Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) has announced robust full year results for 2016. Revenues were down 3% YoY to US$33.8bn, however, EBITDA was up 7% YoY to US$13.5bn and net income of US$4.6bn reversed a loss of US$0.9bn in 2016. Segment performance was mixed with iron ore and energy and minerals performing strongly offset by weakness in aluminium, copper and diamonds. Annual production for iron ore was up 4% YoY and with the benefit of stronger prices EBITDA was up 11% to US$8.5bn. Although oil production was weaker YoY the rebound in prices drove a significant recovery in segment earnings and EBITDA was up 46% YoY to US$1.8bn. Copper and diamonds segment earnings were, however, weaker with EBITDA down 24% to US$1.4bn owing largely to weakness in commodity prices. The aluminium division also suffered due to weaker aluminium premia, offsetting strong production increases and EBITDA was down 10% YoY to US$2.5bn.
RIO have also declared a final dividend of US$1.25/sh. meaning a full year dividend of US$1.70/sh or US$3.1bn, down 21% YoY. This is alongside a share buyback programme of US$0.5bn to be carried out during 2017.
Tullow Oil (LON:TLW)
Tullow Oil (TLW) announced its results for the year ended 31 December 2016 this morning. FY working interest production was 67.1kboepd (-9% YoY), in-line with recent guidance. However, including the impact of insured barrels from the Jubilee field this increases to 71.7kboepd. With the TEN development coming on-line in August 2016 TLW’s production is now expected to increase to 78-85kboepd in 2017. Revenue was US$1.3bn (-21% YoY) and net debt at a significant US$4.8bn (+19%).
TLW’s balance sheet remains under pressure with gearing standing at 5.1x. 2016 capex was US$0.9bn (-47% YoY) and TLW plans to reduce this further in 2017 to US$0.5bn. Which includes US$125m to be offset by the completion of the farm out for 21.57% of the Lake Alberta project to Total (FP FP) for US$900m. However, only US$100m of this deal will be received upfront so it will not provide significant deleveraging of its balance sheet in the short term.
Whilst TLW was free cash flow positive in Q4 2016 after TEN first oil, we anticipate that it may farm-out more of its assets to allow it to deleverage quicker. We are cautious over the stock whilst the net debt remains at such levels.
Eco Atlantic (LON:ECO)
Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas (ECO)# an oil and gas company with highly prospective exploration licences offshore Guyana and Namibia was admitted to trading on AIM today. As part of the listing it raised £5.09 million before expenses by placing 31,781,250 new Common Shares.