Murphy USA vs Sonic Automotive
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KIRA’s take AI analyst
I put Murphy USA and Sonic Automotive side by side, using each one’s latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- Murphy USA is the larger business, with $19.4B of revenue in fiscal 2025 against $15.2B for Sonic Automotive.
- Sonic Automotive grew revenue faster (6.5%, against −4.3%).
- Murphy USA kept more of each dollar of sales as operating profit (3.7% operating margin, against 2.4%).
- Sonic Automotive turned more of its sales into free cash flow (2.8% FCF margin, against 1.9%).
- Murphy USA earned a higher return on the capital invested in it (20.5%, against 12.2%).
- Investors pay more for each dollar of Murphy USA’s earnings: a P/E of 16.2x against 10.2x for Sonic Automotive.
Who comes out ahead
Of the 10 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
Murphy USA
MUSA
7/10
5-year growthOperating marginNet marginReturn on capitalReturn on equityNet debt / EBITDAShare count change
Sonic Automotive
SAH
3/10
Revenue growthFCF marginPiotroski F-score
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | MUSA FY25 | SAH FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $9.9B | $2.0B |
| Revenue | $19.4B | $15.2B |
| Free cash flow | $374M | $418M |
| Net income | $471M | $119M |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | −4.3% | 6.5% |
| 5-year growth | 11.5% | 9.2% |
| Share count change | −6.3% | −0.9% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | — | 15.7% |
| Operating margin | 3.7% | 2.4% |
| Net margin | 2.4% | 0.8% |
| FCF margin | 1.9% | 2.8% |
| Return on capital | 20.5% | 12.2% |
| Return on equity | 64.3% | 11.1% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | $2.2B | $2.0B |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.2x | 3.7x |
| Dividends and buybacks | $691M | $131M |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | 16.2x | 10.2x |
| Piotroski F-score | 5 | 6 |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.