Category: Uncategorized

U.S. job growth beats expectations; unemployment rate fall 3.5%

U.S. employers hired far more workers than expected in July, with the unemployment rate falling to a pre-pandemic low of 3.5%, providing the strongest evidence yet that the economy was not in recession.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 528,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said in its closely watched employment report on Friday. Data for June was revised higher to show 398,000 jobs created instead of the previously reported 372,000.

That marked the 19th straight month of payrolls expansion. The unemployment rate was at 3.6% in June.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls rising by 250,000 jobs and the unemployment rate steady at 3.6%. Estimates ranged from as low as 75,000 to as high 325,000 jobs.

The employment report painted a picture of a fairly healthy economy muddling despite back-to-back quarters of contraction in gross domestic product. Demand for labor has eased in the interest rate sensitive sectors like housing and retail, but airlines and restaurants cannot find enough workers.

Strong job growth could keep pressure on the Federal Reserve to deliver a third 75 basis point interest rate increase at its next meeting in September, though much would depend on inflation readings. The U.S. central bank last week raised its policy rate by three-quarters of a percentage point. It has hiked that rate by 225 basis points since March.

The economy contracted 1.3% in the first half, largely because of big swings in inventories and the trade deficit tied to snarled global supply chains. Still, momentum is slowing.

The National Bureau of Economic Research, the official arbiter of recessions in the United States, defines a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in production, employment, real income, and other indicators.”

With 10.7 million job openings at the end of June and 1.8 openings for every unemployed person, the labor market remains tight and economists do not expect a sharp deceleration in payrolls growth this year.

Average hourly earnings increased 0.5% last month after rising 0.4% in June. That left the year-on-year increase in wages at 5.2%. Though wage growth appears to have peaked, pressures remain. Data last week showed annual wage growth in the second quarter was the fastest since 2001.

Parkland Delivers Record Quarterly Results And Increases 2022 Guidance; Announced Share Exchange For The Remaining 25 Percent Of Sol

• Q2 2022 Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $450 million
• Q2 2022 Net Earnings of $81 million, or $0.52 per share
• Q2 2022 Adjusted Earnings¹ of $166 million, or $1.07 per share
• Increases 2022 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance¹ to between $1.6 and $1.7 billion
• Announced agreement to issue 20 million Parkland common shares to consolidate our 100 percent ownership of Sol, our International Segment

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parkland-delivers-record-quarterly-results-and-increases-2022-guidance-announced-share-exchange-for-the-remaining-25-percent-of-sol-301600488.html

Pembina Pipeline’s Profits Rise On Higher Crude, Natural Gas Prices

 Pembina Pipeline Corp. says it earned $418 million in the second quarter, reflecting higher natural gas liquids (NGL) and crude oil prices and margins, as well as rising volumes on its key pipeline systems.

The Calgary-based energy infrastructure company says its profit works out to 69 cents per diluted common share, up from $254 million or 39 cents per diluted common share in the second quarter of 2021.

Pembina Pipeline reported second-quarter revenue of $3.1 billion, up from $1.9 billion in the prior year’s quarter.

The company also adjusted its earnings guidance for the full year 2022 to between $3.575 billion and $3.675 billion, compared to a previously forecast range of $3.45 billion to $3.6 billion.

Pembina says its second quarter was positively impacted by higher volumes and higher tolls on certain pipeline systems.

But its overall pipeline volumes of 2.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent per day reflected a six per cent decrease year-over-year. The company says this was largely due to the bankruptcy filing of the Houston-based Ruby pipeline, in which Pembina owns a 50 per cent stake along with Kinder Morgan Inc.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2022.

Brookfield Renewable Announces Strong Second Quarter Results

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (TSX: BEP.UN; NYSE: BEP) (“Brookfield Renewable Partners”, “BEP“) today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

“The business performed well this quarter, as we delivered strong financial results, commissioned 1,000 megawatts of development, and deployed and committed $3 billion into growth initiatives,” said Connor Teskey, CEO of Brookfield Renewable. “Given the depth of our operating capabilities, globally diverse asset base, and strong access to capital, we are well positioned in all market environments to be a partner of choice in helping governments and businesses achieve their goals of low-cost energy, net-zero, and energy security.”

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/08/05/2493093/0/en/Brookfield-Renewable-Announces-Strong-Second-Quarter-Results.html

Saputo Reports Net Earnings Of $139 Million

MONTREAL — Dairy giant Saputo Inc. says it had net earnings of $139 million for the quarter ended June 30, up from $53 million for the same quarter last year.

Chief executive Lino Saputo says the company has navigated inflationary pressures by raising prices, booting productivity and undertaking cost containment initiatives.

Saputo says in a statement that the company could see improved margins as input costs stabilize and efficiencies and “price realization” continue.

Revenue for the company’s first quarter of fiscal 2023 amounted to $4.3 billion, up from $3.5 billion in the same quarter last year.

Adjusted net income came in at $161 million, or 39 cents per share, up from $122 million, or 30 cents per share.

The company says it expects continued inflation pressures ahead on both product inputs and on logistic costs but that it will minimize the effects by raising prices as necessary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 4, 2022.

Restaurant Brands Reports Sales Grew 14 Per Cent In The Second Quarter

The Canadian Press – Canadian Press – Thu Aug 4, 6:44AM CDT

TORONTO — Tim Hortons’ parent company Restaurant Brands International Inc. saw sales grow 14 per cent in the second quarter, although they were down compared to the same time in 2021.

The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says global system-wide sales were up nearly US$1 billion year-over-year to over US$10 billion, with digital sales growing by double-digits over the same period.

RBI CEO José Cil says the company was able to drive sales at Tim Hortons Canada above pre-pandemic levels for the first time since the onset of the pandemic.

RBI, which also includes Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Firehouse Subs, says its net income attributable to common shareholders totalled US$236 million or 76 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, down from US$259 million or 84 cents per diluted share a year earlier.

Revenue for the quarter totalled US$1.64 billion, up from US$1.44 billion in the same period last year.

On an adjusted basis, RBI says it earned 82 cents per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 77 cents per diluted share a year earlier.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2022.

Keyera Corp. Announces 2022 Second Quarter Results, Raises 2022 Marketing Guidance

• Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA” ¹) was $316 million, compared with $224 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase was largely driven by strong Marketing segment performance.
• The company realized cash flow from operating activities (“CFO”) of $199 million, compared with $112 million for the same period in 2021.
• Distributable cash flow¹ (“DCF”) was $209 million ($0.94 per share), compared with $148 million ($0.67 per share) for the second quarter of 2021.
• Net earnings were $173 million ($0.78 per share), compared to $79 million ($0.36 per share) for the same period in 2021.
• The company continues to preserve balance sheet strength, ending the quarter with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio² of 2.3 times, which is below the company’s target range of 2.5 to 3.0 times.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/keyera-corp-announces-2022-second-quarter-results-raises-2022-marketing-guidance-813576174.html

Canadian Natural Reports $3.5B Profit In Second Quarter Amid Oil Price Spike

CALGARY — Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. reported a second-quarter profit that was more than double what it made in the same period last year.

The company said it earned $3.5 billion or $3 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, up from $1.6 billion or $1.30 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.

Crude prices spiked during the quarter, driven largely by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with North American benchmark WTI up 15 per cent from the first quarter and up 64 per cent from last year’s second quarter.

Canadian Natural’s daily production, before royalties, averaged 1,211,147 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the quarter, up from 1,141,739 in the same quarter last year.

Adjusted net earnings from operations amounted to $3.26 per diluted share, up from $2.56 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2021.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2022.

BCE Inc. Saw Profit Slip In The Second Quarter As Revenue Grew

The Canadian Press – Canadian Press – Thu Aug 4, 7:24AM CDT

MONTREAL — BCE Inc. is reporting profit slipped in the second quarter as revenue grew.

The company’s second quarter results released Thursday show its profit attributable to common shareholders totalled $596 million or 66 cents per share for the quarter ended June 30, down from $685 million or 76 cents per share a year earlier.

Operating revenue totalled $5.86 billion, up from $5.70 billion in the same period last year.

On an adjusted basis, the telecom giant said it earned 87 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 83 cents per share a year earlier.

Wireless revenue rose to $2.24 billion compared with $2.13 billion a year ago, while wireline revenue dropped to $2.99 billion from $3 billion. Bell Media revenue totalled $821 million, up from $755 million in the same quarter last year.

BCE CEO Mirko Bibic says the company continues to see momentum in its wireless business, with 110,761 mobile phone net subscriber activations in the second quarter. Retail internet net activations were also up 27.9 per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug.4, 2022.