Why earnings calls suggest Q1 2021 is a turning point

Shareholders have been rewarded. Between the beginning and end of the first quarter, the stock prices of the companies in our sample increased by an average of 20%, while the broader markets were up by about 6%.  

As the earning season unfolded, the breakdown of questions that analysts asked in the broad categories of strategy, operations and finances was consistent with where it has been in previous quarters. Financial matters (attempts to glean more detail about this quarter’s results and predict future results) were the focus of over half of the questions analysts asked. Operational questions were 16% of the total, and strategic questions made up the rest at 31%.        

Ability to generate cash

Financial questions were focused intently on company performance, production cost and the ability of companies to generate cash. Those matters attracted heightened interest as the industry emerges from the COVID-19 downturn and begins to generate cash again.

As usual, the center of attention was corporate performance, with upstream projects following far behind. A surprisingly large number of questions was related to the performance of renewable energy businesses, and we should expect more frequent and pointed questions from equity analysts as they become a bigger part of company portfolios.

Ultimately, all financial questions led to companies’ choices about capital return vs. capital expenditure. The timing and triggering events for stock buyback were the subject of several queries, as was the possibility of restoring dividends that were cut to preserve cash as the crisis unfolded. The trade-off between capital spending and capital return was, as always, in focus.

Focus on upstream projects

Operational questions were mainly focused (more than half) on upstream projects. Typical queries included the impact of schedule delays on production, with a large percentage of those questions dealing with the effect of COVID-19 outbreaks.

The contrast between how analysts approached growing segments (such as renewables and LNG) vs. the questions they asked about upstream and downstream segments was revealing. When asking about upstream projects, 30 of the 49 questions were related to production, cost and operational performance. When it came to LNG, electricity and renewable energy projects, 27 of 67 questions were on the subject of portfolio composition.

Strategy was dominated by analyst curiosity about companies’ intentions in renewables and other electricity investments. Expected growth in EV charging points and hydrogen projects were of particular interest.

Alternative energy

Regarding alternative energy, analyst interest has soared, but the “tale of two hemispheres” continues. Nineteen percent of all the questions analysts asked and 37% of the questions in the category of strategy addressed companies’ plans regarding investment in electricity, renewables, hydrogen and other non-fossil energy sources.

Analyst interest, in line with companies’ interest in these businesses, falls clearly along geographic lines. Over 20% of the questions to European majors fell into this category; US-based counterparts were asked those questions only 11% of the time. Solidified, analyst interest has shifted toward operational and financial results.

While the portfolio theme was still at the top of the list (with 19 of 46 questions), issues related to cost and performance were close behind (13 questions).

Looking forward

By this time next quarter, most of the developed world’s population will be vaccinated against COVID-19, oil demand will be inching its way back to normal and the inventories that were built up in the early days of the crisis will have been drawn down. Absent of an interruption in that process, investor focus will continue to shift to companies’ investments in fossil fuel alternatives and the efficiency and competitiveness of legacy businesses.