How did FTI's Q4 earnings surprise impact its annual performance?

**TechnipFMC's (FTI) Q4 earnings surprise had a positive impact on its annual performance**, as evidenced by the following key points:

1. **Q4 Earnings Surprise**: FTI reported a net income of $0.64 per share for Q4, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.25. This indicates a significant positive surprise, reflecting strong financial performance during the quarter.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Revenue Surprise|Net Income|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|FTI|FTI.N|TechnipFMC|2024 Q1|6.2E7|1.609E8|169|
|FTI|FTI.N|TechnipFMC|2024 Q2|8.6E7|1.863E8|169|
|FTI|FTI.N|TechnipFMC|2024 Q3|1.0E7|2.784E8|169|
|FTI|FTI.N|TechnipFMC|2024 Q4|7.0E7|2.297E8|169|

2. **Annual Performance Impact**:
- **Increased Shareholder Value**: The earnings beat highlights FTI's strong operational performance, which likely contributed to increased shareholder value. The company's shares traded up $0.67 on the news, hitting $26.53.
- **Guidance Updates**: FTI updated its FY 2024 guidance, which suggests confidence in its annual performance. The company's financial results and backlog indicate a strong outlook for the year.
- **Record Backlog and Subsea Performance**: FTI's record backlog of $14.7 billion, driven by $2.8 billion in inbound orders, provides a strong foundation for continued growth in 2025. The company's subsea revenue guidance for 2025 has been increased to a range of $8.3 billion to $8.7 billion, with an EBITDA margin guidance of 18.5% to 20%.
3. **Analyst Expectations and Market Reaction**: Analysts at Benchmark increased their Q4 2024 EPS estimates for FTI, anticipating $0.41 per share, up from $0.37. This reflects growing optimism among analysts about FTI's future earnings potential. Citigroup and Capital One Financial also raised their price targets on FTI, indicating a positive market sentiment.
4. **Dividend and Shareholder Returns**: FTI declared a quarterly dividend, which is part of its strategy to return value to shareholders. The company's payout ratio is currently 42.55%, suggesting a commitment to sharing profits with investors.

In conclusion, FTI's Q4 earnings surprise has likely had a positive ripple effect on its annual performance, bolstering investor confidence and contributing to a strong financial outlook for 2025. The company's record backlog, subsea performance, and guidance updates all point to a promising future.