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Chevron Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported earnings of $9.9 billion: Reported earnings were $9.9 billion, or $5.06 per diluted share, against $3.5 billion a year earlier. Adjusted earnings were $10.4 billion, or $5.28 per diluted share. Source
  • U.S. output above 2 million barrels: U.S. upstream production exceeded 2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day for a fifth consecutive quarter; U.S. net production was 2,043 MBOED. Source
  • Total output below last year: Net production was 3,980 MBOED, against 4,086 a year earlier, due to lower entitlements from higher prices and Middle East conflict impacts. Source
  • Record U.S. refinery throughput: U.S. crude unit inputs were 1,093 MBD, up 3 percent from the year-ago period, with utilization near 98 percent. Source
  • Special items reduced earnings: Quarter results included a $160 million legal reserve, a $110 million impairment and $24 million of pension settlement costs. Total special items after tax were $(294) million. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $16.0 billion: Cash flow from operations was $16.0 billion, against $9.4 billion a year earlier, on higher earnings and higher TCO cash distributions. Source
  • Debt and net debt reduced: Total debt was reduced by a further $3.5 billion and net debt fell $7.8 billion in the quarter. Source
  • Venezuela reinvestment plan: Chevron's Venezuela joint ventures plan $7 billion of investment over five years, aiming at long-duration production growth. Source

““We delivered strong operational performance and disciplined execution, while continuing to invest to grow energy supply,” said Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer.”

Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Venezuela capital investment Sourcenext five years$7 billionNew
Bakken midstream costs Sourcenot statedapproximately 50 percent reductionNew
Structural cost reductionby end of 2026$3-4 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Venezuela production included for one month after a change to equity accounting in the quarter. Source
  • New: Announced plans to reduce Bakken midstream costs by about 50 percent and increase operational flexibility. Source
  • New: Announced an offshore crude oil and natural gas condensate discovery in Angola's Lower Congo Basin. Source
  • New: Signed an exploration agreement with Libya's National Oil Corporation in the Sirte Basin. Source
  • New: Started production at the Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables oilseed-processing facility in Destrehan, Louisiana. Source
  • Ended: Completed the sale of the Cambodia downstream fuels business. Source

Earnings and returns

  • Reported earnings of $9.9 billion: Reported earnings were $9.9 billion, or $5.06 per diluted share, against $3.5 billion a year earlier. Adjusted earnings were $10.4 billion, or $5.28 per diluted share. Source
  • Higher refined margins and crude realizations: Earnings rose year on year, primarily on reliable operations, higher margins on refined product sales and higher crude oil realizations. Source
  • Return on capital employed near 18 percent: Return on capital employed was 17.7 percent, against 21.4 percent in the second quarter and 7.6 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Timing effects reduced quarterly earnings: Timing effects were $(1,580) million in the quarter, against $1,540 million in the second quarter, reflecting the rising price environment. Source
  • Brent averaged $97 a barrel: Average Brent was $97 a barrel, against $104 in the second quarter and $69 a year earlier. Source

Upstream production and projects

  • U.S. output above 2 million barrels: U.S. upstream production exceeded 2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day for a fifth consecutive quarter; U.S. net production was 2,043 MBOED. Source
  • Total output below last year: Net production was 3,980 MBOED, against 4,086 a year earlier, due to lower entitlements from higher prices and Middle East conflict impacts. Source
  • Gulf of America ramp-ups add volume: U.S. net production was up 3,000 barrels per day year on year, with Gulf of America ramp-ups at Ballymore, Whale and Anchor, partly offset by the Bakken. Source
  • Records at Australia and Eastern Mediterranean: New production records were achieved at assets in the Eastern Mediterranean and Australia during the quarter. Source

““We’re reinvesting to bring more energy to a supply-constrained market,” Wirth continued.”

Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer

Downstream throughput and margins

  • Record U.S. refinery throughput: U.S. crude unit inputs were 1,093 MBD, up 3 percent from the year-ago period, with utilization near 98 percent. Source
  • U.S. downstream earnings rose: U.S. downstream earnings were $3,585 million, against $638 million a year earlier. Refined product sales were flat at about 1,304 MBD. Source
  • Middle East disruption cut international sales: International refined product sales fell 9 percent year on year, while international crude unit inputs were 665 MBD, roughly flat. Source

Costs, special items and currency

  • Special items reduced earnings: Quarter results included a $160 million legal reserve, a $110 million impairment and $24 million of pension settlement costs. Total special items after tax were $(294) million. Source
  • Currency effects cut earnings: Foreign currency effects reduced earnings by $143 million in the quarter. Source
  • Lower U.S. upstream operating expenses: U.S. upstream operating expenses were lower, including the absence of prior-year Hess severance and transaction costs. Source
  • Net charges fell on tax items: All Other net charges were $(705) million, against $(900) million a year earlier, on favorable tax items and lower interest expense. Source

““Building on our performance this quarter, we're focused on delivering the reliable energy the world needs today, while positioning Chevron for the future,” Wirth concluded.”

Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow of $16.0 billion: Cash flow from operations was $16.0 billion, against $9.4 billion a year earlier, on higher earnings and higher TCO cash distributions. Source
  • Free cash flow of $12.0 billion: Free cash flow was $12.0 billion, and adjusted free cash flow was $14.2 billion, including a $1 billion TCO loan repayment and asset sale proceeds. Source
  • Capex lower on Permian spend: Capital expenditures were $4.0 billion, against $4.4 billion a year earlier, with lower spend in the Permian Basin. Source

Balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • Debt and net debt reduced: Total debt was reduced by a further $3.5 billion and net debt fell $7.8 billion in the quarter. Source
  • Buybacks and dividend payments: Shares repurchased totaled $2,502 million in the quarter and $8,191 million year to date, alongside cash dividends of $3,482 million in the quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $1.78: The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.78 per share, the same amount declared in the second quarter. Source

Strategy and project milestones

  • Venezuela reinvestment plan: Chevron's Venezuela joint ventures plan $7 billion of investment over five years, aiming at long-duration production growth. Source
  • Bakken midstream costs to be reduced: Plans cut Bakken midstream costs by about 50 percent and increase operational flexibility in the Bakken upstream operations. Source
  • Angola discovery announced: An offshore crude and condensate discovery was announced in Angola's Lower Congo Basin, which management ties to its sub-Saharan exploration program. Source
  • Bunge oilseed facility starts production: The Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables oilseed-processing plant in Destrehan, Louisiana began production, supplying feedstocks for transportation fuels. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2026

  • Dividend payable December 10: The $1.78 dividend is payable December 10, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2026. Source
  • Analyst call on October 30: The discussion of third quarter 2026 earnings with security analysts was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. CT on October 30, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Throughput SourceU.S. 1,093 MBD; international 665 MBD
Utilization Sourcenearly 98 percent
Capital expenditure Source$4.0 billion

Risks management discussed

  • External: Middle East conflict disrupted supply, and international refined product sales fell 9 percent year on year. Source
  • Financial: International upstream earnings were affected by timing effects, taxes, currency effects, a legal reserve and an impairment. Source
  • Regulatory: A $160 million legal reserve was recorded in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: Net production fell 109,000 barrels per day in international operations, due to lower entitlements and Middle East conflict impacts. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior-quarter program aims to reduce structural costs by $3-4 billion by end of 2026. The third quarter release does not restate progress.
  • Not stated: The prior-quarter release said the sale of the Singapore Refining Company interest and related assets was expected to close in 2027.

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.