MUSA vs ARKO

For growth investors, Murphy USA Inc.

(MUSA) is the stronger pick with -4. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 5% for Arko Corp. (ARKO). Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) offers the better valuation at 24. 1x trailing P/E (19. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) a "Hold" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Murphy USA Inc.

(MUSA) is the cheapest at 24. 1x versus Arko Corp. at 44. 7x. On forward P/E, Murphy USA Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Murphy USA Inc. wins at 1. 53x versus Arko Corp. 's 1. 60x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Murphy USA Inc.

(MUSA) delivered a total return of +318. 2%, compared to -30. 7% for Arko Corp. (ARKO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MUSA returned +803. 3% versus ARKO's -27. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Murphy USA Inc.

(MUSA) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 23β versus Arko Corp. 's 1. 14β — meaning ARKO is approximately -590% more volatile than MUSA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 11% for Arko Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Murphy USA Inc.

(MUSA) is pulling ahead at -4. 2% versus -12. 5% for Arko Corp. (ARKO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arko Corp. grew EPS 15. 4% year-over-year, compared to -0. 0% for Murphy USA Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARKO leads at -5. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Murphy USA Inc.

(MUSA) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 4% net margin versus 0. 3% for Arko Corp. — meaning it keeps 2. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MUSA leads at 3. 8% versus 1. 3% for ARKO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MUSA leads at 5. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 53x versus Arko Corp. 's 1. 60x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) trades at 19. 8x forward P/E versus 25. 8x for Arko Corp. — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARKO: 13. 0% to $7. 58.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Arko Corp. (ARKO) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 0. 4% for Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Murphy USA Inc.

(MUSA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 23), +803. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MUSA: +803. 3%, ARKO: -27. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

ARKO pays a dividend while MUSA does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.