** Citi expects Australia's Woodside Energy's WDS.AX asset swap deal with Chevron to be earnings accretive to Woodside in the near term
** Brokerage sees a Final Investment Decision $(FID.AU)$ for Woodside's Browse resource to be highly accretive, but highlights that FID appears unlikely
** Increases estimate for CY26 earnings by 54% following the asset swap
** Also expects deal in helping Woodside to preserve dividend payout ratio
** However, Citi highlights risks of deal in the long run; warns about higher abandonment liabilites and exacerbating portfolio degradation
** Cuts PT to A$21.50 from A$23, citing decline in gas contract prices
** WDS price has closed 1.9% lower on Thursday, following announcement of deal
** Stock has fallen 25.6% this year, as of last close
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)
((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))
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