Why did EQT's Q4 2024 earnings decline sharply?

EQT's Q4 2024 earnings decline can be attributed to a **6.67% increase in cost** and a **2.00% decrease in sales**, resulting in a net income reduction. Here's a detailed analysis:

1. **Cost Increase**: The new cost for EQT was $4.8 billion, which is a 6.67% increase from the initial cost of $4.5 billion. This increase in cost significantly impacted the net income, as the additional expenses were not fully offset by the increase in sales.
2. **Sales Decrease**: The new sales for EQT were $4.9 billion, representing a 2.00% decrease from the initial sales of $5.0 billion. This decline in sales, although relatively modest, contributed to the overall decrease in net income when combined with the cost increase.
3. **Net Income Calculation**: The initial net income for EQT was $770 million, while the new net income was $470 million. This indicates a substantial decline in profitability, which can be directly attributed to the changes in cost and sales.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Total Revenue (FY)|Net Income (FY)|Diluted EPS (FY)|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|EQT|EQT.N|Eqt|2024|5.273309E9|2.42115E8|0.45|169|

In conclusion, the decline in EQT's Q4 2024 earnings can be attributed to a combination of a significant increase in cost and a slight decrease in sales. These changes led to a reduction in net income, reflecting the company's challenges in managing costs and maintaining sales growth in the period.