ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) recently reported fourth-quarter 2017 earnings — excluding the impact of U.S. Tax Reform and Impairments — from non-U.S. upstream operations of $2,578 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,424 million. The profits were also higher than the year-ago quarter’s $1,686 million.
From upstream activities within the domestic market, the company incurred an adjusted loss of $60 million, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $114 million and the year-ago quarter adjusted loss of $193 million.
Increased price realizations from liquids drove upstream results, partially negated by lower oil equivalent production.
Q4 Upstream Operations
Oil-Equivalent Production: Production averaged 3.991 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (MMBOE/d), lower than 4.121 MMBOE/d in the year-ago quarter. The quarterly output also lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 4.190 MMBOE/d, primarily because of field decline.
Liquid Production: The worldwide production of liquid — crude and natural gas liquid — was 2.251 million barrels a day, down from 2.384 million barrels in fourth-quarter 2016. Liquid production also fell below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 2.379 million barrels a day.
Natural Gas Production: Natural gas production was 10.441 MMCF/d (millions of cubic feet per day), up from 10.424 MMCF/d in the year-ago period but below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 10.794 MMCF/d.
Impact of Upstream Business on Q4 Results
Among all three business segments — Upstream, Downstream and Chemical — the company generated the maximum profit from upstream operations. Despite success in upstream activities, ExxonMobil failed to impress investors with lower-than-expected results.
The integrated energy player reported adjusted earnings of 88 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06. Also, the bottom line declined from the year-ago quarter level of 90 cents. (See more on ExxonMobil Misses Q4 Earnings on Lower Throughput.)
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
ExxonMobil carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked players in the energy sector are Statoil (OL:STL) ASA (NYSE:STO) , Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:PXD) and Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE:COG) . All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, Statoil is a major international integrated energy player. The company is expected to witness year-over-year earnings growth of 17.1% in 2018.
Headquartered in Irving, TX, Pioneer Natural Resources Company is an upstream energy firm. The company delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 67.6% for the preceding four quarters.
Headquartered in Houston, TX, Cabot is also an upstream energy company. The firm will likely see year-over-year earnings growth of 128.4% in 2018.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>
Statoil ASA (STO): Free Stock Analysis Report
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report
Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD): Free Stock Analysis Report
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (COG): Free Stock Analysis Report
Original post
Zacks Investment Research