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

Research analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO - Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Wednesday. The brokerage set a "buy" rating on the oil and gas producer's stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Marathon Oil from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Marathon Oil from $35.00 to $27.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 30th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Marathon Oil from $29.00 to $27.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Mizuho decreased their price target on Marathon Oil from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Marathon Oil from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Marathon Oil has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $31.12.

Marathon Oil Stock Performance

Shares of MRO stock traded up $0.19 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $26.07. The stock had a trading volume of 3,048,694 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,036,520. The stock's 50 day moving average is $27.34 and its 200 day moving average is $27.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.58 billion, a PE ratio of 10.07 and a beta of 2.16. Marathon Oil has a twelve month low of $21.81 and a twelve month high of $30.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.57 and a quick ratio of 0.52.

Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.69 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $1.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.69 billion. Marathon Oil had a net margin of 22.12% and a return on equity of 13.81%. Marathon Oil's quarterly revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.48 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Marathon Oil will post 2.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Michael A. Henderson sold 38,000 shares of Marathon Oil 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 completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 76,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,090,489.88. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Marathon Oil news, VP Michael A. Henderson sold 38,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.21, for a total value of $1,033,980.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 76,828 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,090,489.88. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a 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 stock was sold at an average price of $27.50, for a total transaction of $1,430,220.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 100,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,750,000. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MRO. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Marathon Oil by 19.6% during the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 715,772 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $20,285,000 after purchasing an additional 117,061 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank increased its stake in shares of Marathon Oil by 15.0% in the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 172,258 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $4,882,000 after buying an additional 22,526 shares during the last quarter. Point72 DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in Marathon Oil in the second quarter valued at $6,673,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Marathon Oil by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 75,751,369 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $2,146,794,000 after acquiring an additional 6,835,604 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in Marathon Oil by 36.7% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 535,994 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $15,193,000 after acquiring an additional 143,912 shares in the last quarter. 77.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.