(Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc raised its dividend and pledged to grow the payout steadily, just six months after slashing it for the first time since the Second World War.Amid a painful year for Big Oil, the Anglo-Dutch energy giant offered investors some good news. It also reported a larger-than-expected profit for the third quarter, lower net debt and strong cash flow, even as most of its divisions continued to be battered by the coronavirus pandemic.Shell’s dividend for the quarter will increase by 4% to 16.65 cents a share and increase annually thereafter, the company said in a statement on Thursday. However, after the deep cut announced in April, the payout is little more than a third of its 2019 level.“Our sector-leading cash flows will enable us to grow our businesses of the future while increasing shareholder distributions, making us a compelling investment case,” Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said in the statement.Shell’s adjusted net income was $955 million in the third quarter, down 80% from the same period a year ago, but better than even the highest analyst estimate. Earnings were hit by lower prices for oil and liquefied natural gas, and weaker refining, but that was partly offset by lower operating expenses and better marketing margins.The company’s other financial measures also offered some comfort to investors. Gearing, a measure of debt to equity, dropped to 31.4% from 32.7% in the second quarter. Net debt fell to $73.5 billion, and Shell pledged to further increase shareholder distributions once that figure reaches $65 billion.Shell has delivered a strong set of results that puts the company “back on the front foot” with investors, RBC analyst Biraj Borkhataria said in a note.(Updates throughout with details.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.,
(Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc raised its dividend and pledged to grow the payout steadily, just six months after slashing it for the first time since the Second World War.Amid a painful year for Big Oil, the Anglo-Dutch energy giant offered investors some good news. It also reported a larger-than-expected profit for the third quarter, lower net debt and strong cash flow, even as most of its divisions continued to be battered by the coronavirus pandemic.Shell’s dividend for the quarter will increase by 4% to 16.65 cents a share and increase annually thereafter, the company said in a statement on Thursday. However, after the deep cut announced in April, the payout is little more than a third of its 2019 level.“Our sector-leading cash flows will enable us to grow our businesses of the future while increasing shareholder distributions, making us a compelling investment case,” Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said in the statement.Shell’s adjusted net income was $955 million in the third quarter, down 80% from the same period a year ago, but better than even the highest analyst estimate. Earnings were hit by lower prices for oil and liquefied natural gas, and weaker refining, but that was partly offset by lower operating expenses and better marketing margins.The company’s other financial measures also offered some comfort to investors. Gearing, a measure of debt to equity, dropped to 31.4% from 32.7% in the second quarter. Net debt fell to $73.5 billion, and Shell pledged to further increase shareholder distributions once that figure reaches $65 billion.Shell has delivered a strong set of results that puts the company “back on the front foot” with investors, RBC analyst Biraj Borkhataria said in a note.(Updates throughout with details.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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