PHILLIPS-66 Earningcall Transcript Of Q2 of 2024


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Mark E. Lashier -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Jeff. Welcome, everyone, to our second quarter earnings call. First, I'd like to introduce Don

Baldridge, our new EVP of midstream and chemicals. He previously served as the interim CEO of

DCP and brings a wealth of midstream experience to Phillips 66.

I  also  want  to  wish  Tim  Roberts  the  best  in  his  retirement  and  thank  him  for  his  contributions  to

Phillips  66,  including  being  instrumental  in  executing  our  NGL  wellhead-to-market  strategy.  Let's

turn  to  our  second  quarter  performance.  We  continue  to  systematically  execute  on  our  strategic

priorities, focusing on what we control. The improvements are visible in our results.

Since  July  2022,  we've  returned  over  $11  billion  to  shareholders  through  share  repurchases  and

dividends. We expect to achieve our $13 billion to $15 billion target by the end of the year. Share

repurchases  will  continue  to  be  a  priority  in  our  capital  allocation  plan.  We  are  committed  to

returning over 50% of our operating cash flows to shareholders.

In  refining,  we're  enhancing  performance  and  reducing  our  cost  structure.  Crude  utilization  during

the quarter was our highest at over -- in over five years at 98% and clean product yield was 86%. In

addition, we've lowered our costs by nearly $1 per barrel. In midstream, we continue to benefit from

synergy capture as we execute on our NGL wellhead-to-market strategy.

Earlier  this  month,  we  closed  on  our  acquisition  of  Pinnacle  Midstream.  It  was  a  bolt-on  to  our

natural  gas  gathering  and  processing  business  and  grows  our  stable  earnings  with  high-quality,

100% fee-based long-term contracts. The assets are strategically located near our existing Permian

footprint  in  the  liquids-rich  Midland  Basin.  In  the  second  quarter,  we  sold  our  25%  nonoperated

interest in the Rockies Express pipeline for $685 million.

We've generated over $1 billion from asset dispositions toward our previously announced target of

more  than  $3  billion.  By  the  end  of  the  second  quarter,  the  Rodeo  Renewable  energy  complex

reached  full  rates  with  the  start-up  of  the  second  hydrocracker  and  both  pretreatment  units.  The

complex is processing approximately 50,000 barrels per day of renewable feedstocks. On the next

two slides, I'll focus on the improvements we've made to our cost structure.

We're approaching our $1.4 billion run rate savings target, and the results are hitting the bottom line.

Slide  4  provides  cost  detail  at  the  total  company  level  compared  with  the  first  half  of  2022.  We've

supported  growing  our  business  while  mitigating 

inflationary 

impacts 

through  business

transformation. We've realized approximately $400 million in cost reductions, including our share of

WRB costs.

Additionally,  we've  been  successful  in  driving  efficiencies  in  our  logistics  spend  that  flow  through

margin,  as  well  as  lowering  our  sustaining  capital  spend.  Slide  5  highlights  how  our  business

transformation  efforts  have  translated  into  a  lower  refining  cost  per  barrel.  Adjusted  controllable

costs, excluding turnarounds, were $5.93 per barrel. We're closing in on our target to lower cost by

$1 per barrel.

We  continue  to  increase  shareholder  value  through  strong  operating  performance  and  disciplined

capital allocation as we deliver on our strategic priorities. I want to recognize our employees for their

hard work and dedication to driving value creation for shareholders. Kevin, over to you.

Kevin J. Mitchell -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Thank you, Mark. Slide 6 covers key financial metrics. Adjusted earnings were $984 million or $2.31

per  share.  We  generated  operating  cash  flow  of  $2.1  billion  and  returned  $1.3  billion  to

shareholders.

I will now move to Slide 7 to cover the segment results. In the second quarter, we made changes to

our  segment  reporting,  including  a  new  segment  for  our  renewable  fuels  business.  The  new

segment  includes  the  Rodeo  Renewable  energy  complex,  as  well  as  contributions  from  the

optimization  of  renewal  feedstocks,  fuel  sales  and  credits.  We  also  moved  our  investment  in

NOVONIX from the midstream segment to Corporate and Other.

Our slides and other reporting materials reflect these changes, and prior period results have been

recast for comparative purposes. Adjusted earnings increased $162 million compared with the prior

quarter. Midstream results were up mainly due to higher volumes, including record NGL pipeline and

fractionation volumes. In addition, costs were lower, reflecting DCP synergy capture.

In  chemicals,  results  increased  from  higher  margins.  Refining  was  slightly  lower  than  last  quarter.

Higher volumes and reduced operating costs mostly offset the impact of lower crack spreads driven

by weaker distillate prices. Marketing and specialties results were higher, mostly due to seasonally

stronger margins and volumes.

Slide  8  shows  the  change  in  cash  flow.  We  had  strong  cash  flow  aided  by  working  capital  and

proceeds  from  asset  dispositions.  Working  capital  was  a  benefit  of  $916  million,  mainly  reflecting

changes in accounts receivables and payables that include the impact of falling commodity prices.

We received $685 million in cash proceeds from the sale of our 25% interest in REX pipeline.

Looking ahead to the third quarter. In chemicals, we expect the global O&P utilization rate to be in

the  mid-90s.  In  Refining,  we  expect  the  worldwide  crude  utilization  rate  to  be  in  the  low  90s  and

turnaround  expense  to  be  between  $140  million  and  $160  million.  We  anticipate  Corporate  and

Other costs to come in between $330 million and $350 million.

For  the  full  year,  we  expect  refining  turnaround  expense  to  be  between  $500  million  and  $530

million.  This  is  a  reduction  from  previous  guidance.  And  finally,  in  early  August,  we  will  begin

publishing a monthly refining market indicator on our investor relations website. Now, we will open

the line for questions after which, Mark will wrap up the call.

Operator

Questions & Answers:



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