Driven by the sustained high price per barrel of oil, oil majors Chevron and Amerada Hess today announced outstanding financial results for the second quarter. Chevron, the No. 2 U.S. oil company, posted second-quarter profits which more than doubled, matching analysts' expectations, thanks to stronger oil and natural gas prices. Second-quarter earnings excluding special items rose to $1.14 billion, or $1.75 a diluted share, from $484 million, or 73 cents a diluted share, in the year ago period, the company said.
Meanwhile, Amerada Hess Corp. said lofty oil and natural gas prices resulted in sharply higher second-
quarter earnings that surpassed analysts' expectations. The oil and gas company said earnings before special items rose to $202 million, or $2.24 per diluted share, from $77 million, or 86 cents per diluted share, in the same period last year. Analysts on average had forecast that Amerada Hess would earn $2.17 a share, according to
First Call/Thomson Financial, which tracks estimates. Amerada Hess shares traded up 7/16 at 58-1/4 early Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Amerada Hess said revenues hit $2.71 billion, up $1.18 billion, or 77 percent, over a year ago thanks in part to high crude oil and natural gas prices, which helped companies perform better industry-wide. The company also benefited from some of the highest gasoline prices in recent years, which gave a lift to its refining and marketing business.