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Valero Energy Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net income was $1.1 billion: Net income attributable to Valero stockholders was $1.1 billion, or $3.73 per share, for the fourth quarter, against $281 million, or $0.88 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Refining operating income was $1.7 billion: Refining operating income was $1.7 billion for the fourth quarter, against $437 million; adjusted Refining operating income was $1.7 billion, against $441 million. Throughput averaged 3.1 million barrels per day. Source
  • Refining margin per barrel rose to $13.61: Refining margin per barrel of throughput was $13.61 for the quarter, against $8.44, and $12.29 for the year, against $10.62. Refining margin totaled $3,898 million, against $2,326 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $2.1 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2.1 billion for the quarter, including a $349 million unfavorable working capital impact; adjusted operating cash flow was also $2.1 billion. Source
  • Stockholder cash returns $1.4 billion: Stockholder cash returns totaled $1.4 billion for the quarter, a payout ratio of 66 percent of adjusted operating cash flow; for 2025 they totaled $4.0 billion, or 67 percent. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised about 6 percent: The quarterly cash dividend on common stock was raised from $1.13 to $1.20 per share, an increase of about 6 percent, announced January 22, 2026. Source
  • Benicia refining to cease April 2026: Valero currently intends to cease refining operations at the Benicia Refinery by the end of April 2026, under a plan approved in March 2025. Source

“2025 was our best year for mechanical availability, personnel safety, and environmental performance, building on the personnel and process safety records we set in 2024,”

Lane Riggs, Valero’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital investments Sourceyear ending December 31, 2026$1,725 million expected; $1,700 million attributable to ValeroNew
St. Charles FCC Unit optimization project start Sourcesecond half of 2026begin operations in the second half of 2026; $230 million projectKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Expected 2026 capital investments were given in this release, at $1,725 million, or $1,700 million attributable to Valero. The prior release had no such figure. Source
  • New: Quarterly cash dividend on common stock raised by 6 percent, from $1.13 to $1.20 per share, announced January 22, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter net income was $1.1 billion: Net income attributable to Valero stockholders was $1.1 billion, or $3.73 per share, for the fourth quarter, against $281 million, or $0.88 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted fourth-quarter EPS was $3.82: Adjusted net income was $1.2 billion, or $3.82 per share, for the fourth quarter, against $207 million, or $0.64 per share, in the same quarter of 2024. Source
  • Full-year net income was $2.3 billion: For 2025, net income was $2.3 billion, or $7.57 per share, against $2.8 billion, or $8.58 per share, in 2024. The year includes a $1.1 billion asset impairment loss. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS was $10.61: Adjusted net income was $3.3 billion, or $10.61 per share, for 2025, against $2.7 billion, or $8.48 per share, in 2024. Adjustments are set out in the earnings release tables. Source

Segments and regions

  • Refining operating income was $1.7 billion: Refining operating income was $1.7 billion for the fourth quarter, against $437 million; adjusted Refining operating income was $1.7 billion, against $441 million. Throughput averaged 3.1 million barrels per day. Source
  • Renewable Diesel operating income declined: The Renewable Diesel segment, which consists of the Diamond Green Diesel joint venture, reported $92 million of operating income for the quarter, against $170 million, with sales of 3.1 million gallons per day. Source
  • Renewable Diesel reported full-year loss: For 2025 the Renewable Diesel segment reported an operating loss of $156 million, against operating income of $507 million in 2024. Margin per gallon of sales was $0.42, against $0.87. Source
  • Ethanol operating income rose to $117 million: Ethanol operating income was $117 million for the quarter, against $20 million. Production averaged 4.8 million gallons per day, and margin per gallon of production was $0.69, against $0.42. Source
  • North Atlantic margin per barrel rose: North Atlantic refining margin per barrel of throughput was $18.92, against $11.85, on throughput of 523 thousand barrels per day, against 434 thousand. Source

“We also achieved record refining throughput and ethanol production in both the fourth quarter and the full year.”

Lane Riggs, Valero’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Refining margin per barrel rose to $13.61: Refining margin per barrel of throughput was $13.61 for the quarter, against $8.44, and $12.29 for the year, against $10.62. Refining margin totaled $3,898 million, against $2,326 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating cost per barrel rose: Adjusted operating expenses were $5.03 per barrel of throughput for the quarter, against $4.67, and depreciation and amortization was $2.53 per barrel, against $2.17. Source
  • Taxes other than income taxes rose: Taxes other than income taxes were $1,740 million for the quarter, against $1,517 million, and $6,720 million for the year, against $5,900 million. Source
  • G&A and tax rate for 2025: General and administrative expenses were $315 million for the quarter and $1.0 billion for the year. The effective tax rate for 2025 was 25 percent. Source
  • LIFO liquidation added $37 million: Cost of materials and other included a $37 million charge for liquidating certain LIFO inventory layers in the Refining segment, linked to lower West Coast inventory. Source

Market prices and product margins

  • Gulf Coast diesel margin rose: Gulf Coast ULS diesel margin over Brent was $23.86 per barrel for the quarter, against $12.41; North Atlantic ULS diesel was $28.95, against $15.10. Source
  • Gasoline margin over Brent higher: Gulf Coast CBOB gasoline margin over Brent was $4.10 per barrel for the quarter, against $1.86, RVO adjusted. Source
  • Crude benchmarks lower year on year: Brent averaged $63.11 per barrel for the quarter, against $73.98, and WTI averaged $59.23, against $70.36. Source
  • Renewable credit prices moved: The biomass-based diesel RIN averaged $1.03 for the quarter, against $0.66, while the California LCFS credit averaged $53.53 per metric ton, against $72.27. Source
  • Propylene margin stayed negative: Gulf Coast polymer grade propylene margin less Brent, not RVO adjusted, was $(16.58) per barrel for the quarter, against $(3.05). Source

“We remain committed to our capital allocation framework that prioritizes balance sheet strength, disciplined capital investments, and shareholder returns,”

Lane Riggs, Valero’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow was $2.1 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2.1 billion for the quarter, including a $349 million unfavorable working capital impact; adjusted operating cash flow was also $2.1 billion. Source
  • Full-year operating cash flow $5.8 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities for 2025 was $5.8 billion; adjusted for working capital and the other member's DGD share, it was $6.0 billion. Source
  • Working capital reduced cash: Changes in working capital were unfavorable by $349 million in the fourth quarter and by $192 million for 2025. Source
  • Capital investments $412 million: Capital investments totaled $412 million for the quarter, of which $368 million was sustaining, including turnarounds, catalysts and regulatory compliance; attributable to Valero, $405 million. Source
  • FCC unit project still due 2H 2026: The $230 million FCC Unit project at St. Charles is still expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026, the same timing as the prior release. Source

Shareholder returns and balance sheet

  • Stockholder cash returns $1.4 billion: Stockholder cash returns totaled $1.4 billion for the quarter, a payout ratio of 66 percent of adjusted operating cash flow; for 2025 they totaled $4.0 billion, or 67 percent. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised about 6 percent: The quarterly cash dividend on common stock was raised from $1.13 to $1.20 per share, an increase of about 6 percent, announced January 22, 2026. Source
  • Dividends per share $4.52 for 2025: Dividends per common share were $1.13 for the quarter, against $1.07, and $4.52 for 2025, against $4.28 in 2024. Source
  • Debt and cash at year-end 2025: Valero ended 2025 with $8.3 billion of total debt, $2.4 billion of total finance lease obligations and $4.7 billion of cash and cash equivalents; debt to capitalization, net of cash, was 18 percent. Source

Benicia closure and California operations

  • Benicia refining to cease April 2026: Valero currently intends to cease refining operations at the Benicia Refinery by the end of April 2026, under a plan approved in March 2025. Source
  • Other California options reviewed: Valero also considered strategic alternatives for its remaining California operations, and evaluated Benicia and Wilmington assets for impairment as of March 31, 2025. Source
  • Benicia and Wilmington impaired $1.1 billion: Carrying values of the Benicia and Wilmington refineries were reduced to estimated fair value, a combined $1.1 billion asset impairment loss recognized in 2025. Source
  • Benicia depreciation runs through April 2026: Depreciation includes incremental Benicia expense of about $100 million in the quarter and $300 million for 2025, with carrying value depreciated to salvage value through April 2026. Source
  • Benicia retention and separation costs: Employee retention and separation costs of $50 million for Benicia were recorded in 2025, under a transition plan with retention incentive payments and separation benefits. Source
  • West Coast adjusted operating loss widened: U.S. West Coast adjusted Refining operating loss was $162 million for the quarter, against $140 million, and $89 million for 2025, against $65 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 January 2026

  • Benicia assets depreciate to salvage by April 2026: Benicia's revised carrying value is to be depreciated to estimated salvage value through April 2026. Source
  • FCC unit start-up in second half 2026: The St. Charles FCC Unit optimization project is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Throughput Source3,113 thousand barrels per day in Q4 2025 (2,995 in Q4 2024); 2,988 for 2025
Refining margin per barrel Source$13.61 in Q4 2025 (against $8.44); $12.29 for 2025 (against $10.62)
Capital expenditure Source$405 million attributable to Valero in Q4 2025; $1,797 million for 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Benicia closure and possible changes to remaining California operations are discussed as operating matters. Source
  • Financial: A $1.1 billion asset impairment on the Benicia and Wilmington refineries was recognized in 2025 and excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Financial: A $349 million unfavorable working capital impact reduced fourth-quarter operating cash flow. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management says the project is still expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management currently intends to cease refining operations at the Benicia Refinery by the end of April 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management states it remains committed to a capital allocation framework prioritizing balance sheet strength, disciplined capital investments and shareholder returns. 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.