Peak Expenditure to Impact Woodside Returns

This story features WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LIMITED. For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: WDS

Woodside Energy warns of constrained near-term cash flow as it approaches peak capital expenditure for growth plans, and outlines intention to increase gas exposure to ensure longer-term growth. 

-Woodside Energy disappointed with near-term guidance for low production and high expenditure
-The company intends to increase gas exposure as oil-linked contracts expire
-A domestic production decline is expected from 2024, but international production to peak in 2025

By Danielle Austin

Woodside Energy ((WDS)) has treated its recent investor day as an opportunity to update on its growth projects and capital management over coming years as it approaches a peak in its capital expenditure. 

The company intends to increase its long-term exposure to gas hub pricing as oil-linked contracts expire, but near-term growth remains heavily dependent on oil assets. The company intends to lift its gas hub exposure to 30-35% of produced natural gas, from a current 20-25%, from 2027. 

A longer-term production profile through to 2027 has Australian production flat through 2023, ahead of an expected decline in 2024-2026, and international production peaking in 2025. The company anticipates generating free cash flow of US$7-9bn over the next five years, and capital expenditure of $6.0-6.5bn in 2023, which it expects to moderate near $4.0bn in 2024. 

The company is targeting a final investment decision on its Trion oil asset in the coming year, and analysts highlighted approval for the project would imply additional upside to capital expenditure. 

Incremental capital returns unlikely until free cash flow profile improves 

Analysts largely found near-term production guidance low and capital expenditure high, compared to expectations, while the free cash flow profile was reduced. Morgans (Hold, target price $34.50) found 2023 production guidance disappointing, attributing the miss to lower natural gas, pipeline gas and oil volumes, and delays in the start-up of the Sangomar project. The broker also found the “less informative” update to be a step from the company towards being less transparent.

Ord Minnett (Hold, target price $36.20) noted Woodside Energy’s free cash flow forecast of US$7-9bn was below its expectations, given higher than anticipated capital expenditure and lower than anticipated production. While the broker considers the balance sheet to remain in a strong position to fund growth projects, it warns investors who were banking on incremental capital returns may be disappointed. Further, management suggested this will be a trend until capital expenditure begins to decline. 

On fresh guidance, Ord Minnett downgraded its earnings forecasts -10% each year through to 2024, leaving its estimates at a -16-17% miss to consensus. Citi (Buy, target price $38.50) similarly downgraded its earnings per share forecasts -23% and -12% through to 2024. Macquarie (Neutral, target price $39.00), meanwhile, lifted its earnings per share forecasts 9% in 2023, accounting for increased natural gas trading and a production mix-shift. 

Morgan Stanley (Overweight, target price $41.00) expects Woodside Energy’s weighting to gas production underpins its appeal to investors, and within its industry coverage finds the stock’s positioning preferable to peers. 

Outside of daily coverage, Jarden (Neutral, target price $33.00) found Woodside Energy provided a clear and disciplined growth strategy to maintain production through to 2027. Further, this broker found capital expenditure guidance lower and production guidance higher than it had forecast between 2025 and 2027, driving the broker to lift its target price.  

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