Exxon, Chevron, Shell profits soar on oil's surge
Energy giants post record earnings in a quarter when gas prices peaked
Rising energy prices produced record profits for major oil companies last quarter, when gas prices peaked amid gushing global demand and supply disruptions.
ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell all posted unprecedented earnings this week, raking in a combined $41 billion for the second quarter ended June, when the average price for a gallon of gas hit an all-time high of $5.01 in the U.S.
The price of gas on a sign at a Shell gas station in Washington, DC, April 12, 2022. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHEL | SHELL PLC | 64.94 | +0.04 | +0.05% |
Shell reported its second consecutive quarter of record profits on Thursday, saying its Q2 adjusted earnings hit $11.5 billion — blowing past the company's Q1 record of $9.1 billion.
The company also announced a $6 billion share buyback.
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Then on Friday, Exxon reported record profit of $17.85 billion for Q2, an almost four-fold increase from the same quarter last year.
Chevron posted a record $11.62 billion haul, also nearly quadruple what the company made in Q2 2021.
Big oil companies posted record profits in Q2 as demand for oil surged. (iStock / iStock)
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XOM | EXXON MOBIL CORP. | 117.83 | -0.23 | -0.19% |
| CVX | CHEVRON CORP. | 162.21 | +0.28 | +0.17% |
Energy costs began climbing last year when demand grew as global economies clawed back from slowdowns brought on by COVID-19. But oil and natural gas prices surged even further following bans on imports of Russian energy following the country's invasion of Ukraine.
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President Biden warned the American people that Western sanctions against Russia would mean more pain at the pump, but high fuel costs have now driven inflation to a 40-year high and tanked the president's poll numbers.
President Joe Biden urged major G20 energy producing countries with spare capacity to boost production to ensure a stronger global economic recovery as part of a broad effort to pressure OPEC and its partners to increase oil supply. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci / AP Newsroom)
Biden blames U.S. oil producers for the rising energy costs during his administration, accusing them of price gouging and saying last month that "Exxon made more money than God this year."
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The oil industry argues the Biden administration's policies hinder domestic fossil fuel production, and his push for transitioning to a renewable energy economy discourages investment in further refining capacity.
Michael Wirth, Chairman and CEO Chevron Corp. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said earlier this month that energy firms are "producing as much in the refining system as possible," and pointed to the increased supplies as part of the reason gas prices are falling.
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"The industry is responding with increased production," Wirth said. "We need to see rhetoric and messaging that indicates that our country supports increased production."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.