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CVR Energy Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 18 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 net loss attributable to stockholders: Q4 2025 net loss attributable to CVR Energy stockholders was $110 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, against $28 million of net income a year earlier. Adjusted loss per diluted share was 80 cents. Source
  • Final figures within preliminary ranges: Final figures fell inside the preliminary ranges released January 26, 2026, covering net loss, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, refinery throughput, ammonia utilization, cash and debt.
  • Petroleum net income rose for year: Petroleum Segment net loss was $16 million in Q4 2025, against $35 million of income a year earlier. Full-year Petroleum net income was $207 million, against $70 million in 2024. Source
  • RDU returned to hydrocarbon processing: The Wynnewood RDU reverted to hydrocarbon processing in December 2025. Management cited the unfavorable economics of the renewables business and feedstock and logistics within refining. Source
  • Ammonia utilization fell in Q4: Ammonia utilization was 64 percent in Q4 2025, against 96 percent in Q4 2024, and 88 percent for the year, against 96 percent. Source
  • Refining margin per barrel: Refining margin per throughput barrel was $8.35 in Q4 2025, against $8.37, and $13.64 for the year, against $9.53. Adjusted refining margin was $9.92 in Q4, against $6.45. Source
  • Free cash flow negative for year: Free cash flow was negative $55 million in Q4 2025, against $40 million, and negative $231 million for the year, against $181 million, after capitalized turnaround expenditures. Source

“CVR Energy’s solid fourth quarter results were driven by strong throughput volumes in our refining operations, along with attractive seasonal crack spreads in the Fall,”

Mark Pytosh, CVR Energy’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Petroleum total throughput Sourcefirst quarter of 2026200,000 to 215,000 barrels per dayNew
Crude utilization Sourcefirst quarter of 202692% to 97%New
Petroleum direct operating expenses Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$110 million to $120 millionNew
Nitrogen ammonia utilization rate Sourcefirst quarter of 202695% to 100%New
Nitrogen direct operating expenses Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$57 million to $62 millionNew
Petroleum and Nitrogen capital expenditures Sourcefirst quarter of 2026Petroleum $30 million to $35 million; Nitrogen $25 million to $30 million; Other $1 million to $3 millionNew
Total capital expenditures Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$56 million to $68 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A first-quarter 2026 guidance table appears in these documents for the first time, covering Petroleum throughput, utilization, operating expenses, capital spending and fertilizer ammonia utilization. Source
  • Ended: Renewable diesel processing in the RDU at Wynnewood ended when the unit was reverted to hydrocarbon processing in December 2025. Source
  • New: Management reported a $75 million prepayment of Term Loan principal in December 2025. Source

Consolidated results for the quarter

  • Q4 net loss attributable to stockholders: Q4 2025 net loss attributable to CVR Energy stockholders was $110 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, against $28 million of net income a year earlier. Adjusted loss per diluted share was 80 cents. Source
  • Full-year net income and adjusted loss: Full-year 2025 net income attributable to CVR Energy stockholders was $27 million, or 27 cents per diluted share, against $7 million in 2024. Adjusted loss per diluted share was $1.22, against $0.51. Source
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA by period: Q4 2025 EBITDA was $51 million and Adjusted EBITDA $91 million, against $122 million and $67 million a year earlier. Full-year EBITDA was $591 million and Adjusted EBITDA $393 million, against $394 million and $317 million. Source
  • Final figures within preliminary ranges: Final figures fell inside the preliminary ranges released January 26, 2026, covering net loss, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, refinery throughput, ammonia utilization, cash and debt.
  • Income tax benefit narrowed: Income tax benefit was $10 million for 2025, or (12.5) percent of pretax income, against $26 million, or (137.2) percent, in 2024, as overall pretax earnings increased. Source

Petroleum refining segment

  • Petroleum net income rose for year: Petroleum Segment net loss was $16 million in Q4 2025, against $35 million of income a year earlier. Full-year Petroleum net income was $207 million, against $70 million in 2024. Source
  • Throughput by period: Total throughput averaged 218,013 barrels per day in Q4 2025, against 213,703. For the year it averaged 181,988 barrels per day, against 196,278 in 2024. Source
  • Petroleum Adjusted EBITDA by period: Petroleum Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $73 million in Q4 2025, against $9 million, and $199 million for the year, against $138 million in 2024. Source
  • Coffeyville crude mix shifted: Coffeyville gathered crude ran at 48,885 barrels per day in Q4 2025, against 75,269 a year earlier, while other domestic crude rose to 74,272 from 47,732. Source
  • Petroleum turnaround spending increased: Petroleum capitalized turnaround expenditures were $190 million for 2025, against $58 million in 2024, and $1 million in Q4 2025, against $13 million a year earlier. Source

“We remain optimistic about the intermediate term prospects for refining, with expected steady increases in global demand for refined products and fewer supply additions compared to the past few years.”

Mark Pytosh, CVR Energy’s Chief Executive Officer

Renewables segment and RDU reversion

  • Renewables loss widened for year: Renewables Segment net loss was $76 million in Q4 2025, against $3 million, and $137 million for the year, against $21 million in 2024. Source
  • RDU returned to hydrocarbon processing: The Wynnewood RDU reverted to hydrocarbon processing in December 2025. Management cited the unfavorable economics of the renewables business and feedstock and logistics within refining. Source
  • Useful-life change added depreciation: Useful lives of certain Renewables assets were adjusted from September 2025 because expected utilization changed. This added $62 million of depreciation in Q4 2025 and $93 million for the year. Source
  • Soybean oil replaced corn oil: Corn oil throughput was nil in Q4 2025, against 81,009 gallons per day a year earlier. Soybean oil throughput rose to 137,091 gallons per day from 104,721. Source
  • Renewables margin per gallon: Renewables margin was $0.25 per vegetable oil throughput gallon in Q4 2025, against $0.79, and $0.40 for the year, against $0.80 in 2024. Source

Nitrogen fertilizer segment

  • Nitrogen EBITDA by period: Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment EBITDA was $20 million in Q4 2025, against $50 million, and $211 million for the year, against $179 million. Segment net loss was $10 million in Q4 2025. Source
  • Ammonia utilization fell in Q4: Ammonia utilization was 64 percent in Q4 2025, against 96 percent in Q4 2024, and 88 percent for the year, against 96 percent. Source
  • Coffeyville planned turnaround: Management said fertilizer results were affected by a 32-day planned turnaround at Coffeyville, followed by further downtime. Source
  • UAN and ammonia sales fell: UAN sales were 182 thousand tons in Q4 2025, against 310, and ammonia sales were 81 thousand tons, against 97. Full-year UAN sales were 1,191 thousand tons, against 1,260. Source

“Nitrogen fertilizer market conditions continue to be supportive with tight global supply balances and continued strong demand, and pricing has remained robust so far this year.”

Mark Pytosh, CVR Energy’s Chief Executive Officer

Margins, costs and pricing

  • Refining margin per barrel: Refining margin per throughput barrel was $8.35 in Q4 2025, against $8.37, and $13.64 for the year, against $9.53. Adjusted refining margin was $9.92 in Q4, against $6.45. Source
  • Petroleum operating cost per barrel: Petroleum direct operating expenses per throughput barrel were $5.40 in Q4 2025, against $5.13, and $6.25 for the year, against $5.86 in 2024. Source
  • NYMEX 2-1-1 crack spread higher: The NYMEX 2-1-1 crack spread averaged $28.53 per barrel in Q4 2025, against $18.62, and $26.37 for the year, against $23.79 in 2024. Source
  • Inventory valuation charges rose: Unfavorable inventory valuation impacts were $39 million in Q4 2025, against $20 million, and $66 million for the year, against $14 million, under FIFO accounting. Source
  • Natural gas feedstock cost rose: Natural gas used in production cost $3.82 per MMBtu in Q4 2025, against $3.00, and $3.74 for the year, against $2.56 in 2024. Source
  • Ammonia and UAN gate prices rose: Ammonia gate pricing was $626 per ton in Q4 2025, against $475, and UAN $355, against $229. For the year, ammonia averaged $582, against $479, and UAN $314, against $248. Source

Renewable Fuel Standard liability

  • August 2025 waiver decision gain: The August 2025 SRE Decision reduced Wynnewood obligations for 2020 to 2024 by more than 424 million RINs, with an RVO adjustment and a gain of $488 million. Source
  • RFS liability adjustments by period: The RFS liability revaluation was $9 million unfavorable in Q4 2025 and $262 million favorable for the full year, as shown in the non-GAAP adjustments. Source
  • Waiver percentages by compliance period: The decision granted 100 percent waivers for the 2019 and 2021 compliance periods and 50 percent waivers for 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Source

Market conditions and prices

  • WTI crude price lower: WTI averaged $59.14 per barrel in Q4 2025, against $70.32, and $64.73 for the year, against $75.77 in 2024. Source
  • PADD II Group 3 crack spread: The PADD II Group 3 2-1-1 product crack averaged $22.70 in Q4 2025, against $14.32, and $22.63 for the year, against $18.05 in 2024. Source
  • Southern Plains ammonia price: Southern Plains ammonia averaged $679 per ton in Q4 2025, against $526, and $606 for the year, against $526 in 2024. Source
  • Biodiesel RIN prices higher: Biodiesel RINs averaged $1.03 per RIN in Q4 2025, against $0.66, while the California LCFS credit averaged $53.64 per metric ton, against $72.05. Source

Cash, debt and distributions

  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $511 million at December 31, 2025, against $987 million a year earlier. Total debt and finance leases were $1.8 billion, including $570 million held by the Nitrogen segment. Source
  • Corporate debt level: Corporate total debt and finance lease obligations, including current portion, were $1.0 billion at December 31, 2025, against $996 million a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow negative for year: Free cash flow was negative $55 million in Q4 2025, against $40 million, and negative $231 million for the year, against $181 million, after capitalized turnaround expenditures. Source
  • No dividend declared in 2025: No dividends were declared per share in 2025, against $1.50 per share in 2024. Source
  • CVR Partners distribution declared: CVR Partners declared a fourth-quarter 2025 distribution of $0.37 per common unit, payable March 9, 2026 to holders of record as of March 2, 2026. Source

Capital spending

  • Total capital spending rose: Total capital expenditures were $65 million in Q4 2025, against $51 million, and $197 million for the year, against $181 million in 2024. These exclude capitalized turnarounds. Source
  • Maintenance and growth split: Maintenance capital expenditures were $134 million for 2025, against $127 million, and growth capital expenditures were $63 million, against $54 million in 2024. Source
  • Renewables spending expected minimal: Renewables Segment capital expenditures are expected to be minimal after the RDU reversion, and are included in Other for first-quarter 2026 guidance. Source

Coming up, as management said on 18 February 2026

  • East Dubuque turnaround in August: The next planned turnaround at the East Dubuque Fertilizer Facility is scheduled to commence in August 2026. Source
  • Wynnewood turnaround in 2027: The next planned Petroleum Segment turnaround is scheduled for 2027 at the Wynnewood Refinery. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total throughput (barrels per day) Source218,013 in Q4 2025; 181,988 for FY 2025
Refining margin per throughput barrel Source$8.35 in Q4 2025; $13.64 for FY 2025
Crude utilization Source96.5% in Q4 2025; 80.8% for FY 2025
Capital expenditures Source$65 million in Q4 2025; $197 million for FY 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Startup problems at the third-party air separation plant caused about three weeks of downtime at Coffeyville after the fertilizer turnaround. Source
  • Financial: Management cited unfavorable renewables economics as a reason for reverting the RDU to hydrocarbon processing. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management reported the RDU reversion to hydrocarbon processing as completed in December 2025.
  • Not stated: Management said it looked forward to a year with no planned Petroleum Segment turnarounds in 2026.
  • Delayed: Post-turnaround startup at the Coffeyville fertilizer facility was delayed, reducing Q4 2025 nitrogen production and sales volumes.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.