Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data
The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.
The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2012-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2012-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2012-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2011-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2011-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2011-03-31).
A significant shift in financial performance is evident between 2011 and 2016, characterized by a transition from a period of high profitability and aggressive expansion to a phase of severe net losses and capital preservation.
- Operating Performance and Cash Flow Divergence
- Net income exhibited a sharp reversal over the analyzed period. From March 2011 through March 2014, the company maintained consistent quarterly profits, often exceeding $1 billion. However, starting in September 2014, a precipitous decline occurred, with net losses peaking at $7.68 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015. Despite these losses, net cash provided by operating activities remained positive throughout the period. This divergence was driven by substantial non-cash charges; depreciation, depletion, and amortization surged from approximately $1 billion per quarter in 2011 to a peak of $8.3 billion in the first quarter of 2015, effectively buffering the cash position against bottom-line losses.
- Capital Expenditure and Investing Strategy
- Investing activities reveal a strategic pivot from growth to austerity. Between 2011 and 2014, capital expenditures for oil and gas property additions were high and consistent, typically ranging between $1.5 billion and $2.9 billion per quarter. Beginning in 2015, a marked reduction in spending is observed, with additions to oil and gas properties falling to $379 million by June 30, 2016. This trend indicates a deliberate effort to curtail capital outflows during the period of net losses.
- Financing Activities and Capital Allocation
- Financing flows were characterized by volatility in debt utilization and a shift in shareholder return strategies. The company utilized commercial paper and bank credit facilities extensively, with large fluctuations in borrowings and repayments. A period of significant treasury stock activity was observed between June 2013 and September 2014, involving substantial cash outflows for share repurchases. In contrast, dividend payments remained remarkably stable, maintaining a narrow range between $76 million and $97 million per quarter regardless of the net income volatility.
- Impact of Asset Impairments
- The data shows a significant reliance on impairments to reconcile net income to operating cash flow during the downturn. Large impairment charges, such as $2.36 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014 and $1.55 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, contributed to the reported net losses while having no immediate negative impact on the actual cash generated from operations.
The overall trend reflects a company that moved from a high-spending, high-profit environment into a period of financial distress, responding by aggressively slashing capital expenditures and utilizing non-cash write-downs to maintain positive operational cash flow and sustain dividend payments.
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