Total SA (NYSE: TOT) reported a 29% jump in third-quarter net profit as project ramp-ups and new investments lifted production, joining a list of energy companies benefiting from higher crude prices.
Total’s oil production rose 6% while adjusted net operating income from its upstream E&P branch soared 84% since 2016. High demand for petroleum products led to a sharp increase in refining margin.
“The group took full advantage of the favorable environment thanks to the performance of its integrated model and its strategy to reduce its breakeven point,” Patrick Pouyanne, CEO, said.
Total, which has emerged from the prolonged oil downturn with a stronger balance sheet compared with peers, said its return on equity was close to 10%.
Jefferies analysts, who have a ‘hold’ rating on Total, said the results were solid. The stock rose 1% in early trade, hitting its highest in nearly five months.
Also on Oct. 27 Eni (NYSE: E) said it swung to a profit in the quarter, while Statoil on Oct. 26 posted a sharp rise in operating profit.
Total’s net adjusted profit for the quarter hit $2.7 billion, in line with the average of forecasts from analysts polled by Reuters.
Production increases in projects such as Kashagan in Kazakhstan, Moho Nord in Republic of Congo and Angola LNG, as well as new concessions such as Al-Shaheen in Qatar, contributed to the 2.58 million barrels of oil equivalent output per day.
Total maintained its annual production growth target of around 5% in 2017, expected to remain steady at that level until 2022.
In the downstream segment, Total said its European refining margin indicator rose sharply to $48.2 per tonne compared with $41.4 a year before, due to strong demand for products after Hurricane Harvey led to numerous shutdowns of refining capacity.
“The downstream benefited from favorable refining margins and increased its results by 18% compared to the second quarter, despite the impact of Hurricane Harvey on American operations,” Pouyanne said.
Total said cost reductions for 2017 will be more than $3.6 billion, above a $3.5 billion target, as it continued to drive down costs by measures such as reducing the number of expensive contractors in places like Nigeria and Angola.
The company said its cost of production dropped below $5 per barrel (bbl) during the past three months, ahead of the target of $5.5/bbl for 2017.
It has said it would take advantage of the low cost environment to launch high-return projects.
It reiterated a target of $5 billion in savings by 2020 while pursuing efforts to reduce its breakeven point.
Total’s pre-dividend organic breakeven point, excluding acquisitions and divestments, is expected below $30/bbl in 2017 and should continue to fall to $20/bbl in 2019.
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