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CVR Energy Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss rose to $192 million: Net loss attributable to CVR Energy stockholders was $192 million, or $1.91 per diluted share, against $123 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $37 million, against $24 million. Source
  • Unrealized derivative losses drove results: Net loss included $158 million of unrealized derivative losses. Management said these losses do not include locked-in value from swaps sold during the quarter. Source
  • Petroleum throughput up sharply: Throughput averaged 214,268 barrels per day, against 120,377 a year earlier. Petroleum net loss was $193 million against $160 million, and Petroleum Adjusted EBITDA was negative $50 million against negative $30 million. Source
  • Refining margin per barrel turned positive: Refining margin was $0.12 per throughput barrel, against negative $0.42. Adjusted refining margin was $4.72, against $7.72, and direct operating expenses were $6.10 per barrel, against $8.58. Source
  • Notes issued and debt repaid: The company issued $600 million 7.500% notes due 2031 and $400 million 7.875% notes due 2034 on February 12, 2026. Proceeds redeemed the 2029 notes, $217 million of 2028 secured notes and the term loan; a $32 million loss on extinguishment was recognized. Source
  • First quarter dividend of 10 cents: The Board declared a 10-cent first quarter dividend, payable May 18, 2026, to holders of record as of May 11, 2026. Source
  • Renewables dropped as reportable segment: The Wynnewood renewable diesel unit reverted to hydrocarbon processing, so renewables no longer meets reportable segment requirements. Prior periods were restated with renewables within Other. Source

“CVR Energy’s first quarter operations were solid, with crude utilization of 97 percent and ammonia plant utilization of 103 percent”

Mark Pytosh, CVR Energy’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Petroleum throughput Sourcesecond quarter 2026200,000 to 215,000 bpdNew
Crude utilization Sourcesecond quarter 202692% to 99%New
Petroleum direct operating expenses Sourcesecond quarter 2026$110 million to $120 millionNew
Ammonia utilization rate Sourcesecond quarter 202695% to 100%New
Nitrogen Fertilizer direct operating expenses Sourcesecond quarter 2026$57 million to $62 millionNew
Petroleum Segment capital expenditures Sourcesecond quarter 2026$35 million to $40 millionNew
Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment capital expenditures Sourcesecond quarter 2026$28 million to $32 millionNew
Other capital expenditures Sourcesecond quarter 2026$2 million to $5 millionNew
Total capital expenditures Sourcesecond quarter 2026$65 million to $77 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: New second-quarter 2026 ranges given for petroleum throughput, crude utilization, operating expenses, ammonia utilization and capital expenditures. Source
  • Ended: Renewables no longer reported as a separate segment; prior periods restated with Renewables activity within Other. Source
  • New: Sale of NYMEX crack spread swaps during the quarter, with locked-in value of $447 million expected to be realized through 2027. Source
  • New: Issued $600 million 7.500% notes due 2031 and $400 million 7.875% notes due 2034 in February 2026. Source
  • New: First quarter 2026 cash dividend of 10 cents per share declared; the prior release showed no dividend declared per share for the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net loss rose to $192 million: Net loss attributable to CVR Energy stockholders was $192 million, or $1.91 per diluted share, against $123 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $37 million, against $24 million. Source
  • Adjusted loss per share was $1.24: Adjusted loss per diluted share was $1.24, against 58 cents a year earlier. Net loss was $160 million, against $105 million, and an income tax benefit of $29 million was recorded. Source
  • Unrealized derivative losses drove results: Net loss included $158 million of unrealized derivative losses. Management said these losses do not include locked-in value from swaps sold during the quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Petroleum throughput up sharply: Throughput averaged 214,268 barrels per day, against 120,377 a year earlier. Petroleum net loss was $193 million against $160 million, and Petroleum Adjusted EBITDA was negative $50 million against negative $30 million. Source
  • Nitrogen segment net income rose: Nitrogen Fertilizer segment net income was $50 million against $27 million. Segment EBITDA, which equals Adjusted EBITDA for the segment, was $78 million against $53 million. Source
  • Ammonia utilization held above capacity: Ammonia utilization was 103 percent of capacity, against 101 percent a year earlier. Source

“The major geopolitical events of the past few months have created significant volatility in energy and fertilizer markets”

Mark Pytosh, CVR Energy’s Chief Executive Officer

Products, demand and customers

  • Refinery production climbed year on year: Total production was 211,812 barrels per day, against 116,575 a year earlier. Distillate yield was 43.8 percent of crude throughput, against 41.5 percent. Source
  • Fertilizer sales volumes by product: Ammonia sales were 73 thousand tons against 60 thousand, and UAN sales were 310 thousand tons against 336 thousand. Source
  • Spring planting demand at CVR Partners: Management described demand during the spring planting season and CVR Partners’ operating results for the first quarter of 2026. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Refining margin per barrel turned positive: Refining margin was $0.12 per throughput barrel, against negative $0.42. Adjusted refining margin was $4.72, against $7.72, and direct operating expenses were $6.10 per barrel, against $8.58. Source
  • Inventory impact excluded from adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA excludes a favorable $120 million inventory valuation impact, against $24 million a year earlier. An unfavorable $51 million change in the RFS obligation is also excluded. Source
  • Nitrogen gate prices increased: Ammonia gate pricing was $687 per ton, against $554, and UAN gate pricing was $343 per ton, against $256. Natural gas used in production cost $5.40 per MMBtu, against $4.62. Source

“We are therefore pleased to announce a first quarter cash dividend of 10 cents per share and while there can be no guarantees, we are hopeful to be able to raise the dividend in the future”

Mark Pytosh, CVR Energy’s Chief Executive Officer

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow turned positive: Free cash flow was $21 million, against negative $285 million. Operating activities provided $64 million, and capital expenditures were $47 million. Source
  • Notes issued and debt repaid: The company issued $600 million 7.500% notes due 2031 and $400 million 7.875% notes due 2034 on February 12, 2026. Proceeds redeemed the 2029 notes, $217 million of 2028 secured notes and the term loan; a $32 million loss on extinguishment was recognized. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter end: Total debt and finance lease obligations were $1.8 billion, including $570 million held by the Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment. Source
  • First quarter dividend of 10 cents: The Board declared a 10-cent first quarter dividend, payable May 18, 2026, to holders of record as of May 11, 2026. Source
  • CVR Partners distribution declared: CVR Partners’ general partner declared a first quarter distribution of $4.00 per common unit, also payable May 18, 2026. Source

Reporting changes and second quarter guidance

  • Renewables dropped as reportable segment: The Wynnewood renewable diesel unit reverted to hydrocarbon processing, so renewables no longer meets reportable segment requirements. Prior periods were restated with renewables within Other. Source
  • Swap value linked to asset view: Management linked its view that assets are well-positioned to increase in value to the expected swap value, among other matters. Source
  • Second-quarter petroleum throughput range: Second-quarter petroleum throughput is expected between 200,000 and 215,000 barrels per day, with crude utilization between 92 and 99 percent. Source
  • Second-quarter operating expense ranges: Petroleum direct operating expenses are $110 million to $120 million and Nitrogen Fertilizer direct operating expenses are $57 million to $62 million, with ammonia utilization of 95 to 100 percent. Source
  • Second-quarter capital expenditure range: Total capital expenditures are expected at $65 million to $77 million, including $35 million to $40 million for Petroleum and $28 million to $32 million for Nitrogen Fertilizer. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • Dividend and distribution payment: The dividend is payable May 18, 2026, to holders of record as of May 11, 2026. Source
  • Notes interest payments begin: Interest on the new notes is payable semi-annually, with the first payment on August 15, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Petroleum throughput Source214,268 bpd (Q1 2026); 120,377 bpd (Q1 2025)
Refining margin per throughput barrel Source$0.12 (Q1 2026); negative $0.42 (Q1 2025)
Adjusted refining margin per throughput barrel Source$4.72 (Q1 2026); $7.72 (Q1 2025)
Crude utilization Source96.8% (Q1 2026); 52.7% (Q1 2025)
Total capital expenditures Source$44 million (Q1 2026); $55 million (Q1 2025)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited geopolitical events as creating significant volatility in energy and fertilizer markets. Source
  • Financial: Management said a future dividend increase is hoped for, with no guarantees that it will occur. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management expects the locked-in value from the NYMEX crack spread swap sale to be realized through 2027. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is hopeful to raise the dividend in the future, with no guarantees. Source

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.