OREANDA-NEWS. August 04, 2015. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM):
Second Quarter First Half
2015 2014 % 2015 2014 %
Earnings Summary
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
Earnings 4,190 8,780 -52 9,130 17,880 -49
Earnings Per Common Share
Assuming Dilution 1.00 2.05 -51 2.17 4.15 -48
Capital and Exploration
Expenditures 8,261 9,800 -16 15,965 18,236 -12

Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced estimated second quarter 2015 earnings of \\$4.2 billion, or \\$1 per diluted share, compared with \\$8.8 billion a year earlier. Higher Downstream and Chemical earnings were more than offset by the impact of weaker Upstream realizations and lower asset management gains.

“We are delivering on our investment and operating commitments across ExxonMobil’s integrated portfolio,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our quarterly results reflect the disparate impacts of the current commodity price environment, but also demonstrate the strength of our sound operations, superior project execution capabilities, as well as continued discipline in capital and expense management.”

Downstream and Chemical segment earnings increased significantly from the second quarter of 2014, driven by higher margins, continued strong demand, and the quality of the company’s product and asset mix.

ExxonMobil produced 4 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, an increase of 139,000 barrels per day, or 3.6 percent. Liquids volumes of 2.3 million barrels per day increased 11.9 percent, benefiting from new developments in Angola, Canada, Indonesia and the United States.

During the quarter, the corporation distributed \\$4.1 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.

Second Quarter Highlights

  • Earnings of \\$4.2 billion decreased \\$4.6 billion or 52 percent from the second quarter of 2014.
  • Earnings per share, assuming dilution, were \\$1, a decrease of 51 percent.
  • Capital and exploration expenditures were \\$8.3 billion, down 16 percent from the second quarter of 2014.
  • Oil-equivalent production increased 3.6 percent from the second quarter of 2014, with liquids up 11.9 percent and natural gas down 5.8 percent.
  • Cash flow from operations and asset sales was \\$9.4 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of \\$629 million.
  • The corporation distributed \\$4.1 billion to shareholders in the second quarter of 2015, including \\$1 billion in share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.
  • Dividends per share of \\$0.73 increased 5.8 percent compared with the second quarter of 2014.
  • A significant oil discovery was made in Guyana on the 6.6-million acre Stabroek Block that is located 120 miles offshore. The well was safely drilled to 17,825 feet in 5,719 feet of water and encountered 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.
  • Production at the company’s Kearl oil sands expansion project in Alberta, Canada, started ahead of schedule, doubling gross capacity to 220,000 barrels of bitumen per day.
  • Bitumen production began on schedule at the Cold Lake Nabiye project expansion in northeastern Alberta, Canada. The expansion is producing about 20,000 barrels per day and volumes are expected to reach peak daily production of 40,000 barrels later this year.

Second Quarter 2015 vs. Second Quarter 2014

Upstream earnings were \\$2 billion in the second quarter of 2015, down \\$5.9 billion from the second quarter of 2014. Lower liquids and gas realizations decreased earnings by \\$4.5 billion, while volume effects increased earnings by \\$330 million driven by new developments. All other items decreased earnings by \\$1.7 billion, including the one-time \\$260 million deferred income tax impact related to the tax rate increase in Alberta, Canada, and the absence of prior year asset management gains.

On an oil-equivalent basis, production increased 3.6 percent from the second quarter of 2014. Liquids production totaled 2.3 million barrels per day, up 243,000 barrels per day, with project ramp-up and entitlement effects partly offset by field decline. Natural gas production was 10.1 billion cubic feet per day, down 622 million cubic feet per day from 2014 due to regulatory restrictions in the Netherlands. Project volumes and entitlement effects offset field decline.

The U.S. Upstream operations recorded a loss of \\$47 million, down \\$1.2 billion from the second quarter of 2014. Non-U.S. Upstream earnings were \\$2.1 billion, down \\$4.6 billion from the prior year.

Downstream earnings were \\$1.5 billion, up \\$795 million from the second quarter of 2014. Stronger margins increased earnings by \\$1.1 billion. Volume and mix effects decreased earnings by \\$80 million. All other items, including higher maintenance expenses, decreased earnings by \\$230 million. Petroleum product sales of 5.7 million barrels per day were 104,000 barrels per day lower than the prior year's second quarter.

Earnings from the U.S. Downstream were \\$412 million, down \\$124 million from the second quarter of 2014. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings of \\$1.1 billion were \\$919 million higher than last year.

Chemical earnings of \\$1.2 billion were \\$405 million higher than the second quarter of 2014. Margins increased earnings by \\$340 million, benefiting from lower feedstock costs. Volume mix effects increased earnings by \\$20 million. All other items, primarily asset management gains in the U.S., partly offset by unfavorable foreign exchange effects, increased earnings by a net \\$50 million. Second quarter prime product sales of 6.1 million metric tons were 61,000 metric tons lower than the prior year's second quarter.

Corporate and financing expenses were \\$593 million for the second quarter of 2015, down \\$60 million from the second quarter of 2014.

During the second quarter of 2015, ExxonMobil purchased 12 million shares of its common stock for the treasury to reduce the number of shares outstanding at a cost of \\$1 billion. Share purchases to reduce shares outstanding are currently anticipated to equal \\$500 million in the third quarter of 2015. Purchases may be made in both the open market and through negotiated transactions, and may be increased, decreased, or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

First Half 2015 Highlights

  • Earnings were \\$9.1 billion, down \\$8.8 billion or 49 percent from 2014.
  • Earnings per share, assuming dilution, decreased 48 percent to \\$2.17.
  • Capital and exploration expenditures were \\$16 billion, down 12 percent from 2014.
  • Oil-equivalent production increased 3 percent from 2014, with liquids up 8.9 percent and natural gas down 3.6 percent.
  • Cash flow from operations and asset sales was \\$17.9 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of \\$1.1 billion.
  • The corporation distributed \\$8 billion to shareholders in the first half of 2015 through dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.

First Half 2015 vs. First Half 2014

Upstream earnings were \\$4.9 billion, down \\$10.8 billion from the first half of 2014. Lower realizations decreased earnings by \\$10 billion. Favorable volume and mix effects increased earnings by \\$570 million. All other items, primarily the absence of prior year asset management gains, decreased earnings by \\$1.4 billion.

On an oil-equivalent basis, production of 4.1 million barrels per day was up 3 percent compared to the same period in 2014. Liquids production of 2.3 million barrels per day increased 186,000 barrels per day, with project ramp-up and entitlement effects partly offset by field decline. Natural gas production of 11 billion cubic feet per day decreased 407 million cubic feet per day from 2014 due to regulatory restrictions in the Netherlands. Project ramp-up and entitlement effects exceeded field decline.

The U.S. Upstream operations recorded a loss of \\$99 million, down \\$2.5 billion from 2014. Earnings outside the U.S. were \\$5 billion, down \\$8.2 billion from the prior year.

Downstream earnings of \\$3.2 billion increased \\$1.6 billion from 2014. Stronger margins increased earnings by \\$2.1 billion. Volume and mix effects were essentially flat period-to-period. All other items, including higher planned maintenance expenses, decreased earnings by \\$480 million. Petroleum product sales of 5.8 million barrels per day were 54,000 barrels per day lower than 2014.

U.S. Downstream earnings were \\$1 billion, a decrease of \\$180 million from 2014. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings were \\$2.2 billion, up \\$1.8 billion from the prior year.

Chemical earnings of \\$2.2 billion increased \\$340 million from 2014. Higher margins increased earnings by \\$590 million. Favorable volume mix effects increased earnings by \\$70 million. All other items, including unfavorable foreign exchange effects partly offset by asset management gains in the U.S., decreased earnings by \\$320 million. Prime product sales of 12.1 million metric tons were down 120,000 metric tons from 2014.

Corporate and financing expenses were \\$1.2 billion in the first half of 2015, essentially flat with 2014.

During the first half of 2015, ExxonMobil purchased 32 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of \\$2.8 billion. These purchases included \\$2 billion to reduce the number of shares outstanding, with the balance used to acquire shares in conjunction with the company’s benefit plans and programs.

ExxonMobil will discuss financial and operating results and other matters during a webcast at 8:30 a.m. Central Time on July 31, 2015. To listen to the event or access an archived replay, please visit www.exxonmobil.com.

Cautionary Statement

Statements relating to future plans, projections, events or conditions are forward-looking statements. Actual results, including project plans, costs, timing, and capacities; capital and exploration expenditures; resource recoveries; and share purchase levels, could differ materially due to factors including: changes in oil or gas prices or other market or economic conditions affecting the oil and gas industry, including the scope and duration of economic recessions; the outcome of exploration and development efforts; changes in law or government regulation, including tax and environmental requirements; the outcome of commercial negotiations; changes in technical or operating conditions; and other factors discussed under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Results" in the “Investors” section of our website and in Item 1A of ExxonMobil's 2014 Form 10-K. We assume no duty to update these statements as of any future date.

Frequently Used Terms

This press release includes cash flow from operations and asset sales, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Because of the regular nature of our asset management and divestment program, we believe it is useful for investors to consider proceeds associated with the sales of subsidiaries, property, plant and equipment, and sales and returns of investments together with cash provided by operating activities when evaluating cash available for investment in the business and financing activities. A reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities is shown in Attachment II. References to quantities of oil or natural gas may include amounts that we believe will ultimately be produced, but that are not yet classified as “proved reserves” under SEC definitions. Further information on ExxonMobil's frequently used financial and operating measures and other terms is contained under the heading "Frequently Used Terms" available through the “Investors” section of our website at exxonmobil.com.

Reference to Earnings

References to corporate earnings mean net income attributable to ExxonMobil (U.S. GAAP) from the consolidated income statement. Unless otherwise indicated, references to earnings, Upstream, Downstream, Chemical and Corporate and Financing segment earnings, and earnings per share are ExxonMobil's share after excluding amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests.

The term “project” as used in this release can refer to a variety of different activities and does not necessarily have the same meaning as in any government payment transparency reports.

Exxon Mobil Corporation has numerous affiliates, many with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Mobil, Esso, and XTO. For convenience and simplicity, those terms and terms such as Corporation, company, our, we, and its are sometimes used as abbreviated references to specific affiliates or affiliate groups. Similarly, ExxonMobil has business relationships with thousands of customers, suppliers, governments, and others. For convenience and simplicity, words such as venture, joint venture, partnership, co-venturer, and partner are used to indicate business and other relationships involving common activities and interests, and those words may not indicate precise legal relationships.

Estimated Key Financial and Operating Data
Attachment I
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Second Quarter 2015
(millions of dollars, unless noted)
Second Quarter First Half
2015 2014 2015 2014
Earnings / Earnings Per Share
Total revenues and other income 74,113 111,208 141,731 217,533
Total costs and other deductions 67,159 97,057 128,142 188,155
Income before income taxes 6,954 14,151 13,589 29,378
Income taxes 2,692 5,034 4,252 10,891
Net income including noncontrolling interests 4,262 9,117 9,337 18,487
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 72 337 207 607
Net income attributable to ExxonMobil (U.S. GAAP) 4,190 8,780 9,130 17,880
Earnings per common share (dollars) 1.00 2.05 2.17 4.15
Earnings per common share
- assuming dilution (dollars) 1.00 2.05 2.17 4.15
Other Financial Data
Dividends on common stock
Total 3,066 2,966 5,976 5,698
Per common share (dollars) 0.73 0.69 1.42 1.32
Millions of common shares outstanding
At June 30 4,169 4,265
Average - assuming dilution 4,200 4,297 4,205 4,312
ExxonMobil share of equity at June 30 172,668 181,155
ExxonMobil share of capital employed at June 30 208,781 205,397
Income taxes 2,692 5,034 4,252 10,891
Sales-based taxes 5,965 7,871 11,495 15,287
All other taxes 7,595 9,306 14,869 18,163
Total taxes 16,252 22,211 30,616 44,341
ExxonMobil share of income taxes of
equity companies 755 1,412 1,716 3,232
Attachment II
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Second Quarter 2015
(millions of dollars)
Second Quarter First Half
2015 2014 2015 2014
Earnings (U.S. GAAP)
Upstream
United States (47 ) 1,193 (99 ) 2,437
Non-U.S. 2,078 6,688 4,985 13,227
Downstream
United States 412 536 979 1,159
Non-U.S. 1,094 175 2,194 365
Chemical
United States 735 528 1,340 1,207
Non-U.S. 511 313 888 681
Corporate and financing (593 ) (653 ) (1,157 ) (1,196 )
Net income attributable to ExxonMobil 4,190 8,780 9,130 17,880
Cash flow from operations and asset sales (billions of dollars)
Net cash provided by operating activities
(U.S. GAAP) 8.8 10.2 16.8 25.3
Proceeds associated with asset sales 0.6 2.6 1.1 3.7
Cash flow from operations and asset sales 9.4 12.8 17.9 29.0
Attachment III
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Second Quarter 2015
Second Quarter First Half
2015 2014 2015 2014
Net production of crude oil, natural gas
liquids, bitumen and synthetic oil,
thousand barrels per day (kbd)
United States 468 458 470 450
Canada / South America 364 282 366 298
Europe 199 178 199 187
Africa 522 473 521 477
Asia 685 597 681 631
Australia / Oceania 53 60 47 55
Worldwide 2,291 2,048 2,284 2,098
Natural gas production available for sale,
million cubic feet per day (mcfd)
United States 3,153 3,421 3,186 3,417
Canada / South America 262 316 286 325
Europe 1,718 2,426 2,578 2,943
Africa 8 6 5 7
Asia 4,265 4,070 4,273 4,293
Australia / Oceania 722 511 645 395
Worldwide 10,128 10,750 10,973 11,380
Oil-equivalent production (koebd)1 3,979 3,840 4,113 3,995
1 Gas converted to oil-equivalent at 6 million cubic feet = 1 thousand barrels.
Attachment IV
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Second Quarter 2015
Second Quarter First Half
2015 2014 2015 2014
Refinery throughput (kbd)
United States 1,702 1,711 1,754 1,761
Canada 373 418 383 398
Europe 1,524 1,445 1,499 1,438
Asia Pacific 539 686 610 694
Other 192 194 192 191
Worldwide 4,330 4,454 4,438 4,482
Petroleum product sales (kbd)
United States 2,548 2,651 2,580 2,628
Canada 486 494 489 491
Europe 1,555 1,525 1,546 1,519
Asia Pacific 695 733 721 747
Other 453 438 439 444
Worldwide 5,737 5,841 5,775 5,829
Gasolines, naphthas 2,376 2,436 2,370 2,418
Heating oils, kerosene, diesel 1,874 1,887 1,934 1,876
Aviation fuels 404 412 407 420
Heavy fuels 377 379 385 404
Specialty products 706 727 679 711
Worldwide 5,737 5,841 5,775 5,829
Chemical prime product sales,
thousand metric tons (kt)
United States 2,401 2,351 4,722 4,743
Non-U.S. 3,677 3,788 7,425 7,524
Worldwide 6,078 6,139 12,147 12,267
Attachment V
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Second Quarter 2015
(millions of dollars)
Second Quarter First Half
2015 2014 2015 2014
Capital and Exploration Expenditures
Upstream
United States 2,095 2,698 4,215 4,790
Non-U.S. 4,651 5,696 8,948 10,868
Total 6,746 8,394 13,163 15,658
Downstream
United States 266 296 561 524
Non-U.S. 361 386 687 698
Total 627 682 1,248 1,222
Chemical
United States 570 502 1,000 899
Non-U.S. 258 212 482 445
Total 828 714 1,482 1,344
Other 60 10 72 12
Worldwide 8,261 9,800 15,965 18,236
Exploration expenses charged to income
included above
Consolidated affiliates
United States 40 104 77 139
Non-U.S. 329 389 603 669
Equity companies - ExxonMobil share
United States - 50 3 51
Non-U.S. 23 63 31 85
Worldwide 392 606 714 944
Attachment VI
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Earnings
\\$ Millions

\\$ Per Common
Share1

2011

First Quarter 10,650 2.14
Second Quarter 10,680 2.19
Third Quarter 10,330 2.13
Fourth Quarter 9,400 1.97
Year 41,060 8.43

2012

First Quarter 9,450 2.00
Second Quarter 15,910 3.41
Third Quarter 9,570 2.09
Fourth Quarter 9,950 2.20
Year 44,880 9.70

2013

First Quarter 9,500 2.12
Second Quarter 6,860 1.55
Third Quarter 7,870 1.79
Fourth Quarter 8,350 1.91
Year 32,580 7.37

2014

First Quarter 9,100 2.10
Second Quarter 8,780 2.05
Third Quarter 8,070 1.89
Fourth Quarter 6,570 1.56
Year 32,520 7.60

2015

First Quarter 4,940 1.17
Second Quarter 4,190 1.00
1 Computed using the average number of shares outstanding during each period.