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Qatar Fuel-Woqod QSC

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Q3 FY2026 · Earnings Call TranscriptOctober 15, 2026

Phibion Makuwerere

Good morning to you all. I would like to welcome you all to the Woqod 3Q and 9M of 2026 earnings conference call.

On the call today from Woqod's management team, we have Pradeep Kumar, the CFO, we have also Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi, the finance manager, and also we have Ahmed Saeed Al-Mansouri, the IR officer. As usual, they will first go over the presentation, and then we'll have a Q&A session immediately afterwards.

Let me now turn over the call to Ahmed to begin. Over to you, sir.

Ahmed Saeed Al-Mansouri

Thank you, Phibion. Good day to all the participants, and we hope everyone is keeping safe and healthy.

We welcome you all to Woqod's third quarter and September 2026 results conference call and appreciate your participation. As Woqod is committed to continuously improve its investor relation initiatives, this is to strengthen our communication and improve transparency with all members of the global investment community.

The presentation of this call will be available on the Investor Relations section of our website. Any statement that refers to expectations, projections, guidance, or any other characterizations of future events, including financial projections or future market conditions, is a forward-looking statement based on the assumptions today.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. The company cannot disclose any commercially sensitive information due to the confidentiality agreements signed with suppliers.

Please refer slide number two for the full version of disclaimer statements. All figures expressed in this call are in Qatari riyals, and the conversion for the same to US dollar is Qatari riyals 3.64 to $1.

Now, I'd like to hand over the call to our finance manager, Mr. Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Hammadi, to provide a brief overview of Woqod and update on the key operation activities.

Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Hammadi

Good morning. Thanks, Ahmad.

The key vision of Woqod is to be leading the petroleum product distributions and related services marketing company in the region. I'm on slide four now, which shows the overview of Woqod Group.

Woqod started operations in 2002 with exclusive rights for storage and distribution petroleum product in the State of Qatar. Operations started with two petrol stations in 2003 and has grown to 129 stations at the end of September 2026.

The chart on the right shows Woqod's station network. Woqod also owns and operates 13 FAHES Center for inspection of vehicles across State of Qatar.

On slide five, which shows the key operations of Woqod Group. Key operations of Woqod Group are diesel and gasoline fuel distributions and sales, jet fuel distribution and sales, shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship bunkering, LPG distributions and sales, natural gas distributions and sales, fuel bunkering, bitumen operations, Sidra C-store and auto care activity, vehicle inspection services, and office leasing.

Turning to slide seven, which shows the diesel and gasoline fuel sales volume trend analysis. As mentioned before, the core activity of Woqod is fuel distribution and sales in the State of Qatar.

Total fuel sales lowered by 2% during YTD September 2026 as compared to YTD September 2025, driven by current circumstances. Diesel sales volume decreased by 6% during YTD September 2026 versus the same period last year, mainly due to lower sales in B2B bunkering and retail, driven by prevailing circumstances.

Combined gasoline sales volume increased by 1% during YTD September 2026 as compared to YTD September 2025, driven by market demand. On quarter-on-quarter basis, third quarter 2026 diesel sales volume increased by 13%, and gasoline sales volume decreased by 2%.

Average fuel price for diesel increased by 1%. However, the average fuel price for gasoline decreased by 1% during the reporting period.

Turning to slide eight, which shows the jet fuel sales volume comparison. Jet fuel sales decreased by 25% YTD September of 2026 as compared to the same period last year, driven by current circumstances.

On quarter-on-quarter basis, jet fuel sales volume for third quarter 2026 increased by four increased by 40%, driven by market demand. Jet fuel price for YTD September of 2026 increased by 20 26% as compared to the same period last year, driven by change in crude oil price.

Combined sales of volume of all petroleum products decreased by 14% during YTD September 2026 as compared to the same period last year. Turning to slide nine, which shows the quarterly trend of retail fuel sales volume trend.

Overall, retail fuel volume of Woqod petrol station decreased by 1% during YTD September 2026 as compared to the same period last year, driven by current circumstances. Retail diesel decreased by 4%, and gasoline sales remained stable during YTD September 2026 as compared to the same period last year, driven by market demand.

On quarter-on-quarter basis, third quarter 2026 retail diesel sales volume increased by 4%, and gasoline sales volume decreased by 2%, driven by market demand. The market share of Woqod in petrol station retail market in the State of Qatar reached to about 84% during YTD September 2026.

Non-fuel retail sales decreased by 7% during YTD September, mainly on account of decrease in Sidra and EPC sales due to market conditions. Now, I would like to hand over the call to our CFO, Mr.

Pradeep Kumar, to discuss the key financial results.

Pradeep Kumar

Thank you, Abdulrahman, for all the volume updates. Good day, everyone.

Now, I would like to discuss the consolidated financial results of Woqod for the third quarter '26 and the nine months period ended 30th September 2026. Slide 11 shows the revenue trend of Woqod.

Revenue from petroleum products account for nearly 97% of the total revenue. Woqod achieved total revenue of Qatari riyals 17.8 billion for YTD September 2026 as compared to Qatari riyals 19.2 billion during the same period last year, resulting in an increase of 7% -- sorry, decrease of 7%.

This decrease is mainly driven by decrease in overall fuel sales volume by 14% during YTD September '26 as compared to same period last year, partially offset by increase in prices by approximately 10% during the same period. On a quarter-on-quarter comparison basis, the total revenue for third quarter '26 increased by 45%, mainly due to increase in sales volume by 20% and increase in average sales by approximately 25%.

Turning to slide 12, which shows the net income trend analysis. Woqod has made a net income of Qatari riyals 852 million for the period ended YTD September 2026, higher by 13% as compared to same period last year, mainly due to favorable trading stock price variance during third quarter '26.

For the third quarter '26, Woqod has made a net income of Qatari riyals 454 million as compared to Qatari riyals 291 million during third quarter of '25, increase of 163 million, which represents 56% increase, mainly driven by the trading stock price variance, as mentioned above. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the net income for third quarter increased by Qatari riyals 219 million, driven by the same reason, which is trading stock price variance.

The detailed analysis of net income is given in the next slide. Slide 13 shows the key variance analysis of net income for YTD September '26 as compared to same period last year.

The increase in net income of Qatari riyals 100 million, which represents 13% increase as compared to same period last year. However, after excluding the fuel stock price variance of Qatari riyals 209 million, which we earned mainly during third quarter, the net income on a normalized basis has decreased by Qatari riyals 109 million, mainly due to the following three reasons: fuel operating margin decreased by 69 million, that's mainly due to sales volume decrease of by 14%; B2B segment income lower due to prevailing circumstances; non-fuel segment income also decreased mainly due to prevailing market condition.

On the other side, the favorable trading stock price variance of Qatari riyals 209 million is driven by higher jet fuel prices, which we believe is temporary in nature due to the prevailing market conditions. This is expected to reverse once the oil price get back to its normal level.

With this, we have completed the financial review of results for the nine months period ended 30th September 2026. Regarding the current geopolitical situation, adequate measures have been taken by Woqod to ensure safety of employees and continuity of business operations across all segments in accordance with directives from the authorities concerned.

Woqod's results reflect the resilience of our business, the financial strength, and our continued focus on safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. Woqod's fundamentals continue to remain robust, and Woqod is committed to meet all its strategic goals while placing safety as a top priority.

Woqod has a strong leadership committed towards delivering the results to its shareholders. With this, we are ready for the Q&A session.

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session.

If you have dialed in and would like to ask a question, please press star followed by the number one on your telephone keypad to raise your hand and join the queue. If you would like to withdraw your question, simply press star and number one again.

If you are called upon to ask your question and are listening via loudspeaker on your devices, please pick up your headset and ensure that your phone is not on mute. Your first question comes from the line of Rob Skepper from Ashmore.

Please go ahead.

Rob Skepper

Hi, everyone. Thanks for your time today.

Much appreciated. Just a quick one on the fuel stock variance gains.

Have these gains been realized, i.e., through selling lower-priced jet fuel inventory, or are they accounting gains as inventory is revalued with prevailing prices?

Pradeep Kumar

Most of it is realized in cash.

Rob Skepper

Yeah. Got it.

Then, you expect obviously if the market were to change for any reason that you would effectively have high-priced inventory that you end up selling low, should the market normalize?

Pradeep Kumar

Yes, that's the risk that we carry on our inventory. If it changes later or comes down, definitely, that will have an impact on us.

Rob Skepper

Yeah. Got it.

Okay. Then just, yeah, as we approach kind of the end of the year, kind of thoughts turn a little bit to dividends.

What can you say at the moment? Obviously, the earnings are tracking better.

Obviously, yeah, a whole chunk of that is the inventory gains, which is temporary as you're saying. Balance sheet's in great shape, etc.

How are you guys thinking on the dividends as we look towards the end of the year?

Pradeep Kumar

We have one more quarter to go. As our history, we always paid healthy dividends to our shareholders, definitely, that's our target.

We need to wait for year to close so that board can make the right decision at the appropriate time.

Rob Skepper

Yeah. Okay.

Great. Thanks very much.

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Ahmad Nayzar from Doha Bank. Please go ahead.

Ahmad Nayzar

Thank you, and thank you all for taking my question. Again, I am asking about the dividends and dividend per share.

For 2026, there was a payment of 0.5 that was made out in February, and that's considerably less than what usually the company pays every year. Do we expect another payment this year?

If not, are we expecting the 0.90 for the full year of next year, or are we going to stick with what was paid out, which was 0.50 this year?

Pradeep Kumar

Yes, regarding dividend, yes, that's the final dividend that we paid during the first quarter relating to last year. That was the 0.5 you're talking about.

Regarding interim dividend for this year, we are not planning any interim dividend during this year. However, for the final dividend, as I mentioned before, please wait until our year-end is over, and the board meeting is over, and definitely we will communicate in due course.

Thank you.

Ahmad Nayzar

Thank you.

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Mohammed Altunyan from Jadwa Investment. Please go ahead.

Mohammed Altunyan

Hello, and thank you so much for taking the time. I have a question on the jet fuel agreement with QatarEnergy.

Just to make sure I understand it correctly, is the month is the price set one month ahead of time? For example, in end of October, would they set the price for end of November for the month of November, and then you would buy it at that price throughout that month and sell at spot to the airline operators, or is that not how the dynamic works?

Then the second question is roughly how much inventory do you try to keep on hand between retail and and jet fuel in terms of liters?

Pradeep Kumar

The first part of the question regarding pricing, it is decided by it's regulated by our upstream supplier, and we are a distributor. Whatever price determined by them, we just follow that pricing rules, and we cannot disclose that due to commercially sensitive information.

Regarding the inventory we carry, we on average, we carry 10 days of inventory across the product.

Mohammed Altunyan

Sir, I just want to understand when is the price set, if you can disclose that at least. Or is it set at a fixed price, or can you not disclose that as

Pradeep Kumar

well? Price is regulated, and whenever our upstream supplier changes the price, we change accordingly.

Mohammed Altunyan

Can you let us know how frequently they reprice? Is it monthly, quarterly, annually, or is that also you cannot disclose?

Pradeep Kumar

It's purely their prerogative, and they can change the pricing anytime they want.

Mohammed Altunyan

Understood. Thank you.

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Ejan Ahbabi from Al Rayan Investment. Please go ahead.

Ejan Ahbabi

Salam alaykum, and congratulations for the good set of results. This is Ejan Ahbabi from Al Rayan Investment.

I know you said that the jet fuel prices will eventually normalize, but I wanted to ask on your outlook regarding this normalization. Can we expect Q4 and Q1 '27 to remain the same if the prices are the same?

Pradeep Kumar

It's a very good question. It all depends on the market dynamics on this oil pricing, which once the price comes down, which we all know very well, we all watch the news, then definitely that will have an impact on the jet fuel.

It's going to happen the last quarter of this year or first quarter of next year, we don't know. We are also watching on that.

We have no control on that. Thank you.

Ejan Ahbabi

If the oil prices remain intact, is it safe to assume that the margins will stay the same?

Pradeep Kumar

I didn't say the margin will remain the same. I'm talking about the price impact on the inventory we carry.

When the oil price come down, definitely, it will have an impact on that trading stock price variance.

Ejan Ahbabi

Excellent. Excellent.

Thank you very much.

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Varuna Kumaraghe from SICO. Please go ahead.

Varuna Kumaraghe

Hello. Hi, good morning.

Am I audible?

Pradeep Kumar

Yes.

Varuna Kumaraghe

Hi. Thank you very much for the call.

I have two questions. The first one regarding the diesel volumes.

Now although there's a sequential recovery, still compared to the levels last year, there is still I think levels are lower. I guess this will represent the industrial activity in Qatar.

Do you think that you will see a sequential improvement? What is your expectation regarding volume growth in this segment going forward?

Pradeep Kumar

Your second question?

Varuna Kumaraghe

Yeah. Second question is on the again going back to the inventory valuation.

I'm not very sure what benchmark look at. Even earlier in the year, maybe in 1Q, there was an increase in the market price of jet fuel.

You guys didn't record for inventory gain that time. Now again in 3Q, you can clearly see from the benchmark prices that there's a spike in jet fuel prices, which is reflected.

I want to understand why, going back to 1Q actually, not related to this quarter, what was the reason that there was no inventory adjustments in 1Q? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong benchmark, but just want to get a clarification on that.

Pradeep Kumar

Regarding the diesel volume, it's purely relating to macroeconomic situation coupled with the current geopolitical situation. Yes, there is a general slowness in the diesel sales, which we expect once the situation is kind of settled down, we expect it might improve.

We don't know. We need to wait and see on that situation.

Regarding the trading stock price variance, we clearly explained during the first quarter call about the first quarter variance. Now we are talking about the current variance, which is mainly attributable from the jet fuel trading price.

We account for every quarter the stock variance, and we explain in quarterly also. Thank you.

Varuna Kumaraghe

Okay. Thank you.

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Alove Alimira from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.

Alove Alimira

Hi. Thank you for the call.

I have two questions. The first, just to confirm my understanding.

In terms of the fuel prices is determined by the supplier and then the risk positive or the exposure positive or negative is through the 10-day roughly inventory. Correct?

Then related to that, the margins you don't disclose due to commercial reasons. Is my understanding correct?

Pradeep Kumar

Yes. When we purchase the inventory, definitely, we purchase at the current price.

When the price goes up, and when we dispose the inventory, definitely, that get translated to a gain. Can happen vice versa also.

That's why I mentioned that the current gain that we got, 200 million, is subject to fluctuations in future. The price is decided by the regulators.

Alove Alimira

Yeah. Then the margins, you don't disclose it due to commercial sensitivity?

Pradeep Kumar

Yes. Thank you.

Alove Alimira

Okay. Then, just in terms of a good portion of your income comes from investments and is there anything update you can share there in terms of how should we think about your large investment book?

Pradeep Kumar

Yes, that's an area where we continue to optimize our income to support the overall income. Definitely, that's an important area that we have continue to focus to make sure that we optimize wherever possible.

We are continuing on that efforts on that area as well.

Alove Alimira

Okay. Thank you.

Ahmed Saeed Al-Mansouri

Hi, Phibion. We'll have one last question.

Thank you.

Operator

Your final question comes from the line of Ashish Agarwal from The First Investor. Please go ahead.

Ashish Agarwal

Hello, gentlemen. Thank you for taking my question.

Most of my questions are answered. I just need to ask these three new stations and four additional stations that you have opened and plan to open respectively, are these purely a commercial decision, or there is an element of government authorities asking you to open these branches?

If if if it's because of the government authorities asking you to open these branches, what are the KPIs? Like can you share like if the new pumps are not generating enough profits, will you be compensated by the government in that case?

That's my question. Hello?

Pradeep Kumar

Just give us a second here. Just give us a second.

We've got your question. Thank you.

Thank you.

Ashish Agarwal

Thank you.

Pradeep Kumar

Abdulrahman, please. Yeah.

Ashish Agarwal

Yeah. Sure, take your time.

Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Hammadi

As we are monopoly companies, so that we explore the business and based on that, we decided to serve the community also. For that, we have to find the opportunity.

All right. All right.

Ashish Agarwal

All right. Thank you.

Operator

That concludes our Q&A session, and I will now turn the conference back over to Phibion Makuwerere for closing remarks. Please go ahead.

Phibion Makuwerere

Thank you, Mark. Sorry.

Just before I close, Pradeep, I've got two questions. One, it's my own question, and the other one, I got it from an investor who was not able to connect.

The first one relates to your 3Q profit. Basically, what I would want to understand is this 209 fuel stock variance profit boost, how much of it is related to 3Q only?

Because this 209 is for year-to-date, right? Then the second question relates to on the balance sheet.

There was a spike in leases at the beginning of the year, I think of at least 1 billion. The investor just wants to understand what is that related to?

Pradeep Kumar

Regarding the first part of your question relating to the trading stock price variance, majority of it relates to the third quarter, because the first two quarters, the pricing were pretty much constant, as you can see from that. The major price changes happened during the third quarter.

Regarding the lease asset, it is completely in line with the IFRS requirement where our land lease got onto the balance sheet in accordance with the IFRS requirements based on the contract signed for the petrol station lands. That's all.

Thank you.

Phibion Makuwerere

All right. Thank you, Pradeep, and I want to thank the rest of the management team for taking the time to engage with our investors.

If there are no further questions, it brings us to the end of our call today. I would like to thank you all for joining us, and please do join us in future.

Ahmed Saeed Al-Mansouri

Thank you. Thank you all.

Operator

Thank you, Ahmed. Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's call.

Thank you all for joining. You may now disconnect.