10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2002

CHEVRON CORP Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2002

Filed August 9, 2002For Securities:CVX

Summary

ChevronTexaco Corporation reported a significant decrease in net income for the second quarter and first six months of 2002 compared to the prior year. This decline was primarily driven by lower crude oil and natural gas prices, reduced refining margins, and substantial special charges, most notably a write-down of its investment in Dynegy. Despite these challenges, the company is making progress on merger synergy savings and has a robust liquidity position supported by operating cash flows and asset sales. Investors should note the impact of the Dynegy investment write-down, which significantly affected profitability. While the core operating segments faced headwinds from commodity prices and refining margins, the company is actively managing costs and has reiterated its commitment to returning capital to shareholders through dividends. The outlook suggests continued pricing pressures, but management is focused on achieving synergy targets and maintaining financial flexibility.

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2002, was $1.132 billion, a substantial decrease from $4.541 billion in the same period of 2001.
  • 2The company recorded significant special charges totaling $753 million in Q2 2002 and $827 million in the first six months of 2002, primarily related to a $531 million write-down of its investment in Dynegy.
  • 3Revenues and other income decreased to $25.3 billion in Q2 2002 from $29.7 billion in Q2 2001, reflecting lower crude oil and natural gas prices and reduced refining margins.
  • 4The company is actively pursuing merger synergy savings, achieving a run rate of $1.2 billion before tax and targeting $1.8 billion by October 2002, ahead of schedule, with a new target of $2.2 billion by April 2003.
  • 5Cash provided by operating activities was $3.680 billion for the first six months of 2002, down from $7.080 billion in the prior year, impacted by lower commodity prices and margins.
  • 6Proceeds of $2.2 billion from the sale of interests in Equilon and Motiva provided significant liquidity in the first half of 2002.
  • 7The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share, unchanged from the preceding quarter, demonstrating a continued commitment to shareholder returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

The significant drop in net income was primarily due to a combination of factors: lower commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, reduced refining margins, and substantial special charges. A major special charge was the $531 million write-down of ChevronTexaco's investment in its Dynegy affiliate, along with other Dynegy-related charges and environmental remediation costs. Excluding these special items and merger-related expenses, operating earnings also declined year-over-year.

ChevronTexaco has a significant investment in Dynegy, an energy merchant company. Dynegy is facing liquidity issues, has had its debt ratings downgraded, and is subject to regulatory investigations and lawsuits. Consequently, ChevronTexaco recorded a $531 million charge in the second quarter of 2002 for a partial write-down of its Dynegy investment to its estimated fair value. The remaining book value of the investment is $1.981 billion. Further write-downs may be required if the fair value declines further.

ChevronTexaco is making significant progress on capturing merger synergies. They achieved a run rate of $1.2 billion in annual synergy savings by the start of Q2 2002 and are ahead of schedule, targeting $1.8 billion by October 2002. They have also set a new target of $2.2 billion in annual synergy savings by April 2003. These savings are being realized across various segments including exploration, production, refining, procurement, and corporate functions.

The outlook indicates continued challenges. Exploration and Production earnings are heavily influenced by volatile crude oil and natural gas prices, which were significantly lower in the first half of 2002 compared to 2001. Refining, Marketing, and Transportation earnings are tied to refining and marketing margins, which have been weak, exacerbated by competitive markets and slowed global economies. Chemicals margins are also expected to remain weak due to industry oversupply. The company is focused on cost management and operational efficiencies to mitigate these pressures.