Posted on 04/27/2006 9:52:05 AM PDT by VU4G10
Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest oil company, reported Thursday the fifth highest quarterly profit for any public company in history, posting gains from higher oil prices that were likely to stoke the furor over outsized oil company earnings.
Despite the 7 percent gain in earnings to more than $8 billion in the first quarter, Exxon Mobil said its earnings came in below its record fourth-quarter because all three of its business _ exploration and production; refining; chemicals _ didn't perform as well.
The earnings report comes amid consumer outcry in the U.S. about soaring gasoline prices. The average retail price of gasoline in the U.S. is now $2.91 a gallon, or 68 cents higher than a year ago.
It also comes as Washington lawmakers are looking to appease consumers with various proposals to make big oil companies pay more taxes or provide consumers with some other relief.
In January, Exxon posted the highest quarterly profits of any public company in history: $10.71 billion for the fourth quarter of 2005 and $36.13 billion for the full year.
In the first quarter, net income rose to $8.4 billion, or $1.37 per share, from $7.86 billion, or $1.22 per share, a year ago. Excluding a gain on the sale of an interest in China's Sinopec, the company's year-ago profit was $7.4 billion, or $1.15 per share.
But analysts polled by Thomson Financial were looking for a higher profit of $1.47 per share for the latest quarter, and shares fell $1.02, or 1.6 percent, to $62.08 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Howard Silverblatt, a senior index analyst for Standard & Poor's, said the latest profit figure still places Exxon fifth historically among quarterly earnings. Exxon also holds the first, second and fourth spots; Royal Dutch Shell PLC has the third spot.
The company said its average sale price for crude oil in the U.S. during the quarter was $55.99 per barrel compared to $42.70 a year ago. It sold natural gas in the U.S., on average, for $8.31 compared to $6.18 during the same period one year ago.
Earnings from exploration and production of oil and gas rose to $6.4 billion from $5 billion a year ago. Refining profits fell from $1.4 billion to $1.2 billion and profits from its chemical business fell to 949 million from $1.4 billion
Revenue grew to $88.98 billion from $82.05 billion a year earlier. Higher crude oil and natural gas prices and improved marketing margins were partly offset by lower chemical margins.
Placed in perspective, Exxon's revenue for the three-month period was still greater than the annual gross domestic product of some major oil producing nations, including the United Arab Emirates ($74.67 billion) and Kuwait ($55.31 billion), according to statistics maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency.
Exxon said it invested $4.8 billion in capital and exploration projects, a 41 percent increase from 2005.
"In the first quarter of 2006, the results of our continuing long-term investment program contributed to a 5 percent increase in production," Exxon chief executive said in a prepared statement.
Exxon also said it returned $7 billion to shareholders through dividends of $2 billion and buying back $5 billion worth of shares.
>>>18.4 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!................on Exxon Mobil ALONE!.......Who's gouging who?.........>>>
Excuse me, but 18 billion dollars on 84 billion dollars is less than the tax percentage on a person making $150k a year. Hooray for tax cuts for big oil.
Interesting side note here as I keep hearing about competition. Just having completed a 70 mile roundtrip to look at a job, I looked at every gas station along the way. The lowest price I saw was $2.87 (Citgo)and the highest was $3.05 (Shell). An $.18 difference in pricing.
How can there be such a spread in prices if all we hear about is tight supplies and refining running at full capacity?
/just curious
I believe that you are correct on the fixed amount. "Where were the whiners then ?"
It also varies by the state.
In Europe, they pay from $5 to $7 per gallon...most of which is taxes.
We consumers pay this tax.
The oil companies and their stock holders also pay state and federal income taxes. And even more if you count the double tax on dividends.
So does it go from there? Congress splits it and lives in the lap of luxury, or what?
>>>As that guy on Rush pointed out the other day, liberals are OK with huge profits only when the persons making them are not providing a service essential to society. Entertainers are not begrudged their millions, while businessmen are villified for theirs, if they are so lucky or skilled as to have made them.>>>
It's not an essential service, it's an essential PRODUCT that AFFECTS OUR ECONOMY. Fuel is the blood of our economy, with higher gas prices, so we have higher EVERYTHING prices. When the economy is tipped and you yippee for Exxon types are struggling, I'll bet you won't see it the same.
These corporate taxes impact the stock owners...us.
>>>(2) subsidize Corporation for Public Broadcasting to run such shows as "Sesame Street", "Barney", etc. while these shows sell more toys, books, sheets, clothing, videos, etc. and make millions off American Taxpayers.>>>
Now THIS I agree with wholeheartedly. I've been saying that for years. Those shows make more than Disney and yet they get tax breaks AND government money?
Actually $88.98/8.4= 1059.28% but the inverse would be true. |
Right!
And the gubm'nt doesn't do one iota to bring gasoline to the public. All they do is get in the way with their neverending regulations.
Why is discussing a companies profits in unadjusted dollars deceptive?
The rational used to decry Exxons profits as measured in raw dollars, could just as easily be used to argue that minimum wage workers are making RECORD pay. Its true that the minimum wage is larger (in raw dollars) than it ever has been, a RECORD HIGH!
However, because of inflation, that RECORD HIGH (!) wage doesnt really buy more than it ever has, perhaps less.
Not "Government money" - it's your money!!!
Then that family's finances were lousy to begin with. If you're living paycheck to paycheck, it's not a question of if you'll "break", but when.
I'm sorry, I don't like greed. You can argue political difference with me all day, I just don't like greed.
Please explain the difference between "greed" and "capitalism".
These bastards need to get a good tax audit by the IRS.
I am sorry, but record profits, while capitalism at its best and evidence of a strong free market, are also capitalism at its worst in this case.
Gas is an industry that impacts the rest of the economy to a special degree that other industries do not, and those advocating for a completely free market in oil are clueless as to how serious an impact this makes, of just how bad this hurts our economy.
If their record profits kill our economy because it stalls consumer confidence and spending, the OIL COMPANIES are to blame for it.
Why is discussing a companies profits in unadjusted dollars deceptive?
The rational used to decry Exxons profits as measured in raw dollars, could just as easily be used to argue that minimum wage workers are making RECORD pay. Its true that the minimum wage is larger (in raw dollars) than it ever has been, a RECORD HIGH!
However, because of inflation, that RECORD HIGH (!) wage doesnt really buy more than it ever has, perhaps less.
The ONLY reason that gas is as CHEAP as it is,,,yes, CHEAP,,,is BECAUSE of the oil companies...Geeez
With logic like yours, you belond on DU, not here...lol
>>>"AND government money?"
Not "Government money" - it's your money!!!>>>
Not so, it's the government's money once they take possession of it. You can be brainwashed by Neal Boortz all day. Not that it isn't our contribution, and not that we shouldn't have a say so in how much and how it is contributed, but a government HAS to have revenue to run itself and offer public services and therefore it is 'the government''s money. Of course we could mince words since we are self governing society... but I digress.
Shades of Monty Python.
"Algon (where an ordinary cup of drinking chocolate costs 8 billion pounds)."
(There is actually a song by the same name.)
How much would gasoline cost on Algon?
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