Spanish fuel operator Repsol beat first-quarter net profit expectations, with higher oil and gas prices offsetting thinner refining margins.
Stronger upstream earnings from extracting oil and gas balanced much weaker downstream results as the pandemic sapped demand for fuel.
“We have delivered positive performance in extremely difficult circumstances that require us to continue our hard work, as efficiently and with as much flexibility as possible," commented Josu Jon Imaz, CEO of Repsol.
"We are laying the foundations for Repsol's future and advancing towards our decarbonisation objectives with cutting-edge projects that will reinforce Spanish industry and contribute to the recovery from this crisis."
Net Profit
Adjusted net profit rose 5.4% to €471 million and comfortably beat the €365 million expected by analysts polled by the company.
Repsol said margins on petrochemical products stayed strong even as shrinking refining margins prompted it to start furloughing staff at its Spanish facilities.
Higher oil and gas prices have brought some cheer so far this year to a sector grappling with a global shift towards low-carbon energy.
Global heavyweight Shell, and smaller European peers Equinor and OMV all reported bigger-than-expected improvements in their earnings on Thursday.
Repsol's shares are now pushing back up to their level last February, before widespread lockdowns roiled European markets. They are up more than 26% this year, outstripping a less than 10% increase in the broader European energy index.
Realisation prices for oil and gas were up 23.4% and 41.7% respectively year on year, Repsol said. [Pic: ©Vivoo/123RF.COM]
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. For more Retail stories, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
