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Occidental Petroleum Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Output topped guidance range: Production was 1,426 Mboed, below the 1,481 Mboed of the fourth quarter of 2025. Management said the figure was above the high end of guidance, led by three business units. Source
  • Reported EPS differs from adjusted: Reported diluted EPS was $3.13 and adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.06. The company said the gap comes from items including discontinued operations, derivatives and debt premiums. Source
  • Midstream swung to pre-tax loss: Midstream and marketing recorded a pre-tax loss of $87 million, compared with pre-tax income of $204 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Realized oil price rose 18%: Worldwide realized oil price rose 18% from the fourth quarter to $69.91 per barrel, with lower crude volumes in the period. Source
  • Working capital use cut cash flow: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $1.4 billion, after a $1.8 billion use of working capital tied to March receivables and seasonal payments. Source
  • Principal debt cut to $13.3B: Management said it repaid $7.1 billion of principal debt through May 5 and reduced principal debt to $13.3 billion. Source
  • OxyChem gain in discontinued operations: Discontinued operations, net of taxes, added $3.1 billion to net income, which includes the gain on the OxyChem sale. Source

“Even with the challenges in the Middle East, everyone - from our staff to our partners and host governments - has remained committed to safety, asset reliability and disciplined execution”

President and Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub

What changed from last quarter

  • Ended: OxyChem moved out of continuing operations after its sale, and the gain on the sale is reported within discontinued operations. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Output topped guidance range: Production was 1,426 Mboed, below the 1,481 Mboed of the fourth quarter of 2025. Management said the figure was above the high end of guidance, led by three business units. Source
  • Oil and gas pre-tax income rose: Oil and gas pre-tax income was $1.0 billion, against $0.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Reported EPS differs from adjusted: Reported diluted EPS was $3.13 and adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.06. The company said the gap comes from items including discontinued operations, derivatives and debt premiums. Source

Segments and regions

  • Midstream swung to pre-tax loss: Midstream and marketing recorded a pre-tax loss of $87 million, compared with pre-tax income of $204 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Midstream margin drivers cited: Management attributed the quarter-over-quarter improvement to higher crude margins from sales timing, higher gas transport margins and higher sulfur prices at Al Hosn. Source
  • WES equity income reported: Equity method investment income from WES was $138 million for the first quarter. Source
  • US output up year on year: US production was 1,206 Mboe/d, up from 1,167 Mboe/d in the first quarter of 2025. Source

“We further advanced our deleveraging program, reduced costs, improved efficiency, and delivered better outcomes with fewer resources.”

President and Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub

Prices and realizations

  • Realized oil price rose 18%: Worldwide realized oil price rose 18% from the fourth quarter to $69.91 per barrel, with lower crude volumes in the period. Source
  • NGL price rose 14%: Worldwide realized NGL price rose 14% from the prior quarter to $18.99 per barrel. Source
  • Domestic gas price fell 10%: Domestic realized gas price fell 10% from the prior quarter to $1.01 per Mcf. Source
  • Index prices for the quarter: Average WTI was $71.93 and Brent $77.93 per barrel, and NYMEX gas averaged $3.93 per Mcf, per the earlier earnings considerations.
  • Oil realized at 97% of WTI: Worldwide oil realized prices were 97% of average WTI in the quarter, per the earlier earnings considerations.

Costs and unit expenses

  • Lease operating expense fell: Oil and gas lease operating expense was $1,118 million, down from $1,217 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • US lease cost per BOE lower: US lease operating expense was $7.85 per BOE, against $9.05 per BOE a year earlier. Source
  • G&A and other costs per BOE: G&A and other operating expenses were $2.79 per BOE, against $2.61 per BOE in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Exploration expense doubled: Exploration expense was $110 million, against $55 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Impairments and other charges: Asset impairments and other charges were $120 million, against none in the first quarter of 2025. Source

“Over the past decade, we have made deliberate, strategic decisions that have transformed Occidental’s portfolio into the most resilient, competitive, and high-quality portfolio in our history.”

President and Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub

Cash flow and debt reduction

  • Working capital use cut cash flow: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $1.4 billion, after a $1.8 billion use of working capital tied to March receivables and seasonal payments. Source
  • Pre-working-capital cash flow $3.2B: Operating cash flow before working capital was $3.2 billion, a non-GAAP measure reported by the company. Source
  • Principal debt cut to $13.3B: Management said it repaid $7.1 billion of principal debt through May 5 and reduced principal debt to $13.3 billion. Source
  • Interest and debt expense rose: Interest and debt expense, net was $432 million, up from $310 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Early debt extinguishment charge: Early debt extinguishment charges were $237 million before tax, recorded as items affecting comparability. Source
  • Capex and free cash flow figures: Capital expenditures were $1.6 billion, with $50 million of noncontrolling interest contributions; free cash flow before working capital was $1.7 billion. Source

Shareholder returns and dividends

  • Dividend per share at $0.26: Dividend per common share was $0.26, against $0.24 in each quarter of 2025. Source
  • Average diluted shares 1,006.9 million: Average diluted shares were 1,006.9 million for the first quarter of 2026.
  • Treasury stock purchases of $56M: Treasury stock purchases were $56 million in the quarter, with none shown in the 2025 quarters. Source

Portfolio and discontinued operations

  • OxyChem gain in discontinued operations: Discontinued operations, net of taxes, added $3.1 billion to net income, which includes the gain on the OxyChem sale. Source
  • Investing inflow from discontinued operations: Investing cash flow from discontinued operations was $9,461 million in the quarter. Source
  • Asset and equity sale proceeds small: Proceeds from sale of assets and equity investments, net, were $57 million in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Next debt milestone at $10.0 billion: Management said the company is progressing toward a $10.0 billion principal debt milestone. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Worldwide production Source1,426 Mboed
US oil production Source612 MBBL/D
Worldwide realized oil price Source$69.91 per barrel
Worldwide realized NGL price Source$18.99 per barrel
Domestic realized gas price Source$1.01 per Mcf
WTI and Brent marker prices Source$71.93 and $77.93 per barrel
Capital expenditures Source$1,554 million gross; $1,504 million net
Dividends paid, common and preferred Source$409 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited challenges in the Middle East as a factor in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Receivables rose with the sharp March increase in commodity prices, which used working capital in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Derivative losses and early debt redemption premiums reduced reported income relative to adjusted income. Source
  • Operational: Lower crude oil volumes partly offset the benefit of higher realized crude prices in oil and gas results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said total company production exceeded the high end of guidance for the quarter. Source
  • Ahead: Management said midstream and marketing pre-tax adjusted income exceeded the high end of guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it advanced debt reduction priorities, with $7.1 billion of principal debt repaid. 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.