StockNews.com Begins Coverage on Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO)

StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO - Free Report) in a research note published on Monday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the oil and gas producer's stock.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Truist Financial lowered their price target on Marathon Oil from $35.00 to $27.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 30th. Barclays decreased their target price on Marathon Oil from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. UBS Group decreased their target price on Marathon Oil from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 18th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Marathon Oil from $29.00 to $27.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their target price on Marathon Oil from $39.00 to $37.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Marathon Oil has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $31.12.

Marathon Oil Price Performance

Shares of MRO stock traded down $0.32 on Monday, reaching $27.74. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,263,567 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,270,224. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $27.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.74. Marathon Oil has a 1 year low of $21.81 and a 1 year high of $30.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market capitalization of $15.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.79 and a beta of 2.16.

Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.69 by ($0.06). Marathon Oil had a net margin of 22.12% and a return on equity of 13.81%. The business had revenue of $1.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.69 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.48 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Marathon Oil will post 2.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marathon Oil Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 21st were paid a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 21st. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.59%. Marathon Oil's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.12%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marathon Oil

In other news, insider Dane E. Whitehead sold 52,008 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.50, for a total transaction of $1,430,220.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 100,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,750,000. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Michael A. Henderson sold 38,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.21, for a total transaction of $1,033,980.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 76,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,090,489.88. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Dane E. Whitehead sold 52,008 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.50, for a total value of $1,430,220.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 100,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,750,000. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marathon Oil

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new position in Marathon Oil in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Riverview Trust Co acquired a new position in Marathon Oil in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its holdings in Marathon Oil by 226.0% in the first quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 978 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 678 shares during the period. Founders Capital Management lifted its holdings in Marathon Oil by 100.0% in the second quarter. Founders Capital Management now owns 1,000 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Highbridge Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Marathon Oil in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.24% of the company's stock.

Marathon Oil Company Profile

Marathon Oil Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, engages in exploration, production, and marketing of crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in the United States and internationally. The company also produces and markets products manufactured from natural gas, such as liquefied natural gas and methanol.