Statoil Continues to Churn Out Impressive Earnings in 2017

It wasn't that long ago that Statoil's (NYSE: STO) stock didn't look like it had much going for it. Management was projecting for slow growth as it tried to replace high-cost production sources with ones that could make money in today's oil and gas environment. Fast-forward to the company's most recent earnings result, and the company looks wildly different. Not only is management projecting higher growth rates, but it has also found a way to generate much higher profits from that production.

Here's a look at the company's most recent results, how it managed this turnaround, and what could be on the horizon.

Statoil's results: The raw numbers

The prior quarter's results showed that Statoil's efforts to drive costs out of its business was working. Second-quarter results were confirmation that these results weren't just a fluke. The company churned out another quarter of decent operational results that also got a bump from a much-reduced tax bill. The company's cash flow from operations was also robust. Cash may be much lower than the prior quarter, but Statoil did have a $900 million build in working capital this quarter and didn't benefit from any asset sales.

The big story at Statoil is reduced expenses. Over the past year, revenue has increased 37%, but operating and administrative expenses increased by just 2%. The catalyst for this quarter's results specifically, though, was its international exploration and production segment. International production declined, but higher realized prices and a new agreement related to profit allocation for its operations in Angola helped push up revenues and adjusted earnings.

What happened with Statoil this quarter?

• Total production jumped from 1.959 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mmboe/d) to 1.996 mmboe/d. All of that production came from ramp-ups at new fields in Norway. Management estimates a 5% production increase in 2017 and 3% annual growth afterward through 2020.
• Capital spending projects for the year remain the same at $11 billion, but management revised down its total exploration spending from $1.5 billion to $1.3 billion. The reduction of expenditure was a result of more efficient operations than nixing any exploration projects. 
• Statoil gave the green light for two projects on the Norwegian continental shelf: Njord and Bauge. Management expects to spend $2.5 billion combined for the two projects and will extend production at Njord out to 2040.
• The company won two offshore blocks in Suriname. These blocks are in the same region as ExxonMobil's (NYSE: XOM) massive Liza discovery in Frech Guyana. Statoil and ExxonMobil are partners on these exploration blocks. Statoil also did an asset swap with BP in Australia's Bight Basin where it transferred its 30% ownership in two blocks in exchange for 70% ownership in two others from BP. Statoil now is 100% owner of these two blocks.
• Strong cash flows reduced the company's net debt-to-capital ratio from 35.6% to 27.5%. 

What management had to say

CEO Eldar Saetre's comments on the company's most recent results. He also went out of his way to explain Statoil's exploration activities because of that reduction in exploration spending for 2017.

10-second takeaway

Investors have to be pleased with the progress Statoil has made in recent years to improve profitability. The ability to generate that much free cash flow at $50 a barrel isn't something every oil and gas producer can do today. With a suite of projects slated to come on line between now and 2020 that will ensure 3% annual growth, Statoil looks like it will have a decent run for the next couple of years.

Beyond that, though, will largely be determined by its progress on some of these exploration efforts. Statoil has some intriguing prospects in Brazil and Australia, but a home-run find in Suriname similar to ExxonMobil's adjacent property could fuel growth for a long time. Any news related to these projects could be big for Statoil in the coming years.

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Tyler Crowe owns shares of ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool owns shares of ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool recommends Statoil. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.