British Petroleum

1617 Words4 Pages

British Petroleum

What we know today as British Petroleum is the result of several companies being bought and sold over many years. One of the companies, Standard Oil Company was created in 1870 by John D. Rockefeller in Cleveland Ohio. By 1892, while still not selling gas products, Standard Oil companies was providing lubricating products to keeps parts on horse drawn wagons moving friction-free.

One of the other companies, the Angelo-Persian Oil Company was formed in 1905. By 1908 they were producing gas products and in 1912 they discovered a way to double the output of gasoline produced from a barrel of oil. At the same time they were able to find a way to increase the octane level of the gasoline produced.

Industry Analysis

Today, British Petroleum is one of the largest energy companies in the world. They provide their customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemical products for everyday household use. British Petroleum is involved in exploring for oil and other natural resources that can be converted into power. British Petroleum is committed to finding fuel sources that reduce green house gases and reduces the carbon footprint. They hope to accomplish as they research and refine alternative fuel sources such as fossil fuels, solar power, wind power, hydrogen, and natural gas.

Competition in the oil and energy industry is furious. British Petroleum competes with companies like Exxon-Mobil and Chevron in three major sectors; Energy and Utilities, Chemicals, and Retail. These major players have been able to keep the competition high by finding economies of scale in production, and finding more and more ways to automate the processes.

The output in the industry is expected to grow at an annual compounded rate of 5-7 percent between 2007 and 2012. Domestic production was slow in 2007 as compared to 2006 rising 0.5 percent. This is the slowest production rate since the last U.S. recession.

Profitability Measures

Return on equity:

22.2%----2007 26.4%----2006 27.4%----2005

Return on equity has decreased over the last three years and as much as 5%. Despite the decrease, BP is right on track with than the industry average of 22%.

Return on asset:

8.8----2007 10.3----2006 10.6----2005

The ROA has decreased over the last three years and is less than the industry average of 13.8.

Book value per share:

$29.71---2007 $26.02----2006 $23.14----2005

The industry average of $36.26 per share, indicating that BP has less assets to be able to turn into cash.

Open Document