Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) vs Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CASY | 7.3% revenue growth vs MUSA's -6.0% |
| Value | MUSA | Lower P/E (15.6x vs 39.5x), PEG 0.41 vs 2.53 |
| Quality / Margins | CASY | 3.6% net margin vs MUSA's 2.4% |
| Stability / Safety | MUSA | Beta 0.14 vs CASY's 0.43 |
| Dividends | MUSA | 0.5% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs CASY's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CASY | +66.1% vs MUSA's -16.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MUSA | 10.0% ROA vs CASY's 7.1%, ROIC 18.1% vs 11.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Murphy USA operates a chain of retail gasoline stations and convenience stores primarily located near Walmart stores across the southern and midwestern United States. It generates revenue from fuel sales — which account for roughly 90% of total revenue — and from merchandise sales inside its convenience stores. The company's key advantage is its strategic real estate footprint adjacent to Walmart's high-traffic locations, creating a built-in customer base and significant cost advantages in site acquisition and operations.
Casey's General Stores operates a large chain of convenience stores primarily in rural and suburban communities across the Midwest. It generates revenue through fuel sales — which typically contribute around 70% of total revenue — and in-store merchandise including prepared foods, groceries, and beverages. The company's competitive advantage lies in its strategic rural locations with limited competition and strong brand loyalty built on its popular prepared food offerings — especially its pizza.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CASY leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). MUSA leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MUSA and CASY operate at a comparable scale, with $19.4B and $17.0B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.6% (CASY) to 2.4% (MUSA). On growth, CASY holds the edge at +14.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MUSAMurphy USA Inc. | CASYCasey's General S… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $19.4B | $17.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $996M | $1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $471M | $607M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $239M | $682M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +5.6% | +23.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | +5.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | +3.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.2% | +4.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.7% | +14.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.2% | +14.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 16.2x trailing earnings, MUSA trades at a 65% valuation discount to CASY's 46.8x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), MUSA offers better value at 0.43x vs CASY's 3.01x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | MUSAMurphy USA Inc. | CASYCasey's General S… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.3B | $25.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $9.6B | $28.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.21x | 46.83x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.64x | 39.47x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.43x | 3.01x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.66x | 23.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.36x | 1.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.69x | 7.30x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.62x | 43.47x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MUSA delivers a 75.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $75 in annual profit, vs $16 for CASY. CASY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.84x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MUSA's 2.82x.
| Metric | MUSAMurphy USA Inc. | CASYCasey's General S… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +75.5% | +15.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +10.0% | +7.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +18.1% | +11.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +21.0% | +12.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.82x | 0.84x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.3B | $2.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $47M | $327M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.4B | $3.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.50x | 8.24x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CASY five years ago would be worth $34,197 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $31,698 for MUSA. Over the past 12 months, CASY leads with a +66.1% total return vs MUSA's -16.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CASY at 49.3% vs MUSA's 15.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MUSAMurphy USA Inc. | CASYCasey's General S… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.4% | +23.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -16.2% | +66.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.4% | +232.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +217.0% | +242.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +527.1% | +563.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.8% | +49.3% |
Risk & Volatility
MUSA is the less volatile stock with a 0.14 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CASY's 0.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CASY currently trades 99.4% from its 52-week high vs MUSA's 74.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MUSAMurphy USA Inc. | CASYCasey's General S… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.14x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $523.09 | $690.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $345.23 | $372.09 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.7% | +99.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.8 | 70.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 267K | 269K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MUSA as "Hold" and CASY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 15.5% upside for MUSA (target: $451) vs -8.0% for CASY (target: $631). For income investors, MUSA offers the higher dividend yield at 0.45% vs CASY's 0.28%.
| Metric | MUSAMurphy USA Inc. | CASYCasey's General S… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $451.25 | $630.91 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 24 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 19 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.77 | $1.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.1% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) | 100 | 424.52 | +324.5% |
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 100 | 382.16 | +282.2% |
Casey's General Sto… (CASY) returned +242% over 5 years vs Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA)'s +217%. A $10,000 investment in CASY 5 years ago would be worth $34,197 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) | $11.6B | $20.2B | +74.6% |
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | $7.1B | $15.9B | +123.8% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.1B (2016) to $15.9B (2025) — a 9.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) | 1.9% | 2.5% | +29.9% |
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 3.2% | 3.4% | +8.0% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2016) to 3% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) | 11.9 | 20.8 | +74.8% |
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 25 | 37.8 | +51.2% |
Murphy USA Inc. has traded in a 10x–24x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x. Casey's General Stores, Inc. has traded in a 15x–38x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~47x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) | 5.59 | 24.11 | +331.3% |
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 5.73 | 14.64 | +155.5% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s EPS grew from $5.73 (2016) to $14.64 (2025) — a 11% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Murphy USA Inc. generated $390M FCF in 2024 (-16% vs 2021). Casey's General Stores, Inc. generated $585M FCF in 2025 (+61% vs 2021).
MUSA vs CASY: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MUSA or CASY a better buy right now?
Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) offers the better valuation at 16.2x trailing P/E (15.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) a "Buy" — based on 24 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.
02Which has the better valuation — MUSA or CASY?
On trailing P/E, Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) is the cheapest at 16.2x versus Casey's General Stores, Inc. at 46.8x. On forward P/E, Murphy USA Inc. is actually cheaper at 15.6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Murphy USA Inc. wins at 0.41x versus Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s 2.53x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MUSA or CASY?
Over the past 5 years, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) delivered a total return of +242.0%, compared to +217.0% for Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA). A $10,000 investment in CASY five years ago would be worth approximately $34K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CASY returned +563.0% versus MUSA's +527.1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — MUSA or CASY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.14β versus Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s 0.43β — meaning CASY is approximately 220% more volatile than MUSA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 84% versus 3% for Murphy USA Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — MUSA or CASY?
Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) is the more profitable company, earning 3.4% net margin versus 2.5% for Murphy USA Inc. — meaning it keeps 3.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CASY leads at 5.0% versus 3.7% for MUSA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CASY leads at 23.5%, 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.
06Is MUSA or CASY more undervalued right now?
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 0.41x versus Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s 2.53x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) trades at 15.6x forward P/E versus 39.5x for Casey's General Stores, Inc. — 23.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MUSA: 15.5% to $451.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — MUSA or CASY?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA) offers the highest yield at 0.5%, versus 0.3% for Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY).
08Is MUSA or CASY better for a retirement portfolio?
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 0.14), +527.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MUSA: +527.1%, CASY: +563.0%), 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.
09What are the main differences between MUSA and CASY?
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. In terms of investment character: MUSA is a small-cap deep-value stock; CASY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.
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