据天然气加工新闻网8月3日报道，美国顶级液化天然气出口商切尼尔能源公司(Cheniere Energy Inc.)周四公布第二季财报，超过华尔街预期，并上调全年获利预期。

尽管在此期间液化天然气价格下跌，LNG出货量疲软，但公司业绩好于预期。与去年同期的亏损相比，其衍生品投资组合的价值增加了7.82亿美元。

到6月30日为止的第二季度，其液化天然气产量降至547万亿英热单位(Btu)，而去年同期为570万亿英热单位。产量下降的部分原因是维修中断。

二季度切尼尔的调整后收益为18亿美元，超过了市场预期的16.2亿美元，这有助于推动其股价在早盘上涨近1%至160.66美元，尽管天然气市场价格普遍下跌。

根据Refinitiv的数据显示，该公司将全年盈利预期上调了1亿美元，至83亿～88亿美元之间。分析师平均预期为86.1亿美元。

今年4月至6月，美国天然气均价为每百万英热单位2.417美元，较去年同期下降近63%，当时需求飙升。

该液化天然气出口商公布第二季度净利润为13.7亿美元，而去年为7.41亿美元，这得益于用于对冲国际天然气价格的衍生工具的收益。

投资公司杰富瑞(Jefferies)表示，这使得切尼尔未来有可能被纳入标准普尔500指数。

然而，Jefferies分析师补充称，当季3.5亿美元的股票回购规模低于预期。

其研究人员写道，“强劲的自由现金流，加上公司股价在5月和6月的大部分时间里都处于压力之下，这让我们有点困惑，为什么股票回购又减少了”。

但由于价格和出货量下降，这家总部位于得克萨斯州休斯敦的能源公司的季度收入下降了49%至41亿美元。

郝芬 译自 天然气加工新闻网

原文如下：

Cheniere tops earnings estimates despite weaker LNG prices

Top U.S. liquefied natural gas exporter Cheniere Energy Inc on Thursday reported second-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street forecasts, and raised its full-year profit outlook.

The better-than-expected results came despite lower LNG prices and weaker LNG shipments during the period. Results included a $782 MM gain in the value of its derivatives portfolio compared with a loss in the same period last year.

Its LNG volumes dropped to 547 trillion British thermal units (Btu) in the quarter ended June 30, compared with 570 trillion Btu a year-ago. Volumes fell in part on maintenance outages.

Cheniere's adjusted earnings of $1.8 B beat the market consensus of $1.62 B, helping to push its shares up nearly 1% at $160.66 in early trading despite a broader market decline.

The company raised its full-year earnings forecast by $100 million to between $8.3 B and $8.8 B. Analysts on average had expected $8.61 B, according to Refinitiv.

U.S. natural gas prices averaged $2.417 per million British thermal units (Btu) during the April-June quarter, down nearly 63% from the year-ago quarter, when demand skyrocketed following geopolitical conflicts.

The LNG exporter posted second-quarter net income of $1.37 B compared with $741 MM last year on gains in derivative instruments used to hedge against international gas prices.

That net keeps Cheniere potentially able to be included in the S&P 500 in the future, said investment firm Jefferies.

However, a $350 MM share buyback during the quarter was smaller than expected, Jefferies analysts added.

“The strong FCF (free cash flow) generation, coupled with a share price that was under pressure for a good portion of May/June leaves us somewhat puzzled as to why the buyback declined again,” its researchers wrote.

The Houston, Texas-based energy firm's quarterly revenue fell 49% to $4.1 B on the weaker prices and shipment volumes.