Ex-growth in Q1, intriguing set-up into summer

Valuation update

In this note, we show updated valuation statistics for the E&P sector.

Weekly news, topics & discussion

This week, Equinor reported Q1 results in line with expectations. However, we continue to see valuation downside due to Empire Wind risks and a likely sharp YOY drop in 2026e buybacks. OKEA also reported in-line Q1 results. In other news, Equinor announced it agreed to sell its 60% Peregrino stake at a solid price, although we believe the proceeds would have to support near-term shareholder returns to drive a positive share price reaction.

Pareto Bank (Buy, TP: NOK84.00) - Solid start to the year

Helped by still-solid core revenues and firm cost efficiency, PARB reported a Q1 ROE of 13.5%, despite some provisions. With deposit volumes rising by ~8.1% QOQ, the bank somewhat increased its bond holdings in the quarter, resulting in a ~5bp lower CET1 ratio at quarter-end, offset by strong earnings generation. We have made only minor changes to our 2026–2027e EPS. With the stock trading at a 2026e P/E of ~8.0x, we still find the valuation attractive, and reiterate our BUY and NOK84 target pri...

Valuation update

In this note, we show updated valuation statistics for the E&P sector.

Approaching the next product cycle

Energy Morning - 28 April 2025

Weekly news, topics & discussion

This week, Vår Energi reported Q1 results very much in line with expectations. The company also reaffirmed its 2025 guidance and maintained its dividend. Also, OKEA reported a solid Q1, with production and prices slightly above our estimates. While a technical goodwill impairment reduces its dividend basket for 2025, we view this as non-material, as we do not expect any dividends before 2027. Meanwhile, we are 5% below consensus on Q1e EBIT ahead of Equinor’s Q1 results on 30 April (07:00 CET), ...

AUCTUS ON FRIDAY - 25/04/2025

Panoro Energy (PEN NO)C; Target price of NOK49 per share: Reserves addition much larger than expected – YE24 2P reserves were independently estimated at 42.3 mmbbl (+7.6 mmbbl vs YE23, representing a Reserve Replacement Ration of 309%). This figure far exceeds our previous expectation of 34.5 mmbbl for YE24 2P reserves - an estimate that included a 4 mmbbl addition in 1H24 to counterbalance 2024 production. The higher than expected reserves addition is driven by robust reservoir performance in G...

Solid NCS production in March

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate’s (NOD) preliminary NCS figures for March showed liquids production of 1,972kboed (1.6% above its forecast) and gas production of 351mcm/d (0.4% above its forecast). Overall, production was 4.18mmboed (1.1% above its forecast), flat MOM, but down 4.9% YOY. Company-wise, the February production figures should be well known as most companies have already reported their production figures for Q1.

Energy Morning - 23 April 2025

Demant (Buy, TP: DKK300.00) - Headwinds set to persist in Q1

We forecast Q1 organic sales growth of just 0.6% YOY, below the full-year guidance, owing to persistent headwinds in wholesale. However, with Managed Care headwinds set to annualise from Q2, better quarters should lie ahead. We expect an unchanged 2025 guidance of 3–7% organic sales growth and DKK4.5bn–4.9bn in EBIT, but we find the lower end most likely. We reiterate our BUY but have cut our target price to DKK300 (320).

Valuation update

In this note, we show updated valuation statistics for the E&P sector.

Stress testing

We have stress-tested our coverage universe at a USD60/bbl oil price, concluding that most names remain dependent on rising oil prices to warrant upside potential from current share prices. Moreover, unless oil prices move higher, we see increasing risk of cuts in shareholder distributions for Vår Energi and Equinor, while the risk appears lower for Aker BP. Overall, we remain cautious as macro risks remain tilted to the downside. We continue to prefer Aker BP as it screens best on valuation and...

Weekly news, topics & discussion

This week, Equinor, Aker BP, and Vår Energi released their Q1 trading updates. Equinor’s realised liquids prices were broadly in line with consensus across all segments. Aker BP reported a modest production beat, 2% above consensus, with realised liquids and gas prices largely as expected. Vår Energi’s Q1 production was 2% below our estimate and consensus, while realised liquids prices met expectations and gas prices exceeded them by 4–11%.

Valuation update

In this note, we show updated valuation statistics for the E&P sector.

Weekly news, topics & discussion

This week, we published previews for most of our coverage universe. For Aker BP, we estimate solid Q1 production of 450kboed, with our EBITDA forecast 12% above consensus, ahead of the trading update on 7 April. For Vår Energi, we expect a slow start to the year, with Q1e production of 277kboed, leaving our EBITDA c7% below consensus, ahead of the trading update on 11 April. In other news, Johan Castberg reached first oil this week, with ramp-up expected through Q2 2025.

Crude Quarterly Q1'25: weaker oil market fundamentals