Chevron stock prices rose today after reporting first-quarter earnings that beat analysts expectations thanks to higher commodity prices and a rise in oil and natural gas production. Chevron has managed to raise profits as oil prices have risen.Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) today reported earnings of $3.6 billion ($1.90 per share – diluted) for first quarter 2018, compared with $2.7 billion ($1.41 per share – diluted) in the first quarter of 2017. Foreign currency effects increased earnings in the 2018 first quarter by $129 million, compared with a decrease of $241 million a year earlier.
Sales and other operating revenues in first quarter 2018 were $36 billion, compared to $32 billion in the year-ago period.
Earnings Summary
“First quarter earnings and cash flow improved significantly from a year ago,” said Chairman and CEO Michael Wirth. “We benefitted from growing production and higher prices. Our cash flow continues to increase with the powerful combination of expanding upstream margins and volumes. Oil and gas production is increasing, most notably in our Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG Projects in Australia, and our shale developments in the Permian Basin where production grew 65 percent from a year ago.”
“Upstream volumes are expected to continue to increase in future quarters,” Wirth added. “In the downstream, we reached a significant milestone. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, the company’s 50 percent-owned affiliate, commenced operations of a new ethane cracker at its Cedar Bayou facility. At peak production, the unit is expected to produce 1.5 million metric tons per year and to be one of the largest and most energy efficient ethane crackers in the world. In addition, we continue our asset sale program. The company sold its interest in the Elk Hills Field in California in early April and expects to complete the sale of its southern Africa refining, marketing and lubricant assets later in the year."
UPSTREAM
Worldwide net oil-equivalent production was 2.85 million barrels per day in first quarter 2018, compared with 2.68 million barrels per day from a year ago.
U.S. upstream operations earned $648 million in first quarter 2018, compared with $80 million from a year earlier. The improvement primarily reflected higher realizations and production, partially offset by higher exploration expenses.
The company’s average sales price per barrel of crude oil and natural gas liquids was $56 in first quarter 2018, up from $45 a year earlier. The average sales price of natural gas was $2.02 per thousand cubic feet in first quarter 2018, compared with $2.39 in last year’s first quarter.
The company’s average sales price per barrel of crude oil and natural gas liquids was $56 in first quarter 2018, up from $45 a year earlier. The average sales price of natural gas was $2.02 per thousand cubic feet in first quarter 2018, compared with $2.39 in last year’s first quarter.
Net oil-equivalent production of 733,000 barrels per day in first quarter 2018 was up 61,000 barrels per day from a year earlier. Production increases from shale and tight properties in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, and base business in the Gulf of Mexico, were partially offset by the impact of asset sales of 39,000 barrels per day and normal field declines. The net liquids component of oil-equivalent production in first quarter 2018 increased 13 percent to 567,000 barrels per day, while net natural gas production decreased 1 percent to 993 million cubic feet per day.
International upstream operations earned $2.70 billion in first quarter 2018, compared with $1.44 billion a year ago. The increase in earnings was mainly due to higher crude oil and natural gas realizations, higher natural gas sales volumes and lower tax items, partially offset by the absence of a gain of approximately $600 million from the 2017 sale of the Indonesia geothermal business and higher depreciation expenses associated with higher production. Foreign currency effects had a favorable impact on earnings of $394 million between periods.
The average sales price for crude oil and natural gas liquids in first quarter 2018 was $61 per barrel, up from $49 a year earlier. The average sales price of natural gas was $5.85 per thousand cubic feet in the quarter, compared with $4.36 in last year’s first quarter.
Net oil-equivalent production of 2.12 million barrels per day in first quarter 2018 was up 115,000 barrels per day from a year earlier. Production increases from major capital projects, primarily Gorgon and Wheatstone in Australia, were partially offset by production entitlement effects in several locations, normal field declines and the impact of asset sales of 22,000 barrels per day. The net liquids component of oil-equivalent production decreased 1 percent to 1.19 million barrels per day in the 2018 first quarter, while net natural gas production increased 17 percent to 5.60 billion cubic feet per day.
DOWNSTREAM
U.S. downstream operations earned $442 million in first quarter 2018, compared with earnings of $469 million a year earlier. The decrease was primarily due to lower margins on refined product sales and higher expenses from planned turnaround activity at the El Segundo, California refinery. These were partially offset by lower tax expense, and higher equity earnings from the 50 percent-owned Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC.
Refinery crude oil input in first quarter 2018 increased 2 percent to 930,000 barrels per day from the year-ago period. Refined product sales of 1.19 million barrels per day increased 3 percent from first quarter 2017, primarily due to increased jet fuel sales. Branded gasoline sales of 501,000 barrels per day decreased 2 percent from the 2017 period.
International downstream operations earned $286 million in first quarter 2018, compared with $457 million a year earlier. The decrease in earnings was largely due to lower margins on refined product sales, partially offset by lower operating expenses. Foreign currency effects had a favorable impact on earnings of $57 million between periods.
Refinery crude oil input of 712,000 barrels per day in first quarter 2018 decreased 41,000 barrels per day from the year-ago period mainly due to sale of the company’s Canadian refining asset in third quarter 2017.
Total refined product sales of 1.44 million barrels per day in first quarter 2018 were down 1 percent from the year-ago period, primarily due to lower diesel sales, partially offset by higher jet fuel sales.
ALL OTHERS
All Other consists of worldwide cash management and debt financing activities, corporate administrative functions, insurance operations, real estate activities and technology companies.
Net charges in first quarter 2018 were $442 million, compared with net earnings of $239 million in the year-ago period. The change between periods was mainly due to the absence of first quarter 2017 favorable corporate tax items and higher interest expense. Foreign currency effects increased net charges by $81 million between periods.
Net charges in first quarter 2018 were $442 million, compared with net earnings of $239 million in the year-ago period. The change between periods was mainly due to the absence of first quarter 2017 favorable corporate tax items and higher interest expense. Foreign currency effects increased net charges by $81 million between periods.
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Cash flow from operations in the first three months of 2018 was $5.0 billion, compared with $3.8 billion in the corresponding 2017 period. Excluding working capital effects, cash flow from operations in first quarter 2018 was $7.1 billion, compared with $4.8 billion in the corresponding 2017 period. Consistent with historic patterns, working capital requirements increased in the first quarter. Much of the change in working capital levels is temporary in nature and has typically reversed in future periods. Additionally, cash distributions from equity affiliates were significantly less than equity affiliate earnings during the period. The 2017 results were retrospectively adjusted to conform to new accounting standards that were effective for the company in first quarter 2018.
CAPITAL AND EXPLORATORY EXPENDITURES
Capital and exploratory expenditures in the first three months of 2018 and 2017 were $4.4 billion. The amounts included $1.3 billion in 2018 and $939 million in 2017 for the company’s share of expenditures by affiliates, which did not require cash outlays by the company. Expenditures for upstream represented 88 percent of the companywide total in the first three months of 2018.