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Valero Energy Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose from prior-year quarter: Net income attributable to stockholders was $3.7 billion, or $12.62 diluted EPS, against $714 million, or $2.28, in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Refining operating income rose to $4.5 billion: Refining operating income was $4.5 billion against $1.3 billion a year earlier; adjusted Refining operating income was $4.4 billion. Source
  • Renewable Diesel operating income turned positive: Renewable Diesel operating income was $717 million, against an operating loss of $79 million; sales volumes averaged 3.8 million gallons per day, against 2.7 million. Source
  • Gulf Coast diesel margin rose to $43.52: Gulf Coast ULS diesel margin over Brent was $43.52 per barrel, against $14.79; CBOB gasoline over Brent was $17.98, against $8.99. Source
  • Stockholder returns reached $2.6 billion: Stockholder cash returns were $2.6 billion, a 59 percent payout of adjusted net cash provided by operating activities. Source
  • Port Arthur incident cost $15 million: Other operating expenses included $15 million of repair costs from the March 2026 incident at the Port Arthur Refinery, excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Benicia incremental depreciation continues: Incremental depreciation tied to the Benicia Refinery was about $33 million in the quarter and $133 million in six months, after the useful life was shortened. Source

“Our refineries, renewable diesel plants, and ethanol plants operated safely and reliably, helping to meet resilient demand for transportation fuels.”

Lane Riggs, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
St. Charles FCC Unit optimization project SourceCompletion and start of operations, third quarter of 2026third quarter of 2026 ($230 million project)Kept
Quarterly cash dividend on common stock SourceDividend declared July 16, 2026$1.20 per shareKept
West Coast inventory levels SourceDecember 31, 2026 compared with December 31, 2025below December 31, 2025 levelsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: From Q2 2026, Benicia decommissioning and redevelopment activities are reported in Corporate and Other rather than in the Refining segment. Source

Consolidated results and earnings

  • Net income rose from prior-year quarter: Net income attributable to stockholders was $3.7 billion, or $12.62 diluted EPS, against $714 million, or $2.28, in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EPS was $12.54: Adjusted diluted EPS was $12.54. Adjustments removed a $44 million LIFO liquidation benefit and $15 million of Port Arthur fire expenses, reducing net income by $23 million. Source
  • Operating income reached $5.2 billion: Consolidated operating income was $5.2 billion, against $997 million a year earlier; income before tax was $5.2 billion and income tax expense $1.1 billion. Source
  • Six-month net income compared with prior year: Six-month net income attributable to stockholders was $4,983 million, or $16.78 diluted EPS, against $119 million, or $0.37, in the first half of 2025. Source

Refining segment and regions

  • Refining operating income rose to $4.5 billion: Refining operating income was $4.5 billion against $1.3 billion a year earlier; adjusted Refining operating income was $4.4 billion. Source
  • Gulf Coast adjusted income rose most: Gulf Coast adjusted Refining operating income was $2.9 billion on 1,829 thousand barrels per day, against $849 million on 1,841 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • North Atlantic throughput increased: North Atlantic throughput was 506 thousand barrels per day against 396, with refining operating income of $742 million against $219 million. Source
  • Mid-Continent throughput and income increased: Mid-Continent throughput was 485 thousand barrels per day against 423, and adjusted Refining operating income was $610 million against $127 million. Source
  • West Coast throughput fell: West Coast throughput was 130 thousand barrels per day against 262, and adjusted Refining operating income was $199 million against $75 million. Source

“Coupled with our differentiated balance sheet, these strengths position us well and provide significant financial flexibility.”

Lane Riggs, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Renewable Diesel and Ethanol segments

  • Renewable Diesel operating income turned positive: Renewable Diesel operating income was $717 million, against an operating loss of $79 million; sales volumes averaged 3.8 million gallons per day, against 2.7 million. Source
  • Renewable Diesel margin per gallon rose: Renewable Diesel margin was $2.52 per gallon of sales, against $0.22 a year earlier; the segment margin total was $879 million. Source
  • Ethanol operating income increased: Ethanol operating income was $318 million against $54 million; production averaged 4.7 million gallons per day, against 4.6 million a year earlier. Source

Margins, costs and product prices

  • Refining operating cost per barrel eased: Refining operating expenses were $4.70 per barrel of throughput, against $4.91 a year earlier; depreciation was $2.36 per barrel, against $2.66. Source
  • Gulf Coast diesel margin rose to $43.52: Gulf Coast ULS diesel margin over Brent was $43.52 per barrel, against $14.79; CBOB gasoline over Brent was $17.98, against $8.99. Source
  • Renewable volume obligation cost increased: RVO cost was $13.78 per barrel, against $6.14 a year earlier; the company describes it as the average market cost to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard. Source
  • Brent crude price rose: Brent crude averaged $97.06 per barrel against $66.59, and WTI averaged $93.20 against $63.87; the Brent less WTI spread was $3.85 against $2.72. Source

Cash flow, balance sheet and returns

  • Operating cash flow was $5.6 billion: Net cash from operating activities was $5.6 billion, including a $706 million favorable working capital impact; adjusted operating cash flow was $4.5 billion. Source
  • Stockholder returns reached $2.6 billion: Stockholder cash returns were $2.6 billion, a 59 percent payout of adjusted net cash provided by operating activities. Source
  • Capital investments attributable to Valero $346 million: Excluding the other joint venture member's share of DGD and other VIEs, capital investments attributable to Valero were $346 million, after $290 million of sustaining spend. Source

Corporate costs and tax

  • General and administrative costs $233 million: Corporate general and administrative expenses were $233 million in the second quarter, against $220 million a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate 21 percent: The effective tax rate for the quarter was 21 percent; income tax expense was $1.1 billion, against $279 million a year earlier. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss increased: Corporate and Other operating loss was $309 million, against $244 million a year earlier. Source

Port Arthur and Benicia items

  • Port Arthur incident cost $15 million: Other operating expenses included $15 million of repair costs from the March 2026 incident at the Port Arthur Refinery, excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Benicia incremental depreciation continues: Incremental depreciation tied to the Benicia Refinery was about $33 million in the quarter and $133 million in six months, after the useful life was shortened. Source
  • Benicia 2025 impairment recorded: A combined asset impairment loss of $1.1 billion on the Benicia and Wilmington refineries was recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2025, and is excluded from adjusted results for that period. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Throughput Source2,950 thousand barrels per day
Refining margin per barrel Source$23.62 per barrel of throughput
Capital expenditure Source$350 million capital investments

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Repair costs followed the March 2026 incident at Port Arthur, which the company treats as specific to that event and excludes from adjusted results. Source
  • Financial: The shortened useful life of the Benicia Refinery raises its depreciation charge, which is now depreciated to estimated salvage value. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management states that full idling of the Benicia processing units was completed in April 2026, in accordance with the plan. 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.