Murphy Oil (MUR) vs Southwest Gas (SWX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Murphy Oil (MUR) has outperformed Southwest Gas (SWX) over the past year, gaining 23.8% versus a gain of 4.8%. Over five years, MUR leads with a +30.6% price change compared with +19.9% for SWX. Southwest Gas is the larger company by market cap ($5.98 billion vs $5.34 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Murphy Oil is growing revenue faster (-10.2% vs -21.6%).
On valuation, Murphy Oil trades at a lower forward P/E (11.7x vs 16.5x for Southwest Gas). Murphy Oil offers the higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 3.04%). Southwest Gas converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 22.7% versus 3.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | MUR | SWX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $37.25 | $82.48 |
| Market cap | $5.34B | $5.98B |
| 1-day change | -1.43% | -1.01% |
| YTD return | +19.20% | +3.07% |
| 1-year return | +23.80% | +4.78% |
| 5-year return | +30.61% | +19.94% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.44 | 20.62 |
| Forward P/E | 11.71 | 16.50 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.02 | $4.00 |
| Dividend yield | 3.62% | 3.04% |
| Annual dividend | $1.35 | $2.51 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.72B | $1.94B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -10.22% | -21.61% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $104.23M | $439.83M |
| Gross margin | 100.00% | — |
| Operating margin | 11.08% | 24.42% |
| Net margin | 3.83% | 22.67% |
| 52-week high | $43.34 | $94.47 |
| 52-week low | $26.49 | $76.74 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.05% | -12.69% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +7.95% | +21.85% |
| Average volume | 1.66M | 567.21K |
| Shares outstanding | 143.35M | 72.45M |
| Employees | 813 | 2,453 |
| Sector | Energy | Utilities |
| Industry | Oil & Gas Production | Oil & Gas Production |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MUR has outperformed SWX by 19.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Southwest Gas is more profitable, keeping 22.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 3.8 cents for Murphy Oil.
- Murphy Oil grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (-10.22% vs -21.61%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Murphy Oil in Energy and Southwest Gas in Utilities.
About Murphy Oil
MUR stock →Murphy Oil Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.
Energy · Oil & Gas Production · 813 employees
About Southwest Gas
SWX stock →Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, Southwest Gas Corporation, purchases, distributes, and transports natural gas for residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Arizona, Nevada, and California in the United States. The company offers tariff sales and transportation services.
Utilities · Oil & Gas Production · 2,453 employees
MUR vs SWX FAQ
Which is bigger, Murphy Oil or Southwest Gas?
Southwest Gas (SWX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.98B compared with $5.34B for Murphy Oil (MUR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MUR or SWX?
MUR returned +23.80% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.78% for SWX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MUR or SWX?
MUR has the lower trailing P/E at 18.4, versus 20.6 for SWX. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Murphy Oil or Southwest Gas?
Murphy Oil has the higher yield at 3.62%, compared with 3.04% for Southwest Gas.
Are Murphy Oil and Southwest Gas in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Oil & Gas Production industry within the Energy sector.