CHEVRON CORP (CVX) Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 EPS beat consensus while revenue was slightly below: Adjusted EPS was $1.85 vs Wall Street consensus $1.70*; sales and other operating revenues were $48.17B vs consensus $48.30B*, amid record production and integration of Hess .
- Reported earnings were $3.5B and adjusted earnings $3.6B; special items totaled $235MM (mainly Hess severance/transaction costs) and FX added $147MM; cash returned to shareholders was $6.0B (buybacks $2.6B, dividends $3.4B) .
- Production hit a company record 4,086 MBOED (+21% YoY), including 495 MBOED from legacy Hess; CFFO was $9.4B and adjusted FCF $7.0B, helped by a $1.0B loan repayment from TCO .
- Guidance color: FY25 organic CapEx remains $17–$17.5B, “in line with guidance”; full-year production growth guided to the top end of 6–8% (ex-Hess); dividend maintained at $1.71/share (payable Dec 10) .
- Key near-term catalyst: Nov 12 Investor Day (cash flow growth trajectory, Hess synergies, portfolio strategy) .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Record worldwide net oil-equivalent production (4,086 MBOED, +21% YoY), with legacy Hess contributing 495 MBOED and strong growth in Permian, Gulf of Mexico, and TCO; management emphasized “record production” and “strong cash generation” .
- Downstream earnings improved YoY (U.S. $638MM vs $146MM; International $499MM vs $449MM) on higher refined product margins and lower OpEx; U.S. refinery crude inputs rose on capacity at Pasadena LTO project .
- Adjusted FCF rose to $7.0B (vs $4.6B YoY), supported by TCO loan repayment ($1B) and asset sale proceeds; cash returns ($6.0B) were fully covered by adjusted FCF .
- “We expect strong cash generation to continue even in a lower-priced environment” — CFO Eimear Bonner .
What Went Wrong
- YoY earnings decline (adjusted $3.6B vs $4.5B) driven by lower liquids realizations, higher DD&A from production ramp-ups, and Hess-related costs; Brent averaged $69 vs $80 YoY .
- U.S. upstream earnings fell YoY ($1,282MM vs $1,946MM) on lower liquids realizations and transaction/severance costs, partially offset by higher volumes .
- FX headwinds reversed vs Q3’24 (FX added $147MM in Q3’25 but was −$44MM in Q3’24); higher interest expense and pension curtailment costs increased corporate “All Other” net charges .
Financial Results
Actuals vs Consensus (oldest → newest)
Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Margins (S&P Global)
Financial ratios marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Segment Earnings Breakdown ($USD Millions)
KPIs (operational and cash flow)
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Third quarter results reflect record production, strong cash generation and sustained superior cash returns to shareholders.” — CEO Mike Wirth .
- “We expect strong cash generation to continue even in a lower-priced environment, underpinned by increased capital efficiency and growth in high-margin assets.” — CFO Eimear Bonner .
- On synergies: “We had a $1 billion synergy target… we will deliver that run rate savings this year… showing up in 3Q and expect more in 4Q.” — CFO .
- On WAHA exposure: “~70% of our production gets US Gulf Coast pricing… we use excess firm transport to capture ARB and offset exposure.” — CEO .
- On exploration: “More emphasis on frontier exploration… balanced mature near-infrastructure and early entry high-impact areas; adding talent and speeding decisions.” — CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- Permian: Efficiency gains underpin >1 MBOED; steady program with fewer rigs/completion spreads; focus on FCF over growth .
- TCO: Reliable operations at nameplate; Q4 pit stop; concession extension talks began; potential debottlenecking over time .
- Bakken portfolio fit: Integrating Hess capabilities; evaluating long-term role and Hess Midstream structure for value; no rush on decisions .
- California refining market: Structural tightness driven by policy; imports and pipeline proposals noted; Chevron monitoring return profile .
- LNG/petrochemicals: Building globally connected LNG portfolio; CP Chem JV projects expected to deliver strong IRRs over time .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 EPS beat: Adjusted EPS $1.85 vs $1.70 consensus* (Primary EPS), driven by record production and downstream margin improvement; special items were $235MM, FX +$147MM .
- Q3 2025 revenue slight miss: $48.17B sales and other operating revenues vs $48.30B consensus*, as liquids realizations were lower YoY and Brent averaged $69 vs $80 .
- Prior quarters: Q2 2025 EPS $1.77 vs $1.74*, revenue $44.38B vs $45.14*; Q1 2025 EPS $2.18 vs $2.15*, revenue $46.10B vs $48.39* — broadly inline to modest EPS beats with mixed revenue vs consensus .
Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Chevron delivered an EPS beat despite lower YoY realizations and transaction costs; record production and improved downstream margins are offsetting macro headwinds .
- Adjusted FCF inflected to $7.0B; cash returns ($6.0B) were fully covered, signaling resilience in a sub-$70 Brent environment and supporting buybacks/dividends near-term .
- Hess integration is tracking ahead: $1B run-rate synergies in 2025, strong Guyana/Bakken contributions; Investor Day likely to reinforce FCF growth through decade .
- Upstream mix and marketing strength (USGC pricing, WAHA mitigation) reduce earnings volatility; expect continued focus on capital efficiency and plateau management in shale .
- TCO reliability and control-center optimization drive affiliate cash; Q4 pit stop implies temporary production dip and lower distributions, not a structural change .
- Frontier exploration (Namibia/Suriname/Egypt) re-accelerates option value for late-decade; watch for well results and portfolio adds .
- Near-term trading: EPS beat and FCF strength are supportive; revenue miss is minor. Medium-term thesis: scaled low-cost upstream, disciplined capital allocation, and integrated gas/petrochemicals underpin FCF growth and shareholder returns .
Non-GAAP notes: Adjusted earnings exclude special items and FX; adjusted FCF includes equity affiliate loan repayments and asset sale proceeds per company definitions **[93410_0000093410-25-000103_a09302025ex9918-k.htm:4]** **[93410_0000093410-25-000103_a09302025ex9918-k.htm:11]** **[93410_0000093410-25-000103_a09302025ex9918-k.htm:12]**.