Suncor Energy reports second quarter results

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Jul 30, 2014) -

Unless otherwise noted, all financial figures are unaudited, presented in Canadian dollars (Cdn$), and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), specifically International Accounting Standard (IAS) 34 Interim Financial Reporting as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Production volumes are presented on a working interest basis, before royalties, unless noted otherwise. Certain financial measures referred to in this document (operating earnings, cash flow from operations, free cash flow, Oil Sands cash operating costs, and return on capital employed (ROCE)) are not prescribed by Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this news release. References to Oil Sands operations, production and cash operating costs exclude Suncor's interest in Syncrude's operations.

"We continue to generate strong cash flow quarter after quarter," said Steve Williams, Suncor president and chief executive officer. "In the second quarter, we took advantage of strong upstream pricing to generate $2.4 billion of cash flow from operations. We also reduced our cash operating costs per barrel at Oil Sands operations by 27% from the second quarter of 2013, thanks to a strong ramp up of Firebag production and our commitment to cost management."

• Operating earnings of $1.135 billion ($0.77 per common share) and net earnings of $211 million ($0.14 per common share). Net earnings included after-tax impairment charges of $718 million against the company's interest in the Joslyn mining project, $297 million against the company's Libyan assets, and $223 million related to other Oil Sands assets.

• Quarterly cash flow from operations of $2.406 billion ($1.64 per common share), and a 66% increase in free cash flow to $3.599 billion for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, over the prior year period.

• Increased production at Firebag, combined with the company's continued focus on cost management, enabled Suncor to achieve cash operating costs per barrel of $34.10 for Oil Sands operations.

• Decision made to scale back certain development activities at the Joslyn mining project, reinforcing Suncor's disciplined approach to capital allocation and commitment to driving higher returns.

• Outlook for 2014 capital expenditures reduced to $6.8 billion from $7.8 billion, demonstrating Suncor's ongoing commitment to capital discipline.

• Suncor's Board of Directors has approved a dividend of $0.28 per common share, a 22% increase over the previous quarter dividend, reinforcing the company's commitment and ability to return cash to shareholders.