Suncor Energy Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results

 Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX: SU) (NYSE: SU)

• Delivered adjusted funds from operations of $2.7 billion, including a $275 million before-tax restructuring charge related to the company's workforce reduction plans, and adjusted operating earnings of $1.3 billion.
• Returned $1.4 billion to shareholders through $684 million in share repurchases and $679 million in dividends.
• Delivered total upstream production of 741,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), with strong upgrader utilization outside of planned maintenance activities and continued strong performance from In Situ assets.
• Completed all major annual planned maintenance across all refineries, resulting in refinery crude throughput of 394,400 barrels per day (bbls/d).
• Portfolio optimization continued with the completion of the sale of the U.K. Exploration and Production (E&P) portfolio.

"Our In Situ assets and upgraders delivered strong performance once again and helped reduce the impacts of planned maintenance at our integrated operations in the Fort McMurray region," said Rich Kruger, Suncor's President and Chief Executive Officer. "During the second quarter, we generated $2.7 billion of adjusted funds from operations and delivered $1.4 billion to shareholders, and we're making good progress on our goal of clarifying, simplifying and focusing the organization to drive improved performance and maximize value for our shareholders."

Second Quarter Results

Financial Results

Adjusted Operating Earnings Reconciliation(1)

(1) Non-GAAP financial measure. All reconciling items are presented on a before-tax basis and adjusted for income taxes in the income tax (recovery) expense on adjusted operating earnings adjustments line. See the Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Advisory section of this news release.

• Suncor's adjusted operating earnings were $1.253 billion ($0.96 per common share) in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $3.814 billion ($2.71 per common share) in the prior year quarter, primarily due to decreased crude oil and refined product realizations reflecting a weaker business environment in the current quarter, and a first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory valuation loss in the current quarter compared to a gain in the prior year quarter, partially offset by lower royalties and income taxes.
• Suncor's net earnings were $1.879 billion ($1.44 per common share) in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $3.996 billion ($2.84 per common share) in the prior year quarter. In addition to the factors impacting adjusted operating earnings, net earnings for the second quarter of 2023 and the prior year quarter were impacted by the reconciling items shown in the table above.
• Adjusted funds from operations were $2.655 billion ($2.03 per common share) in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $5.345 billion ($3.80 per common share) in the prior year quarter, and were influenced by the same factors impacting adjusted operating earnings described above, as well as a restructuring charge related to workforce reduction plans recorded in the current quarter.
• Cash flow provided by operating activities, which includes changes in non-cash working capital, was $2.803 billion ($2.14 per common share) in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $4.235 billion ($3.01 per common share) in the prior year quarter.
• Suncor's total operating, selling and general (OS&G) expenses were $3.440 billion in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $3.088 billion in the prior year quarter, with the increase primarily due to a $275 million restructuring charge related to the company's workforce reduction plans, increased mining activity, the company's increased working interest in Fort Hills, increased maintenance costs and the impact of inflation. This was partially offset by a decrease in share-based compensation expense and decreased commodity input costs primarily due to lower natural gas prices.
• As at June 30, 2023, Suncor's net debt was $14.394 billion, a reduction of $1.320 billion compared to March 31, 2023, with the decrease in net debt primarily due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents, which included the proceeds from the sale of the company's U.K. E&P portfolio.

Operating Results

• Total Oil Sands bitumen production increased in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the prior year quarter, due to lower maintenance activities in the current period, excluding at Syncrude, which was impacted by planned turnaround activities, and the company's increased working interest in Fort Hills.
• The company's net SCO production increased to 505,000 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2023, representing combined upgrader utilizations of 94%, compared to 483,000 bbls/d and 89% in the prior year quarter, reflecting lower planned maintenance activities in the current period and strong upgrader utilizations outside of planned maintenance activities.
• To mitigate the impacts of planned maintenance during the quarter, the company leveraged its regional asset connectivity through increased internal transfers between assets.
• The company's saleable non-upgraded bitumen production increased to 174,100 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 158,500 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, reflecting increased production at the company's In Situ assets, as the prior year quarter was impacted by maintenance activities, and increased production at Fort Hills, due to the company's additional working interest.
• E&P production during the second quarter of 2023 decreased compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to natural declines and the divestment of the company's Norway assets in the third quarter of 2022.
• Refinery crude throughput was 394,400 bbls/d and refinery utilization was 85% in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 389,300 bbls/d and 84% in the prior year quarter, reflecting planned turnaround activities in both periods.
• Refined product sales in the second quarter of 2023 were 547,000 bbls/d, compared to 536,900 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the company leveraging its extensive domestic sales network and export channels.

Corporate and Strategy Updates

• Portfolio optimization. Completed the sale of the U.K. E&P portfolio for gross proceeds of $1.1 billion, resulting in a gain on sale of $607 million ($607 million after-tax).
• Update on acquisition of TotalEnergies' Canadian operations. Following ConocoPhillips Canada exercising its pre-emptive right to purchase the 50% working interest in the Surmont in situ asset, Suncor is continuing to evaluate the transaction to acquire the remainder of TotalEnergies' Canadian operations, including the remaining 31.23% working interest in Fort Hills.
• Sustainability reporting. Suncor released its 2023 Report on Sustainability and Climate Report, marking its 28th year of sustainability reporting. The reports highlight how the company is working to achieve strong environmental, social and governance performance and its actions on sustainable energy development.
• Cybersecurity incident. The company experienced a cybersecurity incident in late June. The incident did not impact the safety or reliability of the company's field operations but did impact some business operations and services at the end of the quarter, which did not have a material impact on the company's financial results.

Corporate Guidance Updates

There have been no changes to the corporate guidance ranges previously issued on May 8, 2023.

For further details and advisories regarding Suncor's 2023 corporate guidance, see .

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain financial measures in this news release - namely adjusted funds from operations, adjusted operating earnings, free funds flow and net debt, and related per share or per barrel amounts - are not prescribed by GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures are included because management uses the information to analyze business performance, leverage and liquidity, as applicable, and it may be useful to investors on the same basis. These non-GAAP financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and, therefore, are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Therefore, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Except as otherwise indicated, these non-GAAP financial measures are calculated and disclosed on a consistent basis from period to period. Specific adjusting items may only be relevant in certain periods.

Adjusted Operating Earnings

Adjusted operating earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that adjusts net earnings for significant items that are not indicative of operating performance. Management uses adjusted operating earnings to evaluate operating performance because management believes it provides better comparability between periods. Adjusted operating earnings is reconciled to net earnings in the news release above.

Adjusted Funds From (Used In) Operations

Adjusted funds from (used in) operations is a non-GAAP financial measure that adjusts a GAAP measure - cash flow provided by operating activities - for changes in non-cash working capital, which management uses to analyze operating performance and liquidity. Changes to non-cash working capital can be impacted by, among other factors, commodity price volatility, the timing of offshore feedstock purchases and payments for commodity and income taxes, the timing of cash flows related to accounts receivable and accounts payable, and changes in inventory, which management believes reduces comparability between periods.

Free Funds Flow

Free funds flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated by taking adjusted funds from operations and subtracting capital expenditures, including capitalized interest. Free funds flow reflects cash available for increasing distributions to shareholders and reducing debt. Management uses free funds flow to measure the capacity of the company to increase returns to shareholders and to grow Suncor's business.

(1) Excludes capital expenditures related to assets previously held for sale of $66 million and $108 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2023, respectively, compared to $36 million and $55 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022, respectively.

Net Debt and Total Debt

Net debt and total debt are non-GAAP financial measures that management uses to analyze the financial condition of the company. Total debt includes short-term debt, current portion of long-term debt, current portion of long-term lease liabilities, long-term debt and long-term lease liabilities (all of which are GAAP measures). Net debt is equal to total debt less cash and cash equivalents (a GAAP measure).