By Hadeel Al Sayegh
DUBAI (Reuters) -Saudi Arabian state oil producer Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) beat forecasts on Tuesday with a 39% jump in third-quarter net income and reported record free cash flows, joining rivals in benefiting from higher prices and robust demand.
Aramco's net income rose to $42.4 billion for the three months to Sept. 30 from $30.4 billion a year earlier, it said in a regulatory filing. That was just above the median forecast of $41.7 billion from 16 analysts.
"Aramco's strong earnings and record free cash flow in the third quarter reinforce our proven ability to generate significant value through our low cost, lower-carbon intensity upstream production and strategically integrated upstream and downstream businesses," Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said.
The company's free cash flow rose to $45 billion from $28.7 billion a year-earlier. It declared a dividend of $18.8 billion in the third quarter, meeting its own target, which will be paid in the fourth quarter.
"Given this lengthy period with elevated crude prices, which feed into solid cash flow performances as well as deleveraging of Aramco’s balance sheet, we are of the view that dividends will ultimately be increased," said Yousef Husseini, associate director for equity research at EFG Hermes.
Aramco joins oil majors Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM), Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and BP (NYSE:BP) that have reported strong or record breaking results recently, benefiting from surging crude and natural gas prices that have boosted inflation around the world and led to fresh calls to further tax the sector.
"While global crude prices during this period were affected by continued economic uncertainty, our long-term view is that oil demand will continue to grow for the rest of the decade given the world's need for more affordable and reliable energy," Nasser said.
Aramco's reported net income, while higher year on year, was slightly lower than its record second quarter.
Net income was also partially offset by increased production royalties, resulting from stronger crude oil prices and higher sales volume.
Royalties and other taxes more than doubled year-on-year in the third quarter to $24.3 billion, from $10.48 billion last year.