, discretionary merchandise demand is soft, competition is elevated in select growth markets, and expansion requires sustained capital spending. A sizable debt load and higher operating costs limit financial flexibility. With merchandise contribution tracking near the low end of guidance and store openings near the lower end of the range, these risks offset the company's structural advantages. Hence, investors are advised to wait for a better entry point.
The stock has jumped 6.63% over the past four weeks. Additionally, no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 2 higher, for fiscal 2026; the consensus estimate has moved up as well.
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If You Invested $1000 in Murphy USA 10 Years Ago, This Is How Much You'd Have Now
For most investors, how much a stock's price changes over time is important. Not only can it impact your investment portfolio, but it can also help you compare investment results across sectors and industries.
FOMO, or the fear of missing out, also plays a role in investing, particularly with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.
What if you'd invested in Murphy USA (MUSA - Free Report) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to MUSA for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?
Murphy USA's Business In-Depth
With that in mind, let's take a look at Murphy USA's main business drivers.
Murphy USA Inc. is a leading independent retailer of motor fuel and convenience merchandise in the United States. The El Dorado, AR-based company, in its current form, came into existence following the 2013 spin-off of Murphy Oil Corporation’s downstream business into a separate, independent and publicly-traded entity.
Murphy USA markets refined products through a chain of retail stations, almost all of which are located near a Walmart supercenter, primarily in the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest United States.
As of Mar 31, 2025, the company had a total of 1,761 Company stores – under Murphy USA and Murphy Express brands – encompassing 27 states. Of the total, majority of the stores are branded Murphy USA, some are standalone Murphy Express locations, while the remaining are branded as QuickChek stores. Apart from the retail outlets, Murphy USA operates certain product distribution terminals and ethanol production plants.
The company, which caters to approximately 1.6 million customers daily, also owns a dedicated line space on the Colonial Pipeline - the largest refined products system in the country and the biggest gasoline mover.
Meanwhile, Murphy USA’s revenue increased by 0.7% year over year to $4.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, while the company’s income was $141.9 million (or $7.53 per diluted share), down 0.4% year over year. Operating cash flow decreased to $245.5 million in Q4 2025 from $248.7 million in the prior year period.
Murphy USA remains committed to returning excess cash to shareholders through continued share buyback programs. As part of this initiative, the fuel retailer repurchased $175.4 million in shares in the fourth quarter of 2025 at an average price of $67.5 per share.
Total retail gallons increased by 3.1% to 1,234.2 million gallons for the fourth quarter of 2025, but same-store sales (SSS) volumes were down 0.6%. Murphy USA’s 2026 guidance includes between 45 to 55 new stores and up to 30 raze-and-rebuilds, $890-$900 million in merchandise margin contribution, and $475-$525 million in capital expenditures.
Bottom Line
Anyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of a few things: research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in Murphy USA a decade ago, you're probably feeling pretty good about your investment today.
A $1000 investment made in October 2016 would be worth $7,853.28, or a 685.33% gain, as of October 20, 2026, according to our calculations. Investors should note that this return excludes dividends but includes price increases.
The S&P 500 rose 258.66% and the price of gold increased 215.30% over the same time frame in comparison.
Going forward, analysts are expecting more upside for MUSA.
Murphy USA benefits from its high-volume, low-cost model, Walmart-adjacent network, advantaged fuel sourcing, nicotine leadership, loyalty platform and disciplined store growth. Favorable fuel economics and rational competitor behavior support margins, while new stores and larger formats expand long-term earnings capacity. However, fuel results remain exposed to volatile markets, discretionary merchandise demand is soft, competition is elevated in select growth markets, and expansion requires sustained capital spending. A sizable debt load and higher operating costs limit financial flexibility. With merchandise contribution tracking near the low end of guidance and store openings near the lower end of the range, these risks offset the company's structural advantages. Hence, investors are advised to wait for a better entry point.
The stock has jumped 6.63% over the past four weeks. Additionally, no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 2 higher, for fiscal 2026; the consensus estimate has moved up as well.