Royal Dutch Shell Plc (LON:RDSA) (LON:RDSB) reported total revenue in the third quarter of $61.6bn, up 37.7% year-on-year. That comes despite a modest decline in production and reflects a significant increase in oil & gas prices.
Q3 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more
However, profits fell from $177m a year ago to a $988m loss this quarter, as derivative losses in the Integrated Gas business more than offset progress in Upstream oil & gas production. Excluding the effect of these and other derivative movements, underlying profits more than tripled to $4.1bn, while underlying operating cash flow reached a record high.
The company announced a dividend of $0.24 per share, up 44.1% year-on-year although in line with the dividend announced last quarter.
The shares fell 1.0% in early trading.
A Look At Royal Dutch Shell's Earnings
Nicholas Hyett, Equity Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown:
“These are a muddy set of results from Shell. The rapid swings we’ve seen in oil & gas prices over the last 18 months mean the group has had to take a large writedown in the value of the derivatives it took to out hedge itself against a further price fall. These have officially pushed the group into a loss for the quarter. However, the underlying numbers, and particularly the all-important cash flow numbers, are looking far more upbeat.
It’s a record quarter for operating cash flow driving a significant reduction in net debt. The imminent sales of the group’s US shale assets is set to strengthen the balance sheet still further while funding a bumper return to shareholders.
That’s given Shell the firepower to commit to halving its emissions from operations by 2030. Along with investment in hydrogen plants it’s clear evidence the group is taking steps towards a cleaner, greener future. However, with several oil & gas fields also approved in the quarter, investors shouldn’t kid themselves that Shell will stop being an oil & gas group any time soon. With oil prices where they are, that may be no bad thing for the bottom line.”
About Hargreaves Lansdown
Over 1.67 million clients trust us with £138.0 billion (as at 30 September 2021), making us the UK’s number one platform for private investors. More than 98% of client activity is done through our digital channels and over 600,000 access our mobile app each month.
