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: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31).
Operating cash flow exhibited a period of high volatility between 2018 and 2020, followed by a sustained and significant increase starting in early 2021. While net earnings fluctuated sharply, often dipping into negative territory during 2018 and 2020, net cash from operating activities remained generally positive, demonstrating a decoupling between accounting earnings and actual cash generation. A peak in operating cash flow was observed in June 2022, reaching 2,678 million USD, before stabilizing at a higher baseline through September 2023.
- Operating Cash Flow and Earnings Correlation
- A significant divergence between net earnings and operating cash flow is evident. In the first quarter of 2020, net earnings fell to -1,815 million USD, yet operating cash flow remained positive at 529 million USD. This discrepancy was largely driven by non-cash adjustments, most notably a 2,666 million USD asset impairment recorded in the same period. From 2021 onward, both net earnings and operating cash flows trended upward in tandem, reflecting improved operational profitability and cash conversion.
- Capital Expenditures and Investing Activities
- Capital expenditures were relatively consistent, ranging between 400 million USD and 600 million USD per quarter for much of the analysis period. However, a marked increase in investment occurred in 2022 and 2023. Specifically, September 2022 saw a massive outflow of 3,098 million USD in net investing activities, primarily due to 2,465 million USD spent on the acquisition of property and equipment. Furthermore, capital expenditures accelerated in early 2023, exceeding 1 billion USD per quarter in March and June, indicating a shift toward more aggressive growth or infrastructure investment.
- Shareholder Distributions and Financing Strategy
- Financing activities are characterized by consistent net outflows, focused heavily on returning capital to shareholders. Dividend payments underwent a dramatic escalation, rising from approximately 34 million USD per quarter in 2019 to a peak of 1,007 million USD in September 2022. Share repurchases were also utilized aggressively, particularly in late 2018 and throughout 2021-2023. Debt management remained active, with intermittent repayments of long-term debt, such as the 533 million USD and 710 million USD repayments in the first and second quarters of 2021, respectively.
- Impact of Commodity Derivatives and Non-Cash Items
- The use of commodity derivatives introduced significant variability into the cash flow statements. Gains and losses on these instruments fluctuated wildly, with a notable loss of 1,422 million USD in December 2018 and various substantial gains in 2021. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization costs showed a gradual upward trend, increasing from approximately 400 million USD per quarter in 2018 to over 600 million USD per quarter by 2023, reflecting an expanding asset base.
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