Chevron warned Friday in its quarterly earnings report that results will remain depressed as long as oil prices remain low, and said that it was further cutting its 2020 capital spending plan.
For the first quarter Chevron reported EPS of $1.93, which included $660 million in one-time favorable items, and $31.5 billion in revenue, helped by downstream margins and increased production in the Permian. In the same quarter a year earlier the oil giant earned $1.39 per share on $35.20 billion in revenue.
Analysts had been expecting the company to earn 68 cents per share for the quarter, and post $29.38 billion in revenue, according to estimates from Refinitiv. It was unclear if the numbers were directly comparable.
Production at the U.S.’ second largest oil company rose 6% year-over-year to reach a record high of 3.24 million barrels per day of net oil-equivalent production. Chevron said that production in the Permian Basin rose 48% year-over-year.
But looking forward the company said lower oil prices will have a significant impact. “Financial results in future periods are expected to be depressed as long as current market conditions persist,” the company said in a statement. Chevron said that in the first quarter the average price per barrel of crude oil and natural gas liquids was $37, roughly 23% lower than a year earlier, while the sale price for natural gas dropped from $1.64 to 60 cents.
Shares of Chevron were about 2% lower during Friday’s premarket trading.
Energy companies have been forced to slash spending and cut costs following a historic drop in West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil benchmark, which has shed 70% this year. Much of the decline is thanks to a drop-off in demand due to the coronavirus.
On Friday Chevron said that it would reduce its 2020 capital spending plans by an additional $2 billion, to $14 billion. In March the company had previously announced a 20% cut to its capital spending plan — from $20 billion to $16 billion — and said it was suspending its buyback program in an effort to reduce costs.
The company again reiterated that its dividend is a priority, and that its taking action to sustain it over the long-term.
“Together these actions are consistent with our longstanding financial priorities: to protect the dividend; to prioritize capital that drives long-term value; and to maintain a strong balance sheet,” CEO Michael Wirth said in a statement regarding the capital spending cuts.
Shares of Chevron have shed 23% this year.
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The company again reiterated that its dividend is a priority, and that its taking action to sustain it over the long-term.