Suncor Energy reports third quarter 2024 results
Press Release
Calgary, Alberta (November 12, 2024)
- Generated $3.8 billion in adjusted funds from operations and $2.2 billion in free funds flow.
- Returned $1.5 billion to shareholders, with $800 million in share repurchases and $700 million in dividends.
- Highest ever refining throughput of 488,000 barrels per day (bbls/d), with 105% overall utilization.
- Refined product sales of 612,000 bbls/d, the third consecutive quarter of record sales.
- Upstream production of 829,000 bbls/d with 99% upgrader utilization, the best third quarter ever.
- Achieved $8.0 billion net debt target, triggering 100% return of excess funds to shareholders.
- Subsequent to the third quarter, quarterly dividend per share increased by approximately 5% to $0.57 per share.
“Whereas the second quarter was about executing major planned maintenance activities and building momentum, the third quarter was about performing and delivering on commitments, which is exactly what Suncor did. Exceptional results were achieved across the company in asset reliability and cost management, resulting in tremendous operating leverage as demonstrated in our financial results,” said Rich Kruger, Suncor’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our continually improving performance is a direct result of our people and their expertise, commitment, and determination to deliver.”
| Third Quarter Results | ||||
| Financial Highlights | Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | |
| ($ millions, unless otherwise noted) | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net earnings | 2 020 | 1 568 | 1 544 | |
| Per common share(1) (dollars) | 1.59 | 1.22 | 1.19 | |
| Adjusted operating earnings(2) | 1 875 | 1 626 | 1 980 | |
| Per common share(1)(2) (dollars) | 1.48 | 1.27 | 1.52 | |
| Adjusted funds from operations(2) | 3 787 | 3 397 | 3 634 | |
| Per common share(1)(2) (dollars) | 2.98 | 2.65 | 2.80 | |
| Cash flow provided by operating activities | 4 261 | 3 829 | 4 184 | |
| Per common share(1) (dollars) | 3.36 | 2.98 | 3.22 | |
| Capital and exploration expenditures | 1 467 | 1 964 | 1 512 | |
| Free funds flow(2) | 2 232 | 1 350 | 2 057 | |
| Dividend per common share(1) (dollars) | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.52 | |
| Share repurchases per common share(3) (dollars) | 0.62 | 0.64 | 0.23 | |
| Returns to shareholders(4) | 1 480 | 1 523 | 976 | |
| Net debt(2)(5) | 7 968 | 9 054 | 9 837 | |
| Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | ||
| Operating Highlights | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Total upstream production (mbbls/d) | 828.6 | 770.6 | 690.5 | |
| Refinery utilization (%) | 105 | 92 | 99 |
- Presented on a basic per share basis.
- Non-GAAP financial measures or contains non-GAAP financial measures. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this news release.
- Calculated as the total cost of share repurchases divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the applicable period.
- Includes dividends paid on common shares and repurchases of common shares.
- Beginning in the second quarter of 2024, the company revised the definition of net debt to exclude lease liabilities to better align with how management and industry monitor capital structure. Prior period comparatives have been restated to reflect this change.
Financial Results
| Adjusted Operating Earnings Reconciliation(1) | ||||
| Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | ||
| ($ millions) | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net earnings | 2 020 | 1 568 | 1 544 | |
| Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss on U.S. dollar denominated debt | (123) | 103 | 256 | |
| Unrealized (gain) loss on risk management activities | (28) | (52) | 13 | |
| Loss on significant disposal(2) | — | — | 253 | |
| Income tax expense (recovery) on adjusted operating earnings adjustments | 6 | 7 | (86) | |
| Adjusted operating earnings(1) | 1 875 | 1 626 | 1 980 |
- Non-GAAP financial measure. All reconciling items are presented on a before-tax basis and adjusted for income taxes in the income tax expense (recovery) on adjusted operating earnings adjustments line. See the Non GAAP Financial Measures section of this news release.
- During the third quarter of 2023, the company recorded derecognition charges of $253 million on its Meadow Creek development properties in the Oil Sands segment.
- Suncor’s adjusted operating earnings were $1.875 billion ($1.48 per common share) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $1.980 billion ($1.52 per common share) in the prior year quarter, with the decrease primarily due to lower realized crude oil prices and refined product realizations, partially offset by increased Oil Sands and Exploration & Production (E&P) sales volumes, as well as higher refinery production.
- Net earnings increased to $2.020 billion ($1.59 per common share) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $1.544 billion ($1.19 per common share) in the prior year quarter. In addition to the factors impacting adjusted operating earnings, net earnings for the third quarter of 2024 and the prior year quarter were impacted by the reconciling items shown in the table above.
- Adjusted funds from operations increased to $3.787 billion ($2.98 per common share) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $3.634 billion ($2.80 per common share) in the prior year quarter, and were primarily influenced by the same factors impacting adjusted operating earnings, excluding the impacts of share-based compensation expense.
- Cash flow provided by operating activities, which includes changes in non-cash working capital, increased to $4.261 billion ($3.36 per common share) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $4.184 billion ($3.22 per common share) in the prior year quarter.
- Suncor’s total operating, selling and general (OS&G) expenses decreased to $3.055 billion in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $3.124 billion in the prior year quarter, with the decrease primarily due to lower share-based compensation expense, decreased operations and maintenance costs and lower commodity costs, which more than offset the company’s increased working interest in Fort Hills compared to the third quarter of 2023.
- As at September 30, 2024, Suncor’s net debt was $7.968 billion, a decrease of $1.086 billion compared to June 30, 2024.
| Operating Results | |||||
| Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | |||
| (mbbls/d, unless otherwise noted) | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Total Oil Sands bitumen production | 909.6 | 834.4 | 787.0 | ||
| SCO and diesel production | 543.2 | 488.3 | 488.9 | ||
| Inter-asset transfers and consumption | (29.4) | (26.6) | (19.6) | ||
| Upgraded production – net SCO and diesel | 513.8 | 461.7 | 469.3 | ||
| Bitumen production | 294.6 | 308.2 | 207.7 | ||
| Inter-asset transfers | (32.4) | (53.9) | (30.9) | ||
| Non-upgraded bitumen production | 262.2 | 254.3 | 176.8 | ||
| Total Oil Sands production | 776.0 | 716.0 | 646.1 | ||
| Exploration and Production | 52.6 | 54.6 | 44.4 | ||
| Total upstream production | 828.6 | 770.6 | 690.5 | ||
| Refinery utilization (%) | 105 | 92 | 99 | ||
| Refinery crude oil processed | 487.6 | 430.5 | 463.2 | ||
- Total Oil Sands bitumen production increased to 909,600 bbls/d in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 787,000 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the company’s increased working interest in Fort Hills and strong mining performance.
- The company’s net synthetic crude oil (SCO) production increased to a third quarter record of 513,800 bbls/d, compared to 469,300 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, reflecting higher upgrader availability due to lower planned turnaround activities in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Oil Sands Base upgrader utilization was 94% and Syncrude was a record 104%, compared to 83% and 97%, respectively, in the prior year quarter.
- Non-upgraded bitumen production increased to 262,200 bbls/d in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 176,800 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the acquisition of Fort Hills, continued strong production at Firebag following a reduction of production early in the quarter to safely manage regional wildfire impacts, and lower demand for upgrader feedstock from Firebag due to strong mining performance in the current quarter.
- E&P production increased to 52,600 bbls/d in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 44,400 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the addition of production from Terra Nova and increased production at Hebron, partially offset by the absence of production from White Rose due to the asset life extension project.
- Refinery utilization was at or above 100% at all refineries in the current quarter, resulting in record overall utilization of 105% and throughput of 487,600 bbls/d, compared to 99% and 463,200 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, which was impacted by planned maintenance activities at the Edmonton and Montreal refineries.
- Record refined product sales of 612,300 bbls/d in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 574,100 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, with the increase primarily due to higher refinery throughput and the company leveraging its extensive domestic sales network and export channels.
Corporate and Strategy Updates
- Debt reduction of over $1.4 billion. In the third quarter of 2024, Suncor repaid $331 million in debt and, subsequent to the quarter, executed a debt tender offer and repaid approximately $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of the company’s outstanding notes, which enables Suncor to capture significant economic value and significantly reduce its future interest obligations.
- Net debt target of $8 billion achieved. During the third quarter, Suncor successfully achieved its updated net debt target of $8 billion announced on the May 21st investor day, well ahead of initial expectations, triggering a move to 100% of excess funds returned to shareholders.
- Quarterly dividend increase. Subsequent to the third quarter, Suncor’s board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.57 per share, an increase of approximately 5% over the prior quarter dividend.
Corporate Guidance Updates
There have been no changes to the corporate guidance ranges previously issued on December 5, 2023.
For further details and advisories regarding Suncor’s 2024 corporate guidance, see www.suncor.com/guidance.
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