Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) Now Covered by Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) in a research report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the oil and gas producer’s stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Capital One Financial lowered shares of Marathon Oil from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Marathon Oil from $39.00 to $37.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Mizuho raised their target price on Marathon Oil from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $29.00 price target (down from $38.00) on shares of Marathon Oil in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on Marathon Oil from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 5th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $31.87.

Marathon Oil Price Performance

Shares of Marathon Oil stock opened at $26.13 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $14.62 billion, a PE ratio of 10.80 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 quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $27.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $27.49.

Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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). 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 quarter last year, the firm earned $0.48 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Marathon Oil will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marathon Oil Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 21st were given 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 1.68%. Marathon Oil’s payout ratio is 18.18%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Michael A. Henderson sold 38,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the vice president now directly owns 76,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,090,489.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of MRO. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new position in Marathon Oil during the second quarter worth $26,000. Riverview Trust Co acquired a new position in Marathon Oil during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its holdings in Marathon Oil by 226.0% during the 1st 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 grew its position in Marathon Oil by 100.0% in the 2nd 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Highbridge Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Marathon Oil during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.