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Chevron (CVX) explained: how it makes money, how it's doing, what protects it

A plain-English guide to one of America's big oil companies. See what it pumps and sells, where the money goes, who it competes with and what gives it an edge.

โšกWhat does Chevron do, in 30 seconds?

Chevron finds and produces oil and natural gas, and refines crude oil into fuels, chemicals and lubricants 1. It took in $189.0bn โœ“ in FY2025, and its Downstream fuels and chemicals business made up 69% โœ“ of that. It kept $12.3bn โœ“ as profit.

Revenue, FY2025
$189.0bnโœ“
Profit, FY2025
$12.3bnโœ“
Sales growth, 4 quarters to 30 Jun 2026
10.2%โœ“
Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted), 30 Jun 2026
-$27.1bnโœ“
Headquarters
1400 Smith Street, Houston, Texas 1
Incorporated
1926, as Standard Oil Company of California 1
Employees
43,039 at the end of 2025 23
CEO
Michael Wirth, also chairman, since February 2018 20
Oil and gas output
3.723 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2025, including affiliates 5
Fiscal year ends
31 December, the calendar year 1

๐Ÿ“ฑWhat does Chevron sell?

Chevron has two big businesses: Upstream pumps oil and gas out of the ground, and Downstream turns crude oil into fuels and chemicals. A small slice of income comes from elsewhere.

๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ

Upstream

Upstream explores for, develops and produces crude oil and natural gas. It also turns gas into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for shipping, ships crude oil through big export pipelines and stores carbon 1. Chevron holds more than 1,750,000 net acres in the Permian Basin of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, where output reached one million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2025 2. It owns half of Tengizchevroil, which runs the Tengiz and Korolev oil fields in Kazakhstan 2. Through Hess it gained 30% of the Stabroek Block off Guyana 2. Upstream brought in $53.5bn โœ“ in FY2025, a year that includes Hess from 18 July 2025 4.

๐Ÿ‘ฅ Buyers of crude oil and natural gas, at prices that are generally set by supply and demand 1. Outside the US, Chevron must deliver 3.2 trillion cubic feet of gas from 2026 through 2028, mainly from Australia and Israel 5.

โ›ฝ

Downstream

Downstream refines crude oil into fuels and other products, and sells crude oil, fuels and lubricants. It also makes renewable fuels, chemicals, plastics and additives 1. At the end of 2025 its refineries, including affiliates, could process 1.8 million barrels a day 6. Chevron owns half of Chevron Phillips Chemical and half of GS Caltex in South Korea 6. Downstream brought in $130.9bn โœ“ in FY2025.

๐Ÿ‘ฅ Drivers who fill up under the Chevron, Texaco and Caltex brands. At the end of 2025 Chevron supplied about 8,600 branded US stations and about 5,200 elsewhere 6. It also sells jet fuel to airlines at 58 airports 6.

๐Ÿข

Other income

Income that does not come from the Upstream and Downstream segments' sales. This slice came to $4.7bn โœ“ in FY2025.

๐Ÿ‘ฅ A small slice next to the two main businesses, at 2% โœ“ of FY2025 sales.

How the mix has shifted

Revenue mix by productFY2023Upstream (oil and gas production): $45.7bn (23%)Upstream (oil and gas production) 23%Downstream (fuels and chemicals): $151.0bn (75%)Downstream (fuels and chemicals) 75%Other income: $4.2bn (2%)FY2024Upstream (oil and gas production): $46.8bn (23%)Upstream (oil and gas production) 23%Downstream (fuels and chemicals): $146.4bn (72%)Downstream (fuels and chemicals) 72%Other income: $9.5bn (5%)FY2025Upstream (oil and gas production): $53.5bn (28%)Upstream (oil and gas production) 28%Downstream (fuels and chemicals): $130.9bn (69%)Downstream (fuels and chemicals) 69%Other income: $4.7bn (2%)
Revenue mix by productFY23Upstream (oil and gas production): $45.7bn (23%)23%Downstream (fuels and chemicals): $151.0bn (75%)75%Other income: $4.2bn (2%)FY24Upstream (oil and gas production): $46.8bn (23%)23%Downstream (fuels and chemicals): $146.4bn (72%)72%Other income: $9.5bn (5%)FY25Upstream (oil and gas production): $53.5bn (28%)28%Downstream (fuels and chemicals): $130.9bn (69%)69%Other income: $4.7bn (2%)Upstream (oil and gas production)Downstream (fuels and chemicals)Other income
Share of revenue by business line, by fiscal year. Source: CHEVRON CORP 10-K filed 2026-02-24.

๐Ÿ’ธHow does Chevron make money?

Follow the money: what customers pay for, what it costs to make, and what is left as profit.

Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitUpstream (oil and gas production) โ†’ Revenue: $53.5bnDownstream (fuels and chemicals) โ†’ Revenue: $130.9bnOther income โ†’ Revenue: $4.7bnRevenue โ†’ Gross profit: $80.8bnRevenue โ†’ Cost of sales: $108.2bnGross profit โ†’ Operating profit: $21.0bnGross profit โ†’ Selling & admin: $5.1bnGross profit โ†’ Other operating costs: $54.3bnOperating profit โ†’ Net income: $12.3bnOperating profit โ†’ Income tax: $7.3bnOperating profit โ†’ Other costs: $1.4bnUpstream (oil and gas production)$53.5bn ยท 28%Downstream (fuels and chemicals)$130.9bn ยท 69%Other income$4.7bn ยท 2%Revenue$189.0bnGross profit$80.8bn ยท 43%Cost of sales$108.2bn ยท 57%Operating profit$21.0bn ยท 11%Selling & admin$5.1bn ยท 3%Other operating costs$54.3bn ยท 29%Net income$12.3bn ยท 7%Income tax$7.3bn ยท 4%Other costs$1.4bn ยท 1%
Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitUpstream (oil and gas production): $53.5bnDownstream (fuels and chemicals): $130.9bnOther income: $4.7bnUpstream (oil and gas production)$53.5bn ยท 28%Downstream (fuels and chemicals)$130.9bn ยท 69%Other income$4.7bn ยท 2%Revenue: $189.0bnRevenue$189.0bn ยท 100%Gross profit: $80.8bnCost of sales: $108.2bnGross profit$80.8bn ยท 43%Cost of sales$108.2bn ยท 57%Operating profit: $21.0bnSelling & admin: $5.1bnOther operating costs: $54.3bnOperating profit$21.0bn ยท 11%Selling & admin$5.1bn ยท 3%Other operating costs$54.3bn ยท 29%Net income: $12.3bnIncome tax: $7.3bnOther costs: $1.4bnNet income$12.3bn ยท 7%Income tax$7.3bn ยท 4%Other costs$1.4bn ยท 1%
Money map (a Sankey diagram): band widths are to scale. Hover a band for the amount. Source: CHEVRON CORP 10-K filings.

Chevron took in $189.0bn โœ“ in FY2025. The direct costs of what it sold came to $108.2bn โœ“. What is left is gross profit, which was $80.8bn โœ“.

Next come the costs of running the company. Research took $0.4bn โœ“, and sales and admin took $5.1bn โœ“. Other operating costs took $54.3bn โœ“. That left operating profit, the profit from the main business, of $21.0bn โœ“. Other items came to -$1.4bn โœ“, and tax took $7.3bn โœ“. That left net income of $12.3bn โœ“. Put simply, out of every $100 of sales, Chevron kept about $6 โœ“ as profit, and $29 โœ“ went on other operating costs.

Out of every $100 customers paid in FY2025โ€ฆ

Making the products and services $57Selling and admin $3Other operating costs $29Other costs (interest and losses) $1Income tax $4Profit kept $6
๐Ÿ’ก
Upstream's share of sales rose from 23% โœ“ in FY2024 to 28% โœ“ in FY2025. The later year includes Hess, which Chevron bought on 18 July 2025 4.

โฑ๏ธ Chevron by the clock

Spread the FY2025 totals evenly over its 365 days and you get this. Source: CHEVRON CORP 10-K [7].

๐Ÿ›’
$518m
in sales every day
โฑ๏ธ
$390
of profit every second
๐Ÿ”ฌ
$1.2m
on research every day
๐ŸŽ
$68m
handed to shareholders every day

๐Ÿ“ˆHow is Chevron doing?

Chevron's sales and profit fell in FY2025, even with Hess added for part of the year, but sales grew again in the four quarters to June 2026. Sales were $189.0bn โœ“, a change of -6.8% โœ“ on FY2024. FY2025 includes Hess from 18 July 2025 4. Operating margin slipped to 11.1% โœ“ from 13.9% โœ“. Free cash flow was $16.6bn โœ“, up from $15.0bn โœ“.

Output rose even as sales fell. Chevron produced 3.723 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2025, up about 12%, including affiliates 5. Chevron says this was mainly due to Hess, a new project at Tengiz, record Permian output and growth in the Gulf of America 5.

In the four quarters to 30 June 2026, sales reached $215.3bn โœ“, up 10.2% โœ“ on the four quarters before. Operating margin over those four quarters was 14.9% โœ“. The later period includes Hess from 18 July 2025, nearly all of it, while the earlier one ended before Chevron bought Hess 4.

On 30 October 2026, Chevron reported third-quarter earnings of $9.9 billion, up from $3.5 billion a year earlier; adjusted earnings were $10.4 billion 10. Output in that quarter was 3.98 million barrels of oil equivalent a day, below 4.086 million a year earlier 10. Chevron says this was mainly because higher prices cut the volumes its contracts give it, and the Middle East conflict cut output 10. The year-earlier quarter includes Hess only from 18 July 2025 4.

Over the long run, sales have grown slowly and unevenly. From FY2015 to FY2025, sales grew 3.2% โœ“ a year on average, with Hess included only in the final year, from 18 July 2025 4. They rose in only 5 โœ“ of those 10 โœ“ years.

๐Ÿ“ The report card

Chevron earns a C โœ“ for profitability, a D โœ“ for cash and a D โœ“ for its balance sheet. Growth earns an F โœ“, and steadiness also earns an F โœ“. Every company is graded on the same fixed scale, so an A means the same thing on every page. The strip shows where Chevron (orange) and its 2 peers land; further right is better.

F

Growth

Sales growth per year, last 3 fiscal years
-8.4% ยท peer median -8.1%
#2 of 3 in the peer group
A โ‰ฅ 15.0%B โ‰ฅ 10.0%C โ‰ฅ 5.0%D โ‰ฅ 0.0%F below 0.0%

Chevron's sales changed by -8.4% โœ“ a year over its last three fiscal years, which earns an F โœ“. The period starts from FY2022, when sales jumped 51.6% โœ“. It ends with FY2025, which includes Hess from 18 July 2025 4. ExxonMobil's -7.0% โœ“ also earns an F โœ“, and so does ConocoPhillips' -9.1% โœ“, an F โœ“.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Growing sales is the engine of a business. Mature giants rarely grow fast, so 5% a year already earns a C.

C

Profitability

Operating margin, last 3 years combined
13.3% ยท peer median 20.1%
#3 of 3 in the peer group
A โ‰ฅ 30.0%B โ‰ฅ 20.0%C โ‰ฅ 10.0%D โ‰ฅ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Chevron kept 13.3% โœ“ of sales as operating profit, above the 10% line for a C โœ“. ExxonMobil kept 14.0% โœ“, also a C โœ“. ConocoPhillips kept 26.3% โœ“, a B โœ“.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Operating margin is the share of each sales dollar left after running the business. Software and platforms often clear 30%; hardware makers usually sit below 10%.

D

Cash generation

Free cash flow as a share of sales, last 3 years combined
8.7% ยท peer median 11.3%
#2 of 3 in the peer group
A โ‰ฅ 20.0%B โ‰ฅ 15.0%C โ‰ฅ 10.0%D โ‰ฅ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Chevron turned 8.7% โœ“ of sales into free cash flow, a D โœ“. ExxonMobil was close at 8.6% โœ“, also a D โœ“. ConocoPhillips did better at 14.1% โœ“, a C โœ“.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Free cash flow is the cash left after paying for factories, data centres and equipment. It funds dividends, buybacks and new bets.

D

Balance sheet

Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted) as a share of a year's sales
-17.7% ยท peer median -17.9%
#2 of 3 in the peer group
A โ‰ฅ 20.0%B โ‰ฅ 5.0%C โ‰ฅ -10.0%D โ‰ฅ -30.0%F below -30.0%

At the end of FY2025, Chevron's net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted) was -17.7% โœ“ of a year's sales, a D โœ“. Its net cash was -$33.5bn โœ“, and its total debt was $40.8bn โœ“. ExxonMobil's -9.9% โœ“ earns a C โœ“, and ConocoPhillips' -26.0% โœ“ a D โœ“.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

More cash than debt gives a company room to ride out bad years. Some debt is normal; a lot of it makes a company fragile.

F

Steadiness

How much yearly sales growth swings (standard deviation, up to 10 years)
33.6% ยท peer median 42.1%
#2 of 3 in the peer group
A โ‰ค 5.0%B โ‰ค 8.0%C โ‰ค 12.0%D โ‰ค 18.0%F above 18.0%

Chevron's yearly growth rates swing a lot, with a standard deviation of 33.6% โœ“, which earns an F โœ“. Sales jumped 51.6% โœ“ in FY2022, then changed by -18.4% โœ“ in FY2023. ExxonMobil's figure is 28.4% โœ“, an F โœ“, and ConocoPhillips' is 55.8% โœ“, also an F โœ“.

Why this measure? (lower is better)

Steady growers are easier to plan around. Big swings mean sales depend on product cycles, the economy or one-off events.

๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿซ How the grades work
  1. Same scale for everyone. Each measure has fixed cut-offs (shown under each strip). Clear the A line and you get an A, whatever your peers do.
  2. Three years together. Profitability and cash generation add up the last three fiscal years before dividing, so one unusual year counts for less than it would on its own (a year much bigger than the others still weighs most).
  3. Peers for context. The rank shows how Chevron compares with the group. Companies within 0.1 percentage point share a rank.
  4. Same source. Every company's figures come from its own latest annual report (10-K), so fiscal years end in different months.
  5. Judgement, openly stated. The cut-offs are QuantVantage.ai's view of what good looks like for a large, established company. They are not a forecast or a recommendation.

11 years at a glance

Revenue
$189.0bn
FY2025
Revenue by fiscal yearFY2015: $138.5bnFY2016: $114.5bnFY2017: $141.7bnFY2018: $166.3bnFY2019: $146.5bnFY2020: $94.7bnFY2021: $162.5bnFY2022: $246.3bnFY2023: $200.9bnFY2024: $202.8bnFY2025: $189.0bnFY2015FY2025
Operating margin
11.1%
FY2025
Operating marginFY2015FY2025
Free cash flow
$16.6bn
FY2025
Free cash flow by fiscal yearFY2015: -$10.0bnFY2016: -$5.4bnFY2017: $6.9bnFY2018: $16.8bnFY2019: $13.2bnFY2020: $1.7bnFY2021: $21.1bnFY2022: $37.6bnFY2023: $19.8bnFY2024: $15.0bnFY2025: $16.6bnFY2015FY2025
Net cash
-$33.5bn
end of FY2025
Net cash by fiscal yearFY2015: -$27.1bnFY2016: -$39.0bnFY2017: -$33.8bnFY2018: -$25.1bnFY2019: -$20.0bnFY2020: -$38.7bnFY2021: -$25.7bnFY2022: -$5.4bnFY2023: -$12.6bnFY2024: -$16.3bnFY2025: -$33.5bnFY2015FY2025

Where the cash goes

From FY2015 to FY2025, Chevron handed back more cash than it made in free cash flow. It spent $170.7bn โœ“ on buybacks and dividends, against $133.3bn โœ“ of free cash flow. In FY2025 alone, it paid $12.8bn โœ“ in dividends and spent $12.1bn โœ“ on buybacks, equal to 150% โœ“ of free cash flow.

Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bn$30bn$40bnFY2016 free cash flow -$5.4bnFY2016 buybacks + dividends $8.0bnFY16FY2017 free cash flow $6.9bnFY2017 buybacks + dividends $8.1bnFY17FY2018 free cash flow $16.8bnFY2018 buybacks + dividends $10.3bnFY18FY2019 free cash flow $13.2bnFY2019 buybacks + dividends $13.0bnFY19FY2020 free cash flow $1.7bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $11.4bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow $21.1bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $11.6bnFY21FY2022 free cash flow $37.6bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $22.2bnFY22FY2023 free cash flow $19.8bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $26.3bnFY23FY2024 free cash flow $15.0bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $27.0bnFY24FY2025 free cash flow $16.6bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $24.8bnFY25
Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bn$30bn$40bnFY2020 free cash flow $1.7bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $11.4bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow $21.1bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $11.6bnFY21FY2022 free cash flow $37.6bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $22.2bnFY22FY2023 free cash flow $19.8bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $26.3bnFY23FY2024 free cash flow $15.0bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $27.0bnFY24FY2025 free cash flow $16.6bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $24.8bnFY25
โ–  Free cash flow   โ–  Buybacks + dividends. Source: CHEVRON CORP 10-K filings.

๐ŸงฎRatios 101: what are Chevron's key financial ratios?

Ratios shrink Chevron's giant numbers into easy comparisons with ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. The FY2025 figures include Hess, which Chevron bought on 18 July 2025 4. A ratio divides one number by another so companies of any size can be compared. Each card shows the formula with Chevron's real FY2025 numbers, the peer median and the trend.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Profitability: how much of each sale is kept?

Higher is better

Gross margin

42.8%
Gross profit$80.8bn$189.0bnSales=42.8%

What is left from each sale after paying to make the product or deliver the service.

๐Ÿ‘‰ At 42.8% โœ“, Chevron's gross margin is below the 53.3% โœ“ peer median and down from 48.2% โœ“ in FY2016.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Above 40% usually signals pricing power or a big software or services mix.

Peer median 53.3% (2 peers)FY2016 48.2%
Gross margin by fiscal yearFY2016FY2025
Higher is better

Operating margin

11.1%
Operating profit$21.0bn$189.0bnSales=11.1%

What is left after also paying for research, marketing and running the company.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron's 11.1% โœ“ is well above the 0.7% โœ“ of FY2015 but below the 17.8% โœ“ peer median.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Above 20% is strong for a large company.

Peer median 17.8% (2 peers)FY2015 0.7%
Operating margin by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Higher is better

Net margin

6.5%
Net income$12.3bn$189.0bnSales=6.5%

The bottom line: profit after interest and taxes, per dollar of sales.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron keeps 6.5% โœ“ of sales as final profit, up from 3.3% โœ“ in FY2015 but below the 11.1% โœ“ peer median.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Above 15% is strong; one-off tax items can move it in a single year.

Peer median 11.1% (2 peers)FY2015 3.3%
Net margin by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

Return on equity (ROE)

6.6%
Net income$12.3bn$186.5bnShareholders' equity=6.6%

Profit earned for each dollar that shareholders have left in the company.

๐Ÿ‘‰ ROE of 6.6% โœ“ trails the 11.8% โœ“ peer median. Shareholders' equity is large, at $186.5bn โœ“.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Around 15% or more is good, but buybacks shrink equity and can make ROE look huge.

Peer median 11.8% (2 peers)FY2015 3.0%
Return on equity (ROE) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

โš™๏ธ Efficiency: how hard do the assets work?

Higher is better

Return on assets (ROA)

3.8%
Net income$12.3bn$324.0bnTotal assets=3.8%

Profit earned from everything the company owns, however it was paid for.

๐Ÿ‘‰ ROA of 3.8% โœ“ is below the 6.5% โœ“ peer median, on total assets of $324.0bn โœ“.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Above 10% is strong; banks and factories usually earn less.

Peer median 6.5% (2 peers)FY2015 1.7%
Return on assets (ROA) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Higher is better

Asset turnover

0.6x
Sales$189.0bn$324.0bnTotal assets=0.6x

Dollars of sales squeezed out of each dollar of assets.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron's sales are 0.6x โœ“ the value of everything it owns, level with the 0.6x โœ“ peer median and up from 0.5x โœ“ in FY2015.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Retailers often top 2x; asset-heavy businesses can sit below 0.5x.

Peer median 0.6x (2 peers)FY2015 0.5x
Asset turnover by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Lower is better

Inventory days

33 days
Inventory$9.7bn$108.2bnCost of salesร— 365=33 days

How many days of products sit in warehouses before they are sold.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron holds 33 โœ“ days of stock, the same as in FY2016 at 33 โœ“ days. ConocoPhillips holds 31 โœ“ days.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Fewer days means less cash tied up and less risk of products going stale.

Peer median 31 days (1 peer)FY2016 33 days
Inventory days by fiscal yearFY2016FY2025

๐Ÿ›Ÿ Safety: could it survive a bad year?

It depends

Current ratio

1.2x
Current assets$38.6bn$33.4bnCurrent liabilities=1.2x

Can short-term assets (cash, money owed by customers, stock) pay the bills due within a year?

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron's 1.2x โœ“ means short-term assets of $38.6bn โœ“ cover bills due within a year of $33.4bn โœ“. That matches the 1.2x โœ“ peer median.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Above 1.0x is the classic comfort line, but cash-rich giants can run below it on purpose.

Peer median 1.2x (2 peers)FY2015 1.4x
Current ratio by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Lower is better

Debt to equity

0.2x
Total debt$40.8bn$186.5bnShareholders' equity=0.2x

How much the company has borrowed for each dollar shareholders have in it.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron's 0.2x โœ“ is below the 0.3x โœ“ of FY2015 and the 0.3x โœ“ peer median. It had $40.8bn โœ“ of debt against $186.5bn โœ“ of shareholders' equity.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Below 1.0x is conservative. Like ROE, it can rise when buybacks shrink equity, even if debt has not changed.

Peer median 0.3x (2 peers)FY2015 0.3x
Debt to equity by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Higher is better

Interest cover

17.2x
Operating profit$21.0bn$1.2bnInterest expense=17.2x

How many times over operating profit could pay the year's interest bill.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Operating profit of $21.0bn โœ“ covered interest of $1.2bn โœ“ by 17.2x โœ“. That is below ExxonMobil's 69.4x โœ“ but above ConocoPhillips' 11.5x โœ“.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Above 5x is comfortable; below 2x is a warning sign.

Peer median 40.5x (2 peers)FY2016 -17.7x
Interest cover by fiscal yearFY2016FY2025

๐Ÿ’ต Cash and owners: where does the money end up?

Higher is better

Cash conversion

1.3x
Free cash flow$16.6bn$12.3bnNet income=1.3x

Does reported profit turn into real cash? Free cash flow is operating cash minus capital spending.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron turned profit into free cash at 1.3x โœ“ in FY2025, above the 0.9x โœ“ peer median. In FY2015 the figure was -2.2x โœ“, when free cash flow was -$10.0bn โœ“.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Near or above 1.0x means profits are backed by cash.

Peer median 0.9x (2 peers)FY2015 -2.2x
Cash conversion by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

R&D intensity

0.2%
R&D$0.4bn$189.0bnSales=0.2%

How much of each sales dollar goes into inventing future products.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron spends 0.2% โœ“ of sales on research, the same as the 0.2% โœ“ peer median and down from 0.4% โœ“ in FY2015.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Tech companies often spend 10% to 20%; more is not always better if it does not pay off.

Peer median 0.2% (2 peers)FY2015 0.4%
R&D intensity by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

Shareholder payout

201.9%
Dividends + buybacks$24.8bn$12.3bnNet income=201.9%

How much of the year's profit was handed back to owners.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Chevron paid out 201.9% โœ“ of FY2025 profit, or $24.8bn โœ“ on $12.3bn โœ“ of net income. The peer median is 121.4% โœ“.

๐Ÿ“ Rule of thumb: Above 100% means it returned more than it earned, using cash savings or debt.

Peer median 121.4% (2 peers)FY2015 174.3%
Shareholder payout by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

Ratios use fiscal-year-end balance sheet values. Inputs are shown rounded, so dividing them can differ from the result in the last digit. A peer median leaves out peers that do not report the inputs, or where the ratio means nothing (for example, negative shareholders' equity). Rules of thumb are general guides from QuantVantage.ai, not hard limits. No share-price ratios (like price-to-earnings) are shown on this page.

๐ŸฅŠWho are Chevron's competitors?

Chevron says it competes with big integrated oil companies, independent producers and national oil companies 1. ExxonMobil and Chevron both produce oil and gas and refine it into fuels and chemicals 1011. ConocoPhillips meets Chevron in oil and gas production in the Permian Basin and abroad 1213.

Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue-10%-5%0%10%20%Sales growth per year, 3 years โ†’Operating margin โ†’ExxonMobil: revenue $332.2bn, growth -7.0%/yr, operating margin 12.6%XOMChevron: revenue $189.0bn, growth -8.4%/yr, operating margin 11.1%CVXConocoPhillips: revenue $58.9bn, growth -9.1%/yr, operating margin 23.0%COP
Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue-10%-5%0%10%20%Sales growth per year, 3 years โ†’Operating margin โ†’ExxonMobil: revenue $332.2bn, growth -7.0%/yr, operating margin 12.6%XOMChevron: revenue $189.0bn, growth -8.4%/yr, operating margin 11.1%CVXConocoPhillips: revenue $58.9bn, growth -9.1%/yr, operating margin 23.0%COP
Peer map from each company's latest 10-K. Bubble size = revenue. Source: SEC filings [7] [8] [9].
CompanyWhere they competeRevenueGrowth/yr (3y)Op. marginFCF margin
Chevron (CVX, FY2025)Oil and gas production, refining, fuels and chemicals$189.0bn-8.4%11.1%8.8%
ExxonMobil (XOM, FY2025)Oil, gas, fuels and chemicals; in the third quarter of 2026 it produced 4.50 million barrels of oil equivalent a day, against Chevron's 3.98 million, after Chevron's Hess deal 1011$332.2bn-7.0%12.6%7.1%
ConocoPhillips (COP, FY2025)Permian and overseas oil and gas. In 2025 it produced 2,375 thousand barrels of oil equivalent a day, with Marathon Oil all year 1213. Chevron produced 3,723 thousand, with Hess from July 2025 1213$58.9bn-9.1%23.0%12.3%

Chevron also competes with national oil companies and independent producers, and says oil, gas and fuel prices are generally set by supply and demand 1.

๐ŸงญChevron SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

๐Ÿ’ช Strengths

  • Chevron holds more than 1,750,000 net acres in the Permian Basin, where its output reached one million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2025 2.
  • Its proved reserves were about 10.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent at the end of 2025, 8% more than a year earlier 5.
  • Its US refineries ran at 94.5% of capacity on average in 2025, up from 86.6% in 2024 6.
  • Chevron hit its cost-cutting target six months early, in the second quarter of 2026 14. It reached $3 billion of yearly run-rate savings, against a goal of $3 billion to $4 billion by the end of 2026 14.

๐Ÿฉน Weaknesses

  • Sales changed by -8.4% โœ“ a year over the three years to FY2025, an F โœ“ for growth.
  • Chevron kept 6.5% โœ“ of FY2025 sales as profit, below the 11.1% โœ“ peer median.
  • In FY2025, buybacks and dividends came to 150% โœ“ of free cash flow.
  • About 21% of Chevron's 2025 output came from OPEC+ countries, such as Kazakhstan and Nigeria 17.

๐Ÿš€ Opportunities

  • Chevron said in October 2026 that its Venezuelan joint ventures plan to invest $7 billion over five years 10. It said better terms and more land could more than double its Venezuela output in that time 10.
  • In the second quarter of 2026, Chevron agreed to build a West Texas power plant 16. It is designed to supply about 2.67 gigawatts to a Microsoft data center under a 20-year deal 16.
  • Eight production vessels are expected to be working in Guyana's Stabroek Block by 2030, with combined capacity of about 1.7 million gross barrels of oil a day 2.
  • In 2025, Chevron entered the US lithium business, buying about 135,000 net acres in Texas and Arkansas 15.

โš ๏ธ Threats

  • Chevron estimated in mid-2026 that each 1 dollar a barrel change in the Brent oil price moves its yearly after-tax earnings and cash flow by about $600 million 14.
  • Chevron's 2025 annual report names drone attacks among the events that could disrupt the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, the main export route for Tengiz oil 17.
  • As of mid-2026, Chevron entities were or had been defendants in 34 US climate change lawsuits 14.
  • In its second-quarter 2026 report, Chevron said the Middle East conflict had cut output in the Partitioned Zone and at Chevron Phillips Chemical sites in Saudi Arabia and Qatar 14.

๐ŸฐDoes Chevron have a moat?

Narrow moatChevron's edge lies in large assets such as the Permian, Tengiz and Guyana, not brand or lock-in; it sells oil, gas and fuels at prices generally set by supply and demand 21.
Brand 2/5
Why 2?

Chevron sells fuel under the Chevron, Texaco and Caltex brands at about 8,600 branded US stations and about 5,200 elsewhere 6. Only about 380 of the US stations were owned or leased by Chevron at the end of 2025; retailers and marketers supplied the rest 6. Chevron says oil, gas and fuel prices are generally set by supply and demand 1.

Switching costs 1/5
Why 1?

Chevron says oil, gas and fuel prices are generally set by supply and demand, and it faces many kinds of rivals 1. Outside the US, Chevron has contracts to deliver 3.2 trillion cubic feet of gas from 2026 through 2028 5.

Network effects 1/5
Why 1?

Chevron owns and runs a network of oil, gas and fuel pipelines in the US, and added more through Hess 6. Chevron also says oil, gas and fuel prices are generally set by supply and demand 1.

Cost advantages and scale 3/5
Why 3?

Chevron holds more than 1,750,000 net acres in the Permian, where output reached one million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2025 2. It drills there from multi-well pads, a manufacturing-style process it credits with productivity gains 2. Its US refineries ran at 94.5% of capacity in 2025 6, and set a record of 1.09 million barrels a day in the third quarter of 2026 10. It reached $3 billion of yearly run-rate cost savings in the second quarter of 2026 14. In 2025 it reached its first target of $1 billion a year of run-rate synergies, the savings from combining with Hess 15. Its proved reserves were about 10.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent at the end of 2025 5.

Intangibles (patents, licences, regulation) 3/5
Why 3?

Chevron owns half of Tengizchevroil, whose concession to run its Kazakh fields expires in 2033 2. Through Hess it holds 30% of Guyana's Stabroek Block, but does not operate it 2. In the second quarter of 2026 it announced a licensing deal to bring to market a chemical technology it developed to get more oil from shale and tight rock 16. Its Oronite unit made, blended or researched lubricant and fuel additives at 11 sites at the end of 2025 6.

A moat is what keeps rivals from taking a company's customers and profits. Scores are QuantVantage.ai's judgement (5 = strongest), set with the same rubric on every explainer (orange is Chevron; grey dots are peers).

๐Ÿ”ญWhat should you watch next?

Expected by end of 2026

Hess Midstream deal

On 6 October 2026, Chevron agreed to hand its stake in Hess Midstream and its DJ Basin crude oil midstream assets to Hess Midstream, for longer Bakken contracts and cash 25. It expects the deal to close by the end of 2026, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals 25. It expects a one-time after-tax loss of about $3 billion to $4 billion at closing 25.

10 Dec 2026

Next dividend payment

Chevron's board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.78 per share, payable on 10 December 2026 to holders of record on 18 November 2026 10.

31 Dec 2026

New chief legal officer

R. Hewitt Pate will step down as chief legal officer on 31 December 2026, ahead of his expected retirement in June 2027 26.

1 Jan 2027

New finance chief

Jeff Gustavson, now head of New Energies, becomes chief financial officer on 1 January 2027. Eimear Bonner, the current CFO, becomes President of Oil, Products and Gas 21.

First half of 2027

Chemical projects expected to start up

In Chevron's FY2025 annual report, Chevron Phillips Chemical expected its Golden Triangle Polymers project in Texas and Ras Laffan project in Qatar to start up in the first half of 2027 6.

Expected in 2027

Sale of Asian refining assets

Chevron agreed to sell its 50% stake in Singapore Refining Company and other downstream assets in six Asian and Pacific countries 16. The sale is expected to close in 2027 16.

๐Ÿ“šLearn the words

UpstreamThe part of the oil business that finds oil and gas and pumps it out of the ground.
DownstreamThe part of the oil business that turns crude oil into fuels and chemicals and sells them.
Barrel of oil equivalentA way to add oil and gas together by counting an amount of gas as if it were a barrel of oil, based on the energy it holds.
RefineryA plant that heats and splits crude oil into products such as petrol, diesel and jet fuel.
Proved reservesOil and gas a company is reasonably sure it can pump out and sell in the future.
ConcessionPermission from a government to explore for and produce oil or gas in an area for a set number of years.
Revenue (sales)All the money a company takes in from customers before paying any costs.
Operating profitProfit from the main business after paying for products, staff and running costs, but before interest and tax.
Free cash flowThe cash a business has left after running itself and paying for new wells, plants and equipment.
Share buybackWhen a company uses its cash to buy back its own shares, so each remaining share owns a slightly bigger piece.
Economic moatA lasting advantage, like low costs or rare assets, that keeps rivals from taking a company's business.

โ“Frequently asked questions about Chevron

How does Chevron make money?

Chevron makes most of its sales from fuels and chemicals, and the rest mainly from oil and gas. In FY2025, Downstream brought in $130.9bn โœ“ and Upstream $53.5bn โœ“. Other income added $4.7bn โœ“.

Did Chevron buy Hess?

Yes. Chevron completed its purchase of Hess, an oil and gas producer, on 18 July 2025 4. Chevron put the price at about $48 billion and took on $8.8 billion of Hess debt 4. The deal gave Chevron 30% of the Stabroek Block off Guyana 2.

How much oil and gas does Chevron produce?

Chevron produced 3.98 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in the third quarter of 2026 10. About 2.043 million came from the United States and 1.937 million from abroad 10.

Where is Chevron's headquarters?

Chevron's head office is at 1400 Smith Street in Houston, Texas 1. In August 2024 it announced the move from San Ramon, California, and said it expected all corporate functions to move there over five years 18.

Is Chevron's revenue growing?

Chevron's revenue fell in FY2025 but grew in the four quarters to 30 June 2026. Sales changed by -6.8% โœ“ in FY2025, with Hess included from 18 July 2025 4. In those four quarters, sales rose 10.2% โœ“. That later period includes Hess from 18 July 2025, nearly all of it, while the earlier one ended before Chevron bought Hess 4.

Who runs Chevron?

Michael Wirth was Chevron's chairman and chief executive at the end of FY2025, a role he has held since February 2018 20. Jeff Gustavson becomes chief financial officer on 1 January 2027 21.

Does Chevron pay a dividend?

Chevron paid $12.8bn โœ“ in dividends in FY2025. Its board has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.78 per share, payable on 10 December 2026 10.

Was Chevron always called Chevron?

No. Chevron was incorporated in 1926 as Standard Oil Company of California 1. Chevron acquired Texaco, and the company was called ChevronTexaco from 2001 until 2005, when it changed its name back to Chevron 122.

๐ŸŽฎPlay: higher or lower, then test yourself

Higher or lower ยท round 1 of 6

Figures come from each company's latest annual report (10-K); fiscal years end in different months. Sources: [7] [8] [9].

Score: 0

๐Ÿง  Test yourself

5 quick questions. Score: 0 / 5

1. Which part of Chevron brought in the most sales in FY2025?

Downstream made up 69% โœ“ of Chevron's sales in FY2025.

2. What was Chevron called when it was incorporated in 1926?

Chevron was incorporated in Delaware in 1926 as Standard Oil Company of California 1.

3. Which oil company did Chevron buy in July 2025?

Chevron acquired Hess Corporation on 18 July 2025 4.

4. About how much does a 1 dollar change in the Brent oil price move Chevron's yearly after-tax earnings?

Chevron estimated in mid-2026 that each 1 dollar a barrel moves its yearly after-tax earnings and cash flow by about $600 million 14.

5. How much crude oil can the GS Caltex refinery at Yeosu, South Korea, process each day?

The 50%-owned GS Caltex refinery at Yeosu can process 800,000 barrels a day 6.

๐Ÿ”ŽSources and method

Every figure comes from a source listed here or is calculated from those sources (marked โœ“). Company financials come from the reports each company files with the SEC (10-K annual and 10-Q quarterly reports). Peer grades rank the same measures across the company and its peers. This page contains no share-price data and no valuation.

  1. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Cover (address, fiscal year end); Item 1 summary description, incorporation and name history, competition (accessed 2026-11-04)
  2. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Item 1 upstream key areas: Permian Basin, Gulf of America, Guyana, Kazakhstan (Tengizchevroil) (accessed 2026-11-04)
  3. Chevron (CVX) Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, filed 2026-02-24 โ€” revenue and cost of sales by product, segment and geography (accessed 2026-11-04)
  4. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Note 29 Acquisition of Hess Corporation (accessed 2026-11-04)
  5. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Item 1 upstream: proved reserves, net production by country, delivery commitments (accessed 2026-11-04)
  6. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Item 1 downstream: refineries and capacity, marketing brands and stations, chemicals, pipelines (accessed 2026-11-04)
  7. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Chevron (CVX) โ€” annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  8. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: ExxonMobil Holdings Corp (XOM) โ€” annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  9. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: CONOCOPHILLIPS (COP) โ€” annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  10. Chevron reports third quarter 2026 results (Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, October 30, 2026) โ€” Third quarter 2026 earnings, production, refinery throughput, debt, dividend, segment reporting, highlights (accessed 2026-11-04)
  11. ExxonMobil Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 โ€” Upstream oil-equivalent production, third quarter 2026 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  12. Chevron Corporation Form 10-K, fiscal 2025 โ€” Chevron 2025 worldwide oil-equivalent production, Permian Basin production, Hess acquisition timing (accessed 2026-11-04)
  13. ConocoPhillips Form 10-K, fiscal 2025 (Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis) โ€” 2025 production, Marathon Oil integration and synergies, shareholder returns, reserve replacement, 2026 outlook, project milestones (accessed 2026-11-04)
  14. Chevron Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 โ€” Note 11 litigation; MD&A: Middle East conflict, Brent sensitivity, structural cost reductions (accessed 2026-11-04)
  15. Chevron reports fourth quarter 2025 results (Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, January 30, 2026) โ€” 2025 business highlights: Hess, Tengiz, lithium, refinery throughput, cost reductions (accessed 2026-11-04)
  16. Chevron reports second quarter 2026 results (Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, July 31, 2026) โ€” Second quarter 2026 business highlights: West Texas power project, Iraq, Singapore sale, surfactant licensing (accessed 2026-11-04)
  17. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” MD&A business environment: production in OPEC+ countries, Caspian Pipeline Consortium risk (accessed 2026-11-04)
  18. Chevron news release: headquarters relocation and senior leadership changes (Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, August 2, 2024) โ€” Headquarters move from San Ramon to Houston; employees in each location (accessed 2026-11-04)
  19. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Chevron (CVX) โ€” quarterly 10-Q/10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  20. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Part III executive officers of the registrant (accessed 2026-11-04)
  21. Chevron Form 8-K, officer elections (filed October 5, 2026) โ€” New CFO and President, Oil, Products & Gas from January 1, 2027 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  22. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Note on benefit plan trusts: Texaco acquired by Chevron (accessed 2026-11-04)
  23. Chevron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 โ€” Item 1 human capital: employees by region at December 31, 2025 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  24. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Chevron (CVX) โ€” balance sheet at 2026-06-30 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  25. Chevron news release: divestment of Hess Midstream and DJ Basin crude midstream interests (Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, October 6, 2026) โ€” Hess Midstream transaction terms, expected loss and timing (accessed 2026-11-04)
  26. Chevron Form 8-K, chief legal officer resignation (filed May 29, 2026) โ€” Chief Legal Officer to step down December 31, 2026 (accessed 2026-11-04)