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BP raises dividend as $2.8 bln quarterly revenue beats forecasts

BP increased its dividend and extended its share buying program on Tuesday as it reported a forecast pounding secondquarter profit of almost $2.8 billion, with weak refining offset by more powerful oil costs and retail incomes.

The outcome, which topped analysts' quotes by 9%, is likely to reduce pressure on CEO Murray Auchincloss after BP fell short of revenue expectations in the previous two quarters.

The 53-year-old Canadian, who took office in January, has promised to revamp BP's operations and concentrate on the most successful ones, mainly in oil and gas.

In an indication of change from his predecessor Bernard Looney's. method to grow renewables and lower nonrenewable fuel source output, BP. said it had actually given a green light to the advancement of the. Kaskida oilfield in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, an extremely complicated. task in deep geological developments.

The field is anticipated to start production in 2029 and have a. capacity of 80,000 barrels of oil each day (bpd).

The business also revealed it would proceed with the. development of a low-carbon hydrogen project at its Castellon. refinery in Spain.

BP shares closed 0.3% down, after being up most of the day,. compared to a flat performance for the broader European energy. index.

The stock has actually underperformed competitors this year amidst investor. issue over the British company's energy shift strategy. and doubts that it will satisfy its 2025 revenues targets.

BP is working to surpass its target to lower yearly expenses by. $ 2 billion by the end of 2026, Auchincloss stated in an analyst. discussion published online. Reuters reported in June that the. business had imposed an employing freeze and suspended financial investments in. brand-new offshore wind projects.

We are driving focus across the business and minimizing. expenses, all while developing momentum in our drive to 2025,. Auchincloss stated in a statement.

WEAK REFINING

BP raised its dividend by 10% to 8 cents per share from 7.27. cents, in line with analysts' expectations, based upon LSEG information.

It likewise preserved the rate of its share buyback program. at $1.75 billion over the next 3 months and said it remains. committed to buying an overall of $14 billion of shares this year. and next.

Underlying replacement cost earnings, the business's meaning. of earnings, reached $2.76 billion in the three months to. June, exceeding a forecast of $2.54 billion in a. company-provided survey of experts.

That compared with a $2.7 billion revenue in the previous. quarter and $2.6 billion a year previously.

Weaker refining margins due to lower diesel demand and a. higher level of refinery upkeep weighed on the outcome, however. were balanced out by greater oil rates in the quarter, strong retail. margins and a lower than expected tax rate. BP's oil trading. contribution was weak following a strong proving in the previous. quarter, it stated.

Auchincloss informed Reuters that global need for fuel and. diesel was weak however that inventories were anticipated to come down. throughout the summer season driving season, supporting refining margins.

Last week, France's TotalEnergies reported a 6% drop in. second quarter profit, likewise injured by a tumble in European. refining margins.

BP will keep capital investment at $16 billion each year. in 2024 and 2025.

The business also took a $1.3 billion impairment charge in. the quarter, primarily associated to capacity reduction at its. Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany.

BP's net financial obligation decreased by $1.4 billion in the quarter to. $ 22.6 billion and its debt-to-equity ratio, called tailoring,. fell to 21.6% from 22% at the end of March.

(source: Reuters)