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(Sharecast News) - BP posted a better-than-expected first-quarter profit on Tuesday as the oil giant benefited from a surge in oil and gas prices due to the Iran war.
Underlying replacement cost profit - BP's preferred measure - came in at $3.2bn in the first three months of the year, up from $1.4bn in the same quarter a year earlier, and from $1.5bn in the final quarter of 2025. This was ahead of analysts' expectations of $2.6bn.
BP said the underlying result reflects "exceptional" oil trading contribution and stronger midstream performance.
Profit attributable to shareholders was $3.8bn in the first quarter, up from $687m in the same period a year earlier and versus a loss of $3.4bn in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Looking ahead, the oil company expects second-quarter reported upstream production to be lower than the first quarter due to seasonal maintenance predominantly in the Gulf of America and the effects of disruption in the Middle East.
It also said volumes and fuel margins were likely to remain sensitive to conditions and developments in the Middle East.
Chief executive Meg O'Neill said: "This was another quarter of strong operational and financial delivery, and we made further progress towards our 2027 targets. We had high plant reliability, high refining availability and increased production in the Gulf of America and at bpx Energy, our US onshore business - keeping production levels steady despite the ongoing disruption.
"We also made progress on sustainability, continuing to embed it in the way we work and building on the 37% reduction in operational emissions last year, compared to our 2019 baseline. We are committed to doing business the right way: providing secure, affordable energy - and doing it sustainably.
"BP is a great company, with highly skilled people and world-class assets. We are heading in the right direction, strengthening the balance sheet and continuing to accelerate delivery. Now, we have to capitalise on the opportunity that exists across our portfolio, simplifying how we work, unlocking growth and driving improved returns."
At 1010 BST, the shares were up 3% at 589.80p.
Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: "The highest quarterly profit in the best part of three years is not a bad way for new BP CEO Meg O'Neill to begin her tenure. Circumstances have helped but, as Napoleon famously attested, there's no harm in being a lucky general.
"While the spike in energy prices may not have fed through to all parts of the business yet and only affected the final few weeks of the first quarter - the impact on BP's oil trading operations was immediate and significant. Notably, it has enabled BP to beat analysts' expectations.
"Traders do best in periods of volatility as sharp swings in the price create gaps between buyers and sellers, opportunities for arbitrage, and greater hedging demand from industries like the airline sector.
"However, disruption to BP's own operations in the Middle East may have impacted production given guidance for output to be lower for 2026.
"There may also be some frustration that BP's hefty borrowing pile has ticked higher on lower operating cash flow and higher costs. BP is more heavily indebted than many of its peers and a big item in O'Neill's in-tray is achieving the targeted reduction in net debt by the end of this year.
"She can't count on the backdrop remaining helpful indefinitely, and Shell's acquisition of Canadian shale firm ARC Resources may dial up the pressure for BP to articulate a growth strategy of its own alongside its turnaround plan."
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