Seeking Dividends? Explore Opportunities in Europe.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 12 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EQNR?
Source: Barron's
U.S. Dividend Seekers: Investors in the U.S. are encouraged to explore European markets for potential dividend opportunities.
European Market Appeal: European companies are offering attractive dividend yields, which may be appealing compared to U.S. counterparts.
Economic Factors: Factors such as currency fluctuations and economic recovery in Europe are influencing the attractiveness of these investments.
Investment Strategy: Diversifying into European dividends could enhance returns for U.S. investors seeking income.
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Analyst Views on EQNR
Wall Street analysts forecast EQNR stock price to fall
2 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 41.320
Low
22.00
Averages
23.89
High
25.79
Current: 41.320
Low
22.00
Averages
23.89
High
25.79
About EQNR
Equinor ASA, formerly Statoil ASA is a Norway-based international energy company. The Company’s purpose is to turn natural resources into energy. Equinor sells crude oil and delivers natural gas to the European market. It is also engaged in processing, refining, offshore wind and carbon capture and storage activities. Equinor ASA has five reporting segments: Exploration & Production Norway (E&P Norway), Exploration & Production International (E&P International), Exploration & Production USA (E&P USA), Marketing, Midstream & Processing (MMP) and Renewables (REN). The Company has several subsidiaries such as Equinor Nigeria Energy Company Ltd, Equinor Wind Power AS, Equinor International Netherlands BV and Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Equinor Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Equinor is set to announce its Q1 earnings on May 6 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.37, reflecting a significant year-over-year increase of 107.6%, indicating strong profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: The revenue estimate for Q1 stands at $29.3 billion, representing a 2.1% year-over-year decline, which may pose challenges to the company's overall performance amid a fluctuating market environment.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, Equinor has consistently beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and revenue estimates 88% of the time, showcasing its robust earnings capability and adaptability in the market.
- Stake Reduction: Equinor has reduced its stake in solar firm Scatec to 8% through a $169 million sale, indicating a strategic shift towards optimizing its investment portfolio and focusing on core business areas.
See More
Middle East Conflict and Rising Oil Prices Impact Markets
- Oil Price Surge: Oil prices have briefly surged above $120 per barrel this week due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, marking the highest level since 2022, which could lead to increased economic risks through higher inflation and slower growth globally.
- U.S. Jobs Data: The U.S. economy is expected to add 73,000 jobs in April, following a strong March with 178,000 new jobs, the highest since December 2024, yet the economy faces pressures from the Middle East conflict and hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve that may impact future rate decisions.
- UK Local Elections: Thursday's municipal elections could significantly impact markets, with polls indicating a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party, potentially igniting broader calls for his dismissal and negatively affecting British bonds.
- European Earnings Growth: European earnings are projected to grow by 3.2% in Q1, driven mainly by the financial, tech, and energy sectors, with energy benefiting from rising oil and gas prices; however, if the conflict persists, the overall earnings outlook may be adversely affected.
See More
Norwegian Oil Wage Talks Fail, Mediation Ahead
- Negotiation Breakdown: Wage talks between Norwegian oil firms and labor unions collapsed on Wednesday, shifting to state-led mediation to prevent potential strikes that could disrupt output from Western Europe's largest oil and gas producer.
- Union Involvement: Unions Styrke, Safe, and Lederne failed to reach an agreement with Offshore Norge, which represents petroleum companies, concerning wages, benefits, and working conditions for approximately 8,000 workers.
- Production Impact: Norway produces around 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, and if mediation fails, workers may strike, leading to production cuts that could significantly impact markets, especially as Middle Eastern output is also severely curtailed.
- Mediation Timeline: While no specific date has been set, oil companies expect mediation to occur in June, and if the government-appointed mediator cannot broker a deal, union members will be eligible to strike.
See More
Canada's Energy Sector Attracts Global Giants Amid Middle East Conflict
- Return of Foreign Investment: Shell's $16.4 billion acquisition of ARC Resources signals renewed interest from foreign investors in Canada's energy sector, highlighting the country's attractiveness as a safe investment amid Middle Eastern conflicts.
- Increased Policy Support: Since Prime Minister Carney took office, the Canadian government has intensified its support for oil and gas, facilitating new export routes that are expected to spur resource development and attract foreign capital.
- Significant Market Potential: Canada's Montney shale region, the world's fifth-largest natural gas production area, produces about 10 billion cubic feet per day, accounting for 50% of the country's total output, providing ample acquisition opportunities for international energy companies.
- Limited Acquisition Targets: While high crude prices provide major energy companies with acquisition capital, the sale of ARC Resources has reduced potential targets, with Tourmaline Oil, valued at C$18 billion, drawing attention due to its flat share performance and succession issues in leadership.
See More
European Stocks Decline Amid Renewed U.S.-Iran Tensions
- Market Reaction: European stocks, represented by the pan-European Stoxx 600 index, fell over 1.1% by 9:30 a.m. London time due to renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran, indicating heightened market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Airline Stocks Plummet: The travel and leisure sector dropped 2.6%, with German airline Lufthansa down more than 4.2%, while London-listed EasyJet and TUI fell 3.4% and 3.5%, respectively, reflecting investor concerns about the airline industry's outlook amid escalating tensions.
- Energy Stocks Rise: In contrast, energy stocks advanced nearly 1.8%, led by Norwegian companies Equinor and Vår Energi, which surged 4.5% and 4.3%, respectively, indicating market optimism in the oil and gas sector amidst rising oil prices.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Brent crude prices rose 6.1% to $95.86 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 7.1% to $89.83, reflecting the market's keen attention to Middle Eastern developments and their impact on global oil prices.
See More
Equinor Sells $169M Stake in Scatec, Reducing Solar Exposure
- Stake Sale Context: Norway's Equinor sold 12.9 million shares of Scatec at NOK 125 per share, totaling $169 million, which represents about 8% of its holdings, effectively halving its stake to approximately 8.05%.
- Market Reaction: The sale price reflects a ~7% discount to Scatec's previous close, indicating Equinor's cautious stance in the current market, despite Scatec's stock rising about 26% year-to-date.
- Strategic Adjustment: Although Equinor did not disclose the reason for the sale, this move may suggest a strategy to realize partial profits amid Scatec's stock momentum, highlighting the company's flexibility and foresight in portfolio management.
- Future Outlook: The reduction in Equinor's stake in Scatec could impact its strategic positioning in the renewable energy sector, especially as the global energy transition accelerates, making the balance between traditional and renewable energy investments a key challenge moving forward.
See More
Equinor Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Equinor is set to announce its Q1 earnings on May 6 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.37, reflecting a significant year-over-year increase of 107.6%, indicating strong profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: The revenue estimate for Q1 stands at $29.3 billion, representing a 2.1% year-over-year decline, which may pose challenges to the company's overall performance amid a fluctuating market environment.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, Equinor has consistently beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and revenue estimates 88% of the time, showcasing its robust earnings capability and adaptability in the market.
- Stake Reduction: Equinor has reduced its stake in solar firm Scatec to 8% through a $169 million sale, indicating a strategic shift towards optimizing its investment portfolio and focusing on core business areas.
See More
Middle East Conflict and Rising Oil Prices Impact Markets
- Oil Price Surge: Oil prices have briefly surged above $120 per barrel this week due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, marking the highest level since 2022, which could lead to increased economic risks through higher inflation and slower growth globally.
- U.S. Jobs Data: The U.S. economy is expected to add 73,000 jobs in April, following a strong March with 178,000 new jobs, the highest since December 2024, yet the economy faces pressures from the Middle East conflict and hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve that may impact future rate decisions.
- UK Local Elections: Thursday's municipal elections could significantly impact markets, with polls indicating a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party, potentially igniting broader calls for his dismissal and negatively affecting British bonds.
- European Earnings Growth: European earnings are projected to grow by 3.2% in Q1, driven mainly by the financial, tech, and energy sectors, with energy benefiting from rising oil and gas prices; however, if the conflict persists, the overall earnings outlook may be adversely affected.
See More
Norwegian Oil Wage Talks Fail, Mediation Ahead
- Negotiation Breakdown: Wage talks between Norwegian oil firms and labor unions collapsed on Wednesday, shifting to state-led mediation to prevent potential strikes that could disrupt output from Western Europe's largest oil and gas producer.
- Union Involvement: Unions Styrke, Safe, and Lederne failed to reach an agreement with Offshore Norge, which represents petroleum companies, concerning wages, benefits, and working conditions for approximately 8,000 workers.
- Production Impact: Norway produces around 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, and if mediation fails, workers may strike, leading to production cuts that could significantly impact markets, especially as Middle Eastern output is also severely curtailed.
- Mediation Timeline: While no specific date has been set, oil companies expect mediation to occur in June, and if the government-appointed mediator cannot broker a deal, union members will be eligible to strike.
See More
Canada's Energy Sector Attracts Global Giants Amid Middle East Conflict
- Return of Foreign Investment: Shell's $16.4 billion acquisition of ARC Resources signals renewed interest from foreign investors in Canada's energy sector, highlighting the country's attractiveness as a safe investment amid Middle Eastern conflicts.
- Increased Policy Support: Since Prime Minister Carney took office, the Canadian government has intensified its support for oil and gas, facilitating new export routes that are expected to spur resource development and attract foreign capital.
- Significant Market Potential: Canada's Montney shale region, the world's fifth-largest natural gas production area, produces about 10 billion cubic feet per day, accounting for 50% of the country's total output, providing ample acquisition opportunities for international energy companies.
- Limited Acquisition Targets: While high crude prices provide major energy companies with acquisition capital, the sale of ARC Resources has reduced potential targets, with Tourmaline Oil, valued at C$18 billion, drawing attention due to its flat share performance and succession issues in leadership.
See More
European Stocks Decline Amid Renewed U.S.-Iran Tensions
- Market Reaction: European stocks, represented by the pan-European Stoxx 600 index, fell over 1.1% by 9:30 a.m. London time due to renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran, indicating heightened market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Airline Stocks Plummet: The travel and leisure sector dropped 2.6%, with German airline Lufthansa down more than 4.2%, while London-listed EasyJet and TUI fell 3.4% and 3.5%, respectively, reflecting investor concerns about the airline industry's outlook amid escalating tensions.
- Energy Stocks Rise: In contrast, energy stocks advanced nearly 1.8%, led by Norwegian companies Equinor and Vår Energi, which surged 4.5% and 4.3%, respectively, indicating market optimism in the oil and gas sector amidst rising oil prices.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Brent crude prices rose 6.1% to $95.86 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 7.1% to $89.83, reflecting the market's keen attention to Middle Eastern developments and their impact on global oil prices.
See More
Equinor Sells $169M Stake in Scatec, Reducing Solar Exposure
- Stake Sale Context: Norway's Equinor sold 12.9 million shares of Scatec at NOK 125 per share, totaling $169 million, which represents about 8% of its holdings, effectively halving its stake to approximately 8.05%.
- Market Reaction: The sale price reflects a ~7% discount to Scatec's previous close, indicating Equinor's cautious stance in the current market, despite Scatec's stock rising about 26% year-to-date.
- Strategic Adjustment: Although Equinor did not disclose the reason for the sale, this move may suggest a strategy to realize partial profits amid Scatec's stock momentum, highlighting the company's flexibility and foresight in portfolio management.
- Future Outlook: The reduction in Equinor's stake in Scatec could impact its strategic positioning in the renewable energy sector, especially as the global energy transition accelerates, making the balance between traditional and renewable energy investments a key challenge moving forward.
See More
