Who Needs $100 Oil? Majors Making More Cash at $50, Goldman Says

Date:

By Dan Murtaugh

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

 

  • Megaprojects producing oil as companies tighten purse-strings
  • Europe energy giants may be able to cover dividends with cash

Oil majors are raking in more cash now than they did in the heyday of $100 oil, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Integrated giants like BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc have adapted to lower prices by cutting costs and improving operations, analysts at the bank including Michele Della Vigna said in a research note Wednesday. European majors made more cash during the first half of this year, when Brent averaged $52 a barrel, than they did in the first half of 2014 when prices were $109.

Back then, high oil prices had caused executives to overreach on projects, leading to delays, cost overruns and inefficiency, Goldman said. Those projects are coming online now, producing more revenue, while companies have tightened their belts and divested some assets to reduce debt burdens.

“Simplification, standardization and deflation are repositioning the oil industry for better profitability and cash generation in the current environment than in 2013-14 when the oil price was above $100 a barrel,” the analysts said.

In the second quarter, Europe’s big oil companies generated enough cash from operations to cover 91 percent of their capital expenses and dividends, showing that they’re close to being able to fund shareholder payments with business-generated revenue, according to Goldman. That will give companies the ability to stop paying dividends by issuing new stock, which has diluted major European energy shares by 3 to 13 percent since 2014.

Projects starting up to the advantage of their now-frugal parents include Chevron Corp.’s $54 billion Gorgon liquefied natural gas behemoth in Australia and Eni SpA’s Kashagan field in Kazakhstan among others.

Next year, dividends from big European energy firms are expected yield 6 percent, backed by an estimated 6 percent free cash flow yield, Goldman said. That compares to an estimated 3.6 percent dividend yield for the STOXX Europe 600 Index as a whole, according to the report.

 

 

 

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Access Holdings to pay N1.80 as final dividend to shareholder

March 28, 2024. Azonuchechi Chukwu. Access Holdings has revealed plans to...

Police gun down two notorious bandits in Benue

March 28, 2024. Azonuchechi Chukwu. Men of Operation Zenda, a Joint...

Army declares eight wanted in connection with the k!lling of its officers in Okuama

March 28, 2024. Azonuchechi Chukwu. The Nigerian Army has declared eight...

Naira Appreciates Against Dollar at the NAFEM Window

March 28, 2024. Azonuchechi Chukwu. The Naira’s euphoric appreciation against the...
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com

Discover more from Naija247news

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading