Aramco sends off IPO signals
The company boosts key investor metrics, suggesting it has renewed its appetite for an IPO
Saudi Aramco yesterday announced a hugely increased dividend despite falling revenues—in a move that analysts suggest may be calculated to impress investors ahead of enacting its long-delayed public float. The firm recorded drops in net income and Ebit in the first half of 2019, falls that substantially outstripped the decline in the firm's realised oil price. Net income for the first six months of 2019 was $46.9bn, down by 12pc from $53bn in the same period last year. Ebit was down by 9pc from $101.3bn to $92.5bn. Nonetheless, reported free cash flow was up by 7pc from $35.6bn to $38bn and a whopping 233pc higher special dividend to its government sole shareholder. Increasing these metrics—
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
