Equinor shares slide despite reporting a smaller than expected drop in Q4 adjusted earnings, as investors were disappointed over smaller than forecast shareholder payout.

Equinor reported a smaller than expected fall in fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday and joined many rivals in promising higher oil and gas output while scaling back renewables, but its shares fell amid some disappointment over shareholder payouts.

Equinor on Wednesday posted slightly higher-than-expected profits for the final quarter of 2024. The Norwegian oil and gas producer's adjusted earnings before tax for October-December fell to $7.90 billion from $8.

Equinor on Wednesday posted slightly higher-than-expected profits for the final quarter of 2024, while raising its oil and gas output forecast and scaling back plans for renewable energy capacity expansion.