Frontier Oil Corp.: Profit Slip Slides Away

March 4, 2009
After-tax charges and lower crude prices result in loss for Houston-based refiner.

Falling crude prices continue to drive down profits for oil refiners after much of the industry achieved record-setting earnings in the previous year. Frontier Oil Corp. is one of the latest oil producers to take a hit from plummeting crude prices. The Houston-based company said Feb. 26 it incurred a loss of $97.4 million, or 94 cents a share, compared with net income of $43.4 million, or 41 cents per share, in the year-earlier period.

Frontier Oil attributes the fourth-quarter decline to an after-tax inventory loss of $245.1 million, or $2.38 per share, partially offset by an after-tax hedging gain of $115.6 million, or $1.12 per share.

Frontier Oil Corp.
At A Glance


Frontier Oil Corp.
Houston, Texas
Primary Industry: Petroleum & Coal Products
Number of Employees: 800
2007 In Review
Revenue: $5.19 billion
Profit Margin: 9.62%
Sales Turnover: 2.78
Inventory Turnover: 9.9
Revenue Growth: 8.19%
Return On Assets: 32.75%
Return On Equity: 64.33%
The inventory loss coincides with a $60 drop in light sweet crude prices, further impacted by the companys first-in first-out (FIFO) accounting method, according to Mike Jennings, Frontiers president and CEO.

Despite the earnings loss, the company benefited from expanded capacity at its El Dorado refinery in Kansas. The facility produced record diesel yields as high as 48% of total crude charge. Diesel margins averaged $21.81 per barrel for the fourth quarter, compared with $17.51 per barrel for the same period in 2007.

Meanwhile, the light/heavy crude differential averaged $15.27 per barrel in the fourth quarter, compared with $27.96 per barrel during the year-earlier period. The West Texas Intermediate/West Texas Sour spread averaged $3.30 per barrel in the most recent quarter, compared with $6.95 per barrel in the previous year-end period.

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About the Author

Jonathan Katz | Former Managing Editor

Former Managing Editor Jon Katz covered leadership and strategy, tackling subjects such as lean manufacturing leadership, strategy development and deployment, corporate culture, corporate social responsibility, and growth strategies. As well, he provided news and analysis of successful companies in the chemical and energy industries, including oil and gas, renewable and alternative.

Jon worked as an intern for IndustryWeek before serving as a reporter for The Morning Journal and then as an associate editor for Penton Media’s Supply Chain Technology News.

Jon received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Kent State University and is a die-hard Cleveland sports fan.

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