ExxonMobil focuses on business fundamentals

Exxon Mobil Corporation is achieving industry leading financial performance throughout the commodity price cycle by maintaining a focus on the fundamentals, selectively investing in the business and paying a reliable and growing dividend, according to Rex W. Tillerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

“We remain steadfast in our mission to create superior long term shareholder value,” Tillerson said at the company’s annual analyst meeting at the New York Stock Exchange. “We have the financial flexibility to pursue attractive opportunities and can adjust our investment program based on market demand fundamentals.”

ExxonMobil anticipates capital spending of US$23 billion in 2016, down 25% from 2015. The company continues to selectively advance its investment portfolio, building upon attractive longer term opportunities.

“We are focused on maximising benefits across the energy value chain,” Tillerson said. The company captures unique value from its diverse, high quality resource base from exploration, development and production all the way through to the fuels, lubricants and petrochemical products used by consumers.

ExxonMobil is on track to start up 10 new Upstream projects in 2016 and 2017, adding 450 000 boe/dof working interest production capacity. The company is enhancing resource value through production optimisation, technology application and cost management.

ExxonMobil’s Downstream and Chemical businesses have the scale and integration across refining, lubricants and chemicals to maximise product value while driving operating efficiency. Approximately 80% of the company’s 5 million bpd refining capacity is integrated with chemical and lubricant manufacturing facilities.

“We are advancing several Downstream and Chemical projects to increase feedstock flexibility, produce higher value products and expand logistics capabilities to strengthen our competitive advantage in these businesses,” Tillerson said.

During the meeting, ExxonMobil reviewed the following performance highlights.

• ExxonMobil has increased its dividend for 33 consecutive years through 2015, with an annual increase of 10%/y over the past 10 years. On average, US$0.48 of every dollar generated by the business during the last five years has been distributed to shareholders.
• Return on average capital employed of 7.9% in 2015 was nearly 4 percentage points higher than the company’s nearest competitor. During the past five years, return on capital employed averaged 18%, about 5 percentage points above its nearest competitor.
• ExxonMobil generated US$33 billion of cash flow from operations and asset sales and US$6.5 billion of free cash flow in 2015.
• Since 2012, ExxonMobil has started up 22 major Upstream projects, adding more than 940 000 boe/d of working interest production capacity. Six of these project startups occurred in 2015.
• The corporation achieved a total net reduction of US$12 billion in both capital and cash operating costs in 2015. Upstream total unit costs are down 9% from 2014. Refining unit cash costs are 15% lower than the industry average.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/03032016/exxonmobil-focuses-on-business-fundamentals-2644/