Marathon Oil – Buy or Sell?

Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE:MRO) shares have been making some strong headway after bouncing off recent lows that saw shares crack below $20.  In breaking down the company, we have to say that MRO looks to be a strong stock candidate for buying.

POSITIVES:
One or more analysts has modestly increased quarterly earnings estimates for MRO.

Shares are under heavy accumulation by financial institutions.

The price-to-earnings multiple is lower than average for all stocks.

The price-to-sales multiple is significantly lower than the average for all stocks.

Previous day's closing price for MRO was slightly above its 50-day moving average.

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NEUTRAL:
The most recent quarterly earnings report was approximately equal to or higher than analysts’ consensus forecast, but not to a degree that is predictive of future returns.

Earnings growth in the past year is holding steady compared to earnings growth in the past three years.

Relative price change and consistency is flat.

NEGATIVE:
The ratio of MRO's price-to-earnings multiple to its five-year growth rate is negative or below the average of all stocks.

IN OTHER NEWS
Marathon Oil Corporation unveiled its capital, investment and exploration budget for 2012. The company intends to expend around $4.822 billion on its capital program, of which nearly 65% will be targeted toward the development of liquid assets.

Over the past 12 months Marathon Oil Corp (MRO) shares have traded between a 52-week low of $19.13 and its 52-week high of $54.33.  Marathon Oil Corp shares are now trading with a P/E Ratio of 10.5 and EPS of 4.34.

Marathon Oil Corp 's (MRO) current market cap is $19.94B and its shares have moved up 32.5% from its 52-week low of $19.13.