Image Source: Phillips 66
By Brian Nelson, CFA
Phillips 66 (PSX) reported third quarter earnings October 29. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $2 billion, down from $2.18 billion in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings were $859 million versus $984 million in the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.04 versus $2.31 in last year’s quarter. Cash flow from operations was $1.13 billion versus $2.1 billion in the year-ago period. Capital expenditures and investments were $358 million, down from $367 million in the same period a year ago. During the quarter, the company bought back $800 million of stock and returned $477 million in dividends to shareholders. Phillips 66 ended the quarter with $1.6 billion in cash and $20 billion in debt.
Management was upbeat in the press release:
Our employees continue to execute our strategic priorities, deliver strong operating performance and leverage the benefits of our differentiated downstream portfolio. We have achieved our cost reduction and Midstream synergy targets. In addition, we have significantly advanced our asset disposition program with recently announced transactions. Our commitment to operational excellence and disciplined capital allocation continues to create long-term shareholder value.
In the quarter, Phillips 66 achieved its target of $1.4 billion in business transformation savings, including a $1 per barrel refining cost reduction. The firm is also optimizing its portfolio, with asset dispositions totaling $2.7 billion, approaching its $3 billion target. We like Phillips 66 free cash flow generation of $774 million in the third quarter, which easily outpaced its dividends paid in the quarter. The company has distributed $12.5 billion through share buybacks and dividends since July 2022, and it remains on pace to achieve its target of $13-$15 billion by year end. Our fair value estimate of Phillips 66 stands at $155 per share. Shares yield 3.6% at the time of this writing.
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Brian Nelson owns shares in SPY, SCHG, QQQ, DIA, VOT, RSP, and IWM. Valuentum owns SPY, SCHG, QQQ, VOO, and DIA. Brian Nelson’s household owns shares in HON, DIS, HAS, NKE, DIA, RSP, SCHG, QQQ, and VOO. Some of the other securities written about in this article may be included in Valuentum’s simulated newsletter portfolios. Contact Valuentum for more information about its editorial policies.
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