Investing.com -- Eni SpA(BIT:ENI) ( ENI ) reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter 2025 earnings, with adjusted EBIT of €2.60 billion, compared to a consensus estimate of €2.23 billion, sendings its shares up on Thursday.
Net income came in at €1.41 billion, ahead of the consensus forecast of €1.15 billion. The company also reported underlying cash flow from operations of €3.41 billion, 6% higher than the consensus expectation of €3.22 billion. Capital expenditures were €1.82 billion, lower than RBC’s estimate of €2 billion.
The energy ompany has revised its full-year underlying CFFO guidance downwards to €11 billion from the previous €13 billion due to lower oil prices, weaker gas and refining margins, and a stronger EUR/USD exchange rate.
This adjustment implies a €2.2 billion downgrade to guidance, though it suggests a modest upgrade to earnings for the year.
Gross capex is now expected to be below €8.5 billion, down from previous guidance of around €9 billion, and net capex is projected to be below €6 billion, compared to an earlier estimate of €6.5-7 billion.
The company’s upstream and power segments contributed positively to the earnings beat. The upstream segment reported adjusted EBIT of €2.23 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of €2.03 billion.
The power segment reported adjusted EBIT of €163 million, well above the consensus estimate of €50 million. However, the chemicals segment posted a larger-than-expected loss.
Eni’s upstream production for the quarter was 1.647 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (kboed), slightly below the consensus estimate of 1.66 million kboed, reflecting divestments and the absence of production-sharing contract adjustments that were included in Q4 2024.
For the second quarter, Eni expects production to rise to between 1.67 and 1.69 million kboed, slightly below the consensus forecast of 1.71 million kboed.
Net debt decreased quarter-on-quarter to €10.3 billion, compared to RBC’s estimate of €9.1 billion, with leverage at 18%, down from 22% in the previous quarter.
The company also disclosed a pro-forma leverage figure of 12%, reflecting transactions agreed but not yet closed by the end of Q1 2025.
In terms of shareholder returns, Eni reiterated plans to distribute €1.5 billion through share buybacks, subject to approval at the upcoming AGM.