Equinor (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR), in its first financial report since the name change, reports adjusted earnings of USD 4.3 billion and USD 1.7 billion after tax in the second quarter of 2018. IFRS net operating income was USD 3.8 billion and the IFRS net income was USD 1.2 billion.
The second quarter was characterised by:
- Solid results and cash flow from operations, strong adjusted earnings after tax [5]
- Record high international production
- Value enhancing transactions and high project activity
"We capture value from higher prices and deliver solid results and cash flow from operations. This quarter we deliver very strong results from our international operations, while new fields, increased maintenance and some quarter specific items contribute to somewhat higher costs at the NCS. This underlines the importance of continued cost focus across the organisation. We are on track to deliver on our guiding to the capital market," says Eldar Sætre, President and CEO of Equinor ASA.
"We continue to build on our industrial strengths and develop our portfolio. In the quarter we have closed the Roncador and Carcara transactions in Brazil and the North Platte transaction in the US, and we have secured new and attractive exploration acreage in Brazil, the UK and Norway. We have started field installation at Johan Sverdrup and have high project activity with several projects in execution. In July, we delivered the development plan for the very profitable Troll Phase 3 project for approval," says Sætre.
Adjusted earnings [5] were USD 4.3 billion in the second quarter, up from USD 3.0 billion in the same period in 2017. Adjusted earnings after tax [5] were USD 1.7 billion in the second quarter, up from USD 1.3 billion in the same period last year, which included a reversal of a provision in Angola of USD 0.7 billion. Higher prices for both liquids and gas, coupled with high production, contributed to the increase. Due to increased maintenance and some quarter and field specific items, underlying operating costs and administrative expenses per barrel are slightly up compared to same quarter last year, adjusted for new fields in production.
IFRS net operating income was USD 3.8 billion in the second quarter compared to USD 3.2 billion in the same period of 2017. In the quarter, Equinor had a net impairment reversal of USD 0.3 billion and a negative effect from changes in the unrealised fair value of derivatives of USD 0.5 billion. IFRS net income was USD 1.2 billion, down from USD 1.4 billion in the second quarter of 2017.
Equinor delivered equity production of 2,028 mboe per day in the second quarter, an increase from 1,996 mboe per day in the same period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to higher production in the US. The production growth [7] was 2% compared to the second quarter of 2017.
As of second quarter 2018, Equinor had completed 10 exploration wells with four commercial discoveries. Adjusted exploration expenses [5] in the quarter were USD 234 million, up from USD 224 million in the same quarter of 2017, mainly due to higher drilling activity.
Cash flows provided by operating activities before taxes paid and changes in working capital amounted to USD 13.2 billion for the first half of 2018 compared to USD 10.5 billion same period 2017. Organic capital expenditure [5] was USD 4.6 billion for the first six months of 2018. End of June, net debt to capital employed [5] increased from 25.1% to 27.2%, after value enhancing transactions and increased working capital.
The board of directors has decided to maintain a dividend of USD 0.23 per share for the second quarter.
The twelve-month average Serious Incident Frequency (SIF) was 0.5 for the twelve months ended 30 June 2018, compared to 0.7 in the same period a year ago.
Further information from:
Investor relations
Peter Hutton, Senior vice president Investor relations,
+44 7881 918 792 (mobile)
Helge Hove Haldorsen, vice president Investor Relations North America,
+1 281 224 0140 (mobile)
Press
Bård Glad Pedersen, vice president Media relations,
+47 918 01 791 (mobile)
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
