Chevron Likely to Increase Dividend Before Earnings

• Based on its record 2022 performance, Chevron is expected to announce a dividend increase when it reports earnings on Jan. 27.
• The company has plans to increase its operational efficiency, which should ensure that this won’t be the end of the dividend increases.
• Chevron is also selectively investing in renewable energy.
• CVX stock appears to be forming a new base of support that could launch the stock higher.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX) will report earnings on Friday, January 27th. At this time, the company is expected to post earnings per share of $4.27 on revenue of $53.97 billion. This won't be a record level of profits or earnings, but it will continue the company's eight-quarter streak of year-over-year (YOY) increases on both the top and bottom lines.

But that's not the only reason investors should be optimistic about the oil and gas giant's quarterly report. Before the company releases earnings, it's widely expected that Chevron will announce an increase in its quarterly dividend. This will make it 37 consecutive years that the oil and gas giant has increased its dividend.

A growing, well-supported dividend would allow shareholders to continue to own CVX stock. However, Chevron has a more powerful growth story both in its traditional oil and gas business and in the renewable sector.

Pumping Smarter, Not Harder

Forgive the cliché, but it accurately describes the strategy that Chevron laid out for investors at its most recent Investors Day presentation. First, the company plans to reduce unit operating expenses. This should increase the company's margins. At the same time, the company prepares for its total capital and exploratory expenditures (C&E) to average between $15 billion and $17 billion per year through 2025.

To accomplish this, Chevron plans to increase output in its Permian basin operations. The company believes that it can increase net production to 4mbpd through 2031. This means the company's already strong free cash flow should improve. This means that this dividend increase will likely not be the last.

Looking at the company's balance sheet through a wider lens, Chevron believes it will be operating in a cash-balanced neutral state even if Brent crude falls to $50 a barrel as opposed to about $70 today.

How is Chevron Investing in Renewable Energy?

Chevron's efforts to operate in an environment of falling crude prices is a savvy move, even though the world will need fossil fuels for much longer than many care to admit. But there's no doubt that governments worldwide are incentivizing the production of renewable energy and clean energy projects.

But that's the intriguing part of many traditional oil and gas companies, including Chevron. They've been making investments in renewable energy for decades. Specifically, Chevron is not investing in specific wind or solar projects but in renewable fuels. One of the company's key initiatives is as one of the world's leading exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

And right now, that means transporting a significant amount of LNG to Europe. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, European countries have been looking for different LNG suppliers, which is one area Chevron is leading. And the company is also making strategic investments in renewable natural gas, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel because they see those areas where it can help add value.

What Analysts Are Saying

Since the beginning of the year, analysts have given Chevron mixed reviews. All four analysts tracked by MarketBeat have increased their price target for CVX stock. However, two analysts have downgraded the stock from a Buy to a Neutral.

From a technical perspective, CVX stock is trading near the top of its 52-week range, but it is starting to show a base of support at around $177, which could be the catalyst for launching the stock higher.

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