Chevron Corp's (CVX.N) first-quarter profit leapt from the same period a year ago to its highest in 10 years, benefiting from the surge in oil and gas prices in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The second-largest U.S. oil producer on Friday posted adjusted earnings of $6.5 billion or $3.36 per share, from $1.7 billion, or 90 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.
Nevertheless, the result fell short of the $3.47 SmartEstimate figure from top-performing analysts on Wall Street according to Refinitiv, but was above the Refinitiv average estimate of $3.27 per share.
Wall Street analysts picked out higher-than-expected corporate charges, inflation costs and weakness in the international refining division due to price volatility.
Chevron's shares were down 1.6% at $159.54 in premarket trading.
The world's largest energy companies have been under pressure to boost output as oil and gas prices rose sharply as Moscow decided to invade Ukraine and after the United States and allies imposed heavy sanctions on Moscow.
"Chevron is doing its part to grow domestic supply," Chevron's Chief Executive Mike Wirth said in an earnings release.
Chevron's revenue rose 70% to $54.4 billion in the first quarter, above the Refinitiv consensus of $47.9 billion.
SHAREHOLDER RETURN
The revenues from higher oil prices could be used to return cash to shareholders, expand Chevron's low-carbon business and pay down debt, Chief Financial Officer Pierre Breber told Reuters.
"First is the dividend. The second is investing in the business. Third is maintaining a balanced strong balance sheet. And then the fourth is returning excess cash to shareholders," he said.
Chevron earlier this year increased its dividend payments by 6% to $1.42 per share and increased its buyback program to $10 billion annually; it bought back $1.3 billion in shares in the most recent quarter.
More investments to moderate future risks
The company could raise buybacks further but Chevron is aiming at a level it can maintain when the oil industry goes through a downturn, Breber said.
Chevron plans to raise investments and acquisitions this year by more than 50% from 2021, which may include deals in lower-carbon ventures like natural gas and renewable fuels.
RBC said earlier this month that Chevron could be interested in buying a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility on the U.S. Gulf Coast as it expands its natural gas business. The company declined to comment on the speculation.
Chevron is still determining the second-quarter impact of storm damage to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), the line to move crude from Kazakhstan to Russia's Black Sea coast, which is back in operation after several weeks. Chevron has a 15% stake in that line.
Disruptions at the CPC, which transports roughly 1% of the world's crude from Kazakhstan, contributed to a 8% reduction in Chevron's international oil and gas output in the quarter, according to the corporate presentation.
The consortium said Sunday that it has fully restored the loading capacity of its Black Sea oil terminal after completing repairs.
