Chevron (NYSE:CVX) Stock Price Down 1.3% - Here's Why

Key Points

• Chevron shares were down 1.3% to about $185 on Friday with ~9.5M shares traded (25% below average), marking a pullback after a >20% YTD rally and leaving the stock below its 50‑day moving average ($192.53).
• Operational and investor tailwinds include Wheatstone LNG returning to full production (boosting near‑term cash flow), continued institutional/Buffett support and analyst upgrades, plus a raised quarterly dividend of $1.78 (3.8% yield).
• Key near‑term risks: an earnings preview flags a likely Q1 decline, governance uncertainty over a Venezuelan JV, and notable insider selling (CEO sold 272,624 shares), any of which could weigh on the stock.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX - Get Free Report)'s stock price fell 1.3% on Friday . The company traded as low as $183.20 and last traded at $185.1250. 9,520,999 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 25% from the average session volume of 12,762,168 shares. The stock had previously closed at $187.60.

Key Headlines Impacting Chevron

Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Wheatstone LNG has returned to full production after cyclone repairs, restoring output and near‑term cash flow from a major LNG asset. Chevron resumes full production at Wheatstone LNG after repairs for cyclone damage
• Positive Sentiment: Warren Buffett/institutional support narrative remains a tailwind — coverage highlights that Buffett’s stake and Chevron’s growth pipeline keep long-term investor interest strong. Deepening Growth Pipeline Sustains Warren Buffett’s Confidence In Chevron (CVX)
• Positive Sentiment: Energy sector momentum remains supportive — sector indexes showed gains recently, which can lift big integrated names like Chevron. Sector Update: Energy Stocks Rise Thursday
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and outlets spotlight CVX as a trending/“old economy” pick — increases visibility but not an immediate catalyst. Chevron Corporation (CVX) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
• Negative Sentiment: Suelopetrol says it wasn’t informed of Chevron’s reported expansion in Venezuelan joint ventures — raises governance/contract uncertainty in a geopolitically sensitive region. This could delay or complicate expected production/asset gains. Suelopetrol says it has not been Informed of Chevron’s (CVX) Expansion at Venezuela Joint Venture
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings preview flags a likely decline in Q1 results, suggesting Chevron may not have the mix needed to beat near‑term estimates — this is a direct earnings risk for the stock. Earnings Preview: Chevron (CVX) Q1 Earnings Expected to Decline
• Negative Sentiment: Market commentary notes a month‑long cooldown after a >20% YTD rally for Chevron and peers — short-term momentum fading can trigger profit-taking and compress multiples. Exxon Stock and Chevron Stock Are Up 20%+ YTD – Why the Long Oil Trade Is Stalling Out

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on CVX shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Chevron from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Chevron in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. HSBC upgraded shares of Chevron from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $215.00 price target for the company in a research note on Friday, March 20th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $190.00 price target on shares of Chevron in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Chevron from $214.00 to $204.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $198.09.

Chevron Price Performance

The business's 50 day moving average price is $192.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $169.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $368.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.60.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $45.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 6.51% and a return on equity of 7.89%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.06 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Chevron Corporation will post 12.49 EPS for the current year.

Chevron Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a dividend of $1.78 per share. This represents a $7.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.8%. This is a positive change from Chevron's previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. Chevron's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.91%.

Insider Activity at Chevron

In related news, insider Alana K. Knowles sold 2,408 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.28, for a total transaction of $441,338.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael K. Wirth sold 272,624 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.35, for a total transaction of $51,621,354.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 31,266 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,920,217.10. This trade represents a 89.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 779,407 shares of company stock valued at $145,972,971 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.56% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Chevron

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. D.B. Root & Company LLC lifted its holdings in Chevron by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. D.B. Root & Company LLC now owns 5,552 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $846,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Chatterton & Associates Inc. lifted its holdings in Chevron by 1.7% during the first quarter. Chatterton & Associates Inc. now owns 3,427 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $652,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. First United Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in Chevron by 0.5% during the first quarter. First United Bank & Trust now owns 12,532 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $2,593,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Fox Hill Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Chevron by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Fox Hill Wealth Management now owns 3,443 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $525,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its holdings in Chevron by 6.8% during the fourth quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 930 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $142,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. 72.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Chevron Company Profile

Chevron Corporation NYSE: CVX is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevron's core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide.

Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco.

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