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Chevron Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Earnings fell from a year earlier: Reported earnings were $2.8 billion ($1.39 per share diluted) against $3.2 billion ($1.84) a year earlier. Adjusted earnings were $3.0 billion ($1.52) against $3.6 billion ($2.06). Source
  • Quarterly operating cash flow rose: Cash flow from operations was $10.8 billion against $8.7 billion a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow was $4.2 billion against $8.0 billion. Source
  • Full-year earnings lower on prices: Full-year 2025 reported earnings were $12.3 billion, down from $17.7 billion, mainly on lower crude oil prices, lower affiliate earnings and unfavorable currency effects, with higher refined product margins partly offsetting. Source
  • U.S. upstream earnings down on liquids: U.S. upstream earnings were $1.26 billion against $1.42 billion. Liquids realization was $42.99 per barrel against $53.12, partly offset by higher sales volumes. Source
  • Production set annual records: Worldwide and U.S. production set annual records. The Hess acquisition contributed 261 MBOED in 2025, and legacy Chevron operations added another 124 MBOED. Source
  • Cost reductions of $1.5 billion achieved: The company streamlined the organization and achieved $1.5 billion of cost reductions in 2025. Source
  • Hess synergy target delivered: After Hess integration, the company achieved its initial run-rate synergy target of $1 billion. Source
  • Power supply for data centers: The company announced plans to supply power solutions for U.S. data center growth, with the first project under development in West Texas. Source

“2025 was a year of significant achievement. We successfully integrated Hess, started-up major projects, delivered record production and reorganized our business.”

Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Structural costs Sourceby end of 2026$3-4 billion reduction
Quarterly dividend Sourcepayable March 10, 2026$1.78 per shareRaised from $1.71

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Quarterly dividend raised 4 percent to $1.78 per share, from $1.71 in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Chevron entered the U.S. lithium sector with about 135,000 net acres in the Smackover Formation for direct lithium extraction. Source
  • New: Chevron announced plans to provide power solutions for U.S. data center growth, with the first project in West Texas. Source
  • New: The Geismar renewable diesel plant in Louisiana began production after an expansion to 22,000 barrels per day. Source
  • New: Completed the sale of interests in the Republic of Congo, the Malaysia-Thailand joint development area, and certain U.S. midstream and East Texas gas assets. Source
  • New: The organization was streamlined, and $1.5 billion of cost reductions were achieved. Source

Earnings and cash flow

  • Earnings fell from a year earlier: Reported earnings were $2.8 billion ($1.39 per share diluted) against $3.2 billion ($1.84) a year earlier. Adjusted earnings were $3.0 billion ($1.52) against $3.6 billion ($2.06). Source
  • Quarterly operating cash flow rose: Cash flow from operations was $10.8 billion against $8.7 billion a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow was $4.2 billion against $8.0 billion. Source
  • Full-year earnings lower on prices: Full-year 2025 reported earnings were $12.3 billion, down from $17.7 billion, mainly on lower crude oil prices, lower affiliate earnings and unfavorable currency effects, with higher refined product margins partly offsetting. Source
  • Pension and currency items reduced earnings: A pension settlement cost reduced fourth quarter earnings by $128 million net, and foreign currency effects reduced earnings by $130 million. Source
  • 2025 operating cash flow higher: Cash flow from operations in 2025 was $33.9 billion against $31.5 billion, with higher TCO distributions and legacy Hess contributions offsetting lower commodity prices. Source

Upstream and downstream results

  • U.S. upstream earnings down on liquids: U.S. upstream earnings were $1.26 billion against $1.42 billion. Liquids realization was $42.99 per barrel against $53.12, partly offset by higher sales volumes. Source
  • International upstream earnings down: International upstream earnings were $1.78 billion against $2.88 billion a year earlier. Foreign currency effects reduced the quarter by $125 million. Source
  • U.S. downstream earnings higher: U.S. downstream earnings were $230 million against a $348 million loss a year earlier. Refinery crude unit inputs were 1,020 MBD, up 14 percent. Source
  • Highest U.S. refinery throughput in 20 years: The company reported its highest U.S. refinery throughput in 20 years, with fewer refineries, attributed to reliable operations and efficiency improvements. Source
  • International downstream earnings higher: International downstream earnings were $593 million against $100 million. Refinery crude unit inputs rose 2 percent, with lower turnaround activity at the South Korea affiliate. Source

“We have been a part of Venezuela’s past for more than a century. We remain committed to its present.”

Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer

Production and reserves

  • Production set annual records: Worldwide and U.S. production set annual records. The Hess acquisition contributed 261 MBOED in 2025, and legacy Chevron operations added another 124 MBOED. Source
  • Full-year output up 12 and 16 percent: Worldwide production rose 12 percent and U.S. production rose 16 percent in 2025. Fourth quarter worldwide output was 4,045 MBOED, against 3,350 a year earlier. Source
  • Reserve replacement ratio reached 158 percent: Year-end 2025 proved reserves were about 10.6 billion barrels of net oil-equivalent, subject to final review, with the largest additions from Hess and Permian shale and tight assets. Source
  • Gulf of America fields ramped: New wells started production and output ramped at Anchor, Ballymore, Stampede and Whale in the deepwater Gulf of America. Source
  • TCO Future Growth Project started: The Future Growth Project started production at TCO in Kazakhstan, with total production ramped to around 1 million BOE per day. Source

Costs and synergies

  • Cost reductions of $1.5 billion achieved: The company streamlined the organization and achieved $1.5 billion of cost reductions in 2025. Source
  • All Other net charges rose: All Other net charges were $1.09 billion in the quarter, against $817 million a year earlier, reflecting higher corporate tax costs and interest expense. Source
  • Hess synergy target delivered: After Hess integration, the company achieved its initial run-rate synergy target of $1 billion. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Full-year capex rose: Capital expenditures were $17.3 billion in 2025, against $16.4 billion, with legacy Hess spend and U.S. data center power investment more than offsetting lower downstream spend. Source
  • Fourth-quarter capex $5.3 billion: Fourth quarter capex was $5.3 billion, against $4.3 billion a year earlier. Affiliate capex was $0.4 billion in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow included asset sales: Adjusted free cash flow of $20.2 billion for 2025 included $1.8 billion of asset sale proceeds and $0.8 billion of net loan repayments from equity affiliates. Source
  • Net debt ratio rose to 15.6 percent: The net debt ratio was 15.6 percent at December 31, 2025, against 10.4 percent a year earlier. Total debt was $40.8 billion. Source
  • Return on capital employed fell: Return on capital employed was 5.4 percent for the quarter and 6.6 percent for 2025, against 7.6 and 10.1 percent a year earlier. Source
  • 2025 shareholder returns $27.1 billion: In 2025 the company returned $27.1 billion, including $12.1 billion of share repurchases, $12.8 billion of dividends and $2.2 billion of Hess share purchases. Source

New energies and strategy

  • Power supply for data centers: The company announced plans to supply power solutions for U.S. data center growth, with the first project under development in West Texas. Source
  • Entry into U.S. lithium: Chevron entered the U.S. lithium sector and acquired about 135,000 net acres in the Smackover Formation for direct lithium extraction. Source
  • Geismar renewable diesel capacity expanded: The Geismar renewable diesel plant began production after an expansion that lifted capacity from 7,000 to 22,000 barrels per day. Source

Portfolio, projects and exploration

  • Several asset sales completed: The company completed sales of its Republic of Congo interest, its Malaysia-Thailand joint development area interest, certain U.S. midstream assets and part of its East Texas gas assets. Source
  • Guyana projects reached milestones: Yellowtail, the fourth Stabroek development, achieved first oil, and Hammerhead, the seventh, reached final investment decision. Source
  • Leviathan expansion approved: Final investment decision was reached on the Leviathan Gas Expansion, expected to raise Leviathan's production capacity to 2.1 billion cubic feet per day in Israel. Source
  • Exploration acreage up over 50 percent: The company secured exploration blocks in seven locations, raising exploration acreage by over 50 percent compared with 2023. Source
  • Discoveries in Gulf and Nigeria: Hydrocarbons were found at several infrastructure-enabled prospects, including the non-operated Far South well, and at Awodi-07, one of three consecutive Nigeria discoveries. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 January 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payment date: The declared quarterly dividend is payable on March 10, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on February 17, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Throughput SourceU.S. refinery crude unit inputs 1,020 MBD in fourth quarter 2025, against 893 MBD a year earlier
Throughput SourceInternational refinery crude unit inputs 665 MBD in fourth quarter 2025, against 651 MBD a year earlier
Capital expenditure Source$5.3 billion in fourth quarter 2025; $17.3 billion for full-year 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Foreign currency movements reduced fourth quarter earnings by $130 million. Source
  • Financial: Higher corporate tax costs, interest expense and pension settlement costs increased All Other net charges. Source
  • Regulatory: Developments in Venezuela remain in progress, and the company continues to engage with the U.S. and Venezuelan governments. Source
  • Demand: International refined product sales decreased 1 percent from the year-ago period. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management stated the company delivered on its initial $1 billion synergy target after integrating Hess. Source
  • Not stated: The program aims to reduce structural costs by $3-4 billion by the end of 2026; no progress status was given. 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.