智通财经网·2025-07-23 12:13Core Viewpoint - Geopolitical factors have led to significant volatility in oil prices, resulting in the expectation that major oil companies will report their lowest quarterly profits in four years [1] Group 1: Oil Price Volatility - Oil prices surged by 31% over a seven-week period from May to June, but ultimately fell by 10% by the end of the quarter due to the impact of President Trump's trade war and OPEC+ production increases [1] - The volatility has caused a divergence in performance between Shell and BP, with Shell warning of a "significant decline" in trading profits while BP anticipates "strong" profits from its oil trading business [1][4] Group 2: Earnings Forecasts - Analysts predict that the combined earnings of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP will decline by 12% quarter-on-quarter to $19.88 billion [1][4] - The average oil price for the quarter is expected to be below $70 per barrel, complicating the ability of global energy giants to maintain shareholder returns [4] Group 3: Company-Specific Insights - Shell's trading department, typically a reliable profit source, underperformed, leading to a decline in European oil stocks, although Shell's stock rose by approximately 10% this year [7] - BP is under pressure from activist investors and has appointed a new chairman, focusing on its core oil and gas business to improve its performance [7] - Chevron has reduced buyback spending in response to falling oil prices, while ExxonMobil has increased capital expenditures to drive low-cost production growth [9][10] Group 4: Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns - The combined free cash flow of the five major companies is expected to fall short of covering planned dividends and buybacks for the third consecutive quarter [10] - If oil prices remain around $70, companies are likely to maintain buybacks, but if prices drop to $60 or lower, some may cut back on buybacks while others may continue [10]