* Adjusted earnings rise to $3.23 billion
* Net debt decreases but still above $65 bln threshold
* Shell warns of 'significant uncertainty' on demand outlook
* GRAPHIC: Shell's earnings https://tmsnrt.rs/2PxV4q1
(Adds details)
By Ron Bousso and Shadia Nasralla
LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell's
profits leapt to $3.23 billion in the first three months of the
year and the energy company raised its dividend as planned but
warned on Thursday that the outlook remained uncertain due to
the pandemic.
Shell's adjusted earnings came in ahead of an average
analyst forecast of $3.125 billion and were also above earnings
of $2.9 billion last year, boosted by assets sales as well as
higher oil and liquefied natural gas prices.
Shell said its fuel sales fell 13% in the first quarter due
to further lockdown measures and the impact of the Texas storm
in February, saying there was still "significant uncertainty"
over the outlook for demand in the second quarter.
The Anglo-Dutch company raised its dividend in the first
quarter by 4% as planned, the second increase since its slashed
its payout by two-thirds at the start of last year due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
Shell's cash flow from operations, a key performance metric,
rose to $8.3 billion from $6.3 billion, helping reduce its debt
to $74.4 billion.
Shell wants to get its net debt below $65 billion as part of
its strategy to shift to low-carbon energy in the coming
decades.
Norway's Equinor also raised its dividend and
posted a bigger-than-expected rise in first-quarter operating
profits on Thursday, boosted by higher oil and gas prices as
well as large one-off gains at its renewable energy
business.
(Reporting by Ron Bousso; Editing by David Clarke)
