HC
HESS CORP (HES)·Q2 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2024 delivered strong operational and financial performance: net income was $757M ($2.46 diluted EPS) versus $119M ($0.39) in Q2 2023; adjusted net income was $809M ($2.62) versus $201M ($0.65) YoY, driven by higher production volumes and realized prices .
- Oil and gas net production rose 28% YoY to 494k boepd, with Bakken at 212k boepd (+17% YoY) and Guyana at 192k bopd (+75% YoY); cash operating costs fell to $11.69/boe from $13.97/boe YoY .
- Guidance points to lower Q3 volumes due to planned downtime: E&P net production 460–470k boepd; Bakken 200–205k boepd; Guyana 170–175k bopd; Q3 E&P capex ~$1,125M .
- No earnings call was held due to the pending Chevron merger, limiting typical qualitative/disclosure dynamics and removing call-driven catalysts .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Material YoY earnings expansion: adjusted net income rose to $809M ($2.62/share) from $201M ($0.65/share), primarily on higher volumes and realized prices; GAAP net income rose to $757M ($2.46/share) from $119M ($0.39/share) .
- Production strength across core basins: Bakken production reached 212k boepd (+17% YoY) with four rigs operating; Guyana hit 192k bopd (+75% YoY) with Payara at ~220k gross bopd capacity reached in January .
- Improved unit costs: cash operating costs decreased to $11.69/boe vs $13.97/boe YoY, reflecting scale efficiencies from higher production .
What Went Wrong
- JDA charges in Southeast Asia: Q2 included E&P charges tied to the regulator’s notification that PSC Block A-18 will not be re-awarded post-2029, contributing to $52M after-tax items affecting comparability .
- Gulf of Mexico volumes dipped: Q2 GoM production was 24k boepd vs 32k boepd YoY due to planned maintenance at Conger and Tubular Bells .
- Q3 production to be lower: guidance embeds planned downtime in Guyana and Southeast Asia, with E&P net production expected at 460–470k boepd, Bakken 200–205k boepd, Guyana 170–175k bopd .
Financial Results
Income Statement and EPS vs Prior Periods and Prior Year
Notes: Net income margin calculated as Net income attributable to Hess / Total revenues & non-operating income using cited figures.
Segment Earnings and Mix
Production, Realized Prices, Unit Costs
Cash Flow and Capex
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: No Q2 2024 conference call/transcript due to the pending Chevron merger .
Management Commentary
- “Due to the pending merger with Chevron Corporation (Chevron), the Corporation will not host a conference call to review its second quarter 2024 results.” – Hess Corporation press release .
- Hess Midstream LP: “We continue to execute unit repurchase transactions… we will have returned $1.75 billion to shareholders… Following this unit repurchase… we expect to continue to have more than $1.25 billion of financial flexibility through 2026…” – Jonathan Stein, CFO, Hess Midstream . While midstream, this highlights capital return cadence and balance sheet posture relevant to consolidated stakeholders.
Q&A Highlights
- Not applicable; the company did not hold an earnings call for Q2 2024 due to the pending Chevron merger .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q2 2024 EPS and revenue was unavailable due to mapping limitations; therefore, we cannot quantify a beat/miss versus SPGI consensus this quarter. If required, we can supplement with third-party sources, but per methodology we default to S&P Global and note unavailability.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Volume-driven earnings expansion: broad-based production increases and higher realized prices drove robust YoY EBITDA/earnings conversion; unit costs improved YoY reinforcing operating leverage .
- Guyana continues to anchor the growth story: Payara at capacity, continued development pipeline (Yellowtail 2025, Uaru 2026, Whiptail 2027) sustains multi-year visibility; Q3 downtime is transitory (Gas to Energy hook-up, optimization) .
- Bakken remains a reliable cash engine: steady four-rig program and throughput strength; Q3 guidance implies modest pullback from Q2 levels on maintenance and percentage-of-proceeds volume dynamics .
- Near-term headwinds: Q3 production guidance points lower on planned downtime (Guyana, Southeast Asia) and Bakken maintenance—expect softer volumes QoQ; position sizing should consider this cadence .
- Corporate/regulatory watch items: JDA PSC non-reaward post-2029 drove charges and underscores regional regulatory risk considerations; monitor further disclosures and any Chevron-merger impacts .
- Liquidity and leverage: cash and cash equivalents $2.025B; consolidated debt $8.865B; Hess Corporation debt-to-capitalization per covenants at 30.8%, down from 33.6% at year-end, reflecting improved balance sheet metrics .
- Event risk and disclosure cadence: no call and pending merger reduce typical narrative catalysts; trading focus should shift to operational prints (cargo timing, downtime resolution) and merger milestones .
Appendix: Selected Additional Data
- Net cash provided by operating activities: $1,893M in Q2 vs $974M YoY; CFO before WC $1,592M vs $974M YoY; WC added $301M in Q2 .
- Segment sales (E&P): US sales $1,540M, International $1,655M in Q2; total $3,195M .
- Average realized crude price worldwide: $80.29/bbl in Q2 vs $71.13/bbl YoY and $80.06/bbl in Q1 .
Citations: All figures and statements are sourced from Hess Corporation press releases and Form 8‑K filings as cited above.