Noble Energy, Inc. NBL reported adjusted earnings of 17 cents per share in the second quarter of 2018, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 24 cents by 29.2%.On a GAAP basis, the company reported a loss of 5 cents per share compared with the year-ago quarter’s figure of $3.20.Noble Energy Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Noble Energy Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Noble Energy Inc. Quote Total RevenuesNoble Energy's total revenues increased around 16.1% year over year to $1,230 million in the second quarter. Reported revenues also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,135 million by 8.4%.Improvement in the realized prices of crude oil and natural gas liquids helped the company beat revenue expectation, despite a 15.2% year-over-year fall in sales volume.Operational ResultsIn the quarter under review, sales volume averaged 346 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d), which is within the guided range of 340-350 MBoe/d. U.S. onshore assets are a major contributor to the total sales volume, contributing nearly 244 MBoe/d in the second quarter.Operating income was $343 million versus a loss of $2,300 million in the year-ago quarter.During the quarter, the company repurchased 1.8 million shares, bringing the total year-to-date repurchase to 4 million shares, or 17% of the authorized $750 million share repurchase program.Realized PricesU.S. onshore realized crude oil and condensate prices in the quarter increased 41.6% to $64.62 per barrel from the year-ago level of $45.63.U.S. onshore natural gas prices decreased 28.2% to $2.29 per thousand cubic feet from $3.19 in the year-ago period.U.S. onshore realized prices for natural gas liquids were up 29.9% to $24.39 per barrel.Financial HighlightsNoble Energy's cash and cash equivalents as of Jun 30, 2018 were $621 million, down from $675 million on Dec 31, 2017.Long-term debt was $6,555 million as of Jun 30, 2018 compared with $6,746 million on Dec 31, 2017.Cash flow from operating activities in the quarter was $496 million, up from $341 million in the prior-year quarter.GuidanceNoble Energy now expects its 2018 sales volume at the lower end of the guided range of 350-360 MBoe/d, due to deferred completion activity in the Delaware and Eagle Ford declines. Third-quarter sales volumes are anticipated between 335 MBoe/d and 345 MBoe/d.Noble Energy raised its 2018 capital expenditure to $3 billion (versus earlier expectation between $2.7 billion and $2.9 billion) due to increased U.S. onshore activity.Zacks RankCurrently, Noble Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Other ReleasesEQT Corporation EQT posted second-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 44 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 37 cents by 18.9%.Antero Resources Corporation AR posted second-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 2 cents per share, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents by 88.9%.Southwestern Energy Company SWN posted second-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 18 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents by 12.5%.Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.It's not the one you think.See This Ticker Free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Southwestern Energy Company (SWN): Free Stock Analysis Report EQT Corporation (EQT): Free Stock Analysis Report Noble Energy Inc. (NBL): Free Stock Analysis Report Antero Resources Corporation (AR): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research