Cairn India declines after reporting weak Q1 results

Cairn India declined 1.54% to Rs 160.25 at 10:15 IST on BSE after consolidated net profit fell 23.59% to Rs 834.98 crore on 36.18% decline in total income to Rs 3190.66 crore in Q1 June 2015 over Q1 June 2014.

The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 21 July 2015.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 65.22 points, or 0.23%, to 28,241.74.

On BSE, so far 1.15 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 3.1 lakh shares in the past one quarter.

Shares of oil exploration company hit a high of Rs 162.50 in intraday trade. The stock hit a low of Rs 159.20 so far during the day, also a 52-week low for the stock. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 348.60 on 21 July 2014.

Cairn India's average price realisation dropped 42% to $56 per barrel in Q1 June 2015 over Q1 June 2014 mainly due to 43% decline in oil prices to $56.30 per barrel in Q1 June 2015 over Q1 June 2014.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter was Rs 1302 crore with healthy EBITDA margin of 50%. EBITDA for the quarter is higher by 79% compared to Q4 March 2015 which saw an exploration cost write-off of Rs 552 crore. EBITDA margins were boosted by lower operating costs which for Rajasthan waterflood case have reduced by 10% from the previous fiscal year average of $5.8 to $5.2/boe in Q1 June 2015 as a result of reduction in well and facility maintenance costs and MG&A. Along with field opex, corporate MGA too has been brought down by 14% as a result of manpower optimisation and decrease in overheads on account of various cost optimisation initiatives currently underway.

Total cashflow from operations for the quarter was Rs 1268 crore. This quarter saw a net capex spend of $104 million. The company closed the quarter with a healthy cash and cash equivalent position of Rs 16467 crore; of which 72% is invested in rupee funds and the rest in dollar funds

In its outlook for the year ending 31 March 2016 (FY 2016), the company said it continues to remain committed to creating long term shareholder value. Despite low oil prices and substantial cut in capital expenditure (capex), the company will at a minimum maintain Rajasthan production in current year at the year ending 31 March 2015 (FY 2015) levels. Planned capital investment is for a net capex of $500 million; 45% in Core MBA fields, 40% in Growth projects of Barmer Hill, Satellite Fields & Gas and 15% in exploration. The company retains the flexibility to invest balance $1.4 billion as oil prices improve and costs bottom out and also aims to have healthy cash flows post capex so as to retain the ability to pay dividends.

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