Kirby’s Coastal Operations Continue to Improve in the First Quarter

Kirby’s KEX first-quarter revenue fell 1% from last year. The decline was driven by anemic demand for United’s pressure pumping units, tempered by solid inland trends and improvement in coastal operations. The marine transportation business (75% of first-quarter sales) saw revenue increase 25%, thanks to persistent petrochemical and crude oil shipment demand, which is supporting 90%- plus inland-fleet utilization and favorable pricing. Market conditions in … Continue reading Kirby’s Coastal Operations Continue to Improve in the First Quarter

Tyco Posts Positive Results Despite Macro Headwinds

Tyco reported strong fiscal second-quarter results in the face of continued weakness in global commercial construction. The security and fire firm increased year-overyear organic revenue by 2% in the quarter, a slight acceleration from 1% growth in the prior quarter. Increased project selectivity in North America commercial security curbed revenue from growing further, but the company should see better growth from higher-margin service revenue in … Continue reading Tyco Posts Positive Results Despite Macro Headwinds

Lower Copper and Gold Prices Weigh on Freeport-McMoRan’s Quarter

Stronger-than-expected oil and gas volume highlighted Freeport-McMoRan’s third quarter on the operating front. However, lower copper and gold prices pressured cash flow and net debt rose in the quarter. We expect still-lower prices and continue to doubt Freeport can meaningfully deleverage unless it undertakes significant asset sales and cuts its dividend. Production and cost figures were solid. Strong output in the Eagle Ford and Gulf … Continue reading Lower Copper and Gold Prices Weigh on Freeport-McMoRan’s Quarter

Still-Weak European Paper Demand Weighed on UPM’s 1Q Results

Despite relatively steady performance from the energy and pulp segments, UPM’s quarterly EBITDA contracted 20% year over year; EBITDA from the paper business was nearly halved over the same period. As the world’s largest producer of graphic paper, UPM remains highly dependent on its paper business, where volume continues to decline–European magazine papers fell 6%, newsprint fell 3%, and fine papers fell 6%–and present significant … Continue reading Still-Weak European Paper Demand Weighed on UPM’s 1Q Results

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Noble Posts Adequate Quarterly Results

Noble reported solid third-quarter results. Total revenue increased slightly to $1.08 billion from $1.02 billion in the prior quarter, thanks mainly to the commencement of operations for two new ultra-deep-water rigs. The company also benefited from lower operational downtime, which fell to 4.6% from 5.2% in the prior quarter, essentially flat operating costs, and fewer shipyard days. Accordingly, Noble’s contract drilling margin improved to 53.1% … Continue reading Noble Posts Adequate Quarterly Results

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Thankfully, BG’s Earnings Report Uneventful

BG Group BG. reported largely uneventful first-quarter results with most key metrics in line with previous guidance, which provided a welcome respite from previous quarters’ downward production guidance revisions and budget overruns. Total operating profit fell to $2.1 billion from $2.3 billion the year before as lower production and higher operating costs and depreciation offset the benefit of higher realized gas prices. Production fell to … Continue reading Thankfully, BG’s Earnings Report Uneventful