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Occidental Petroleum Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Strong Oil Prices

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Key Takeaways

  • Occidental's Q3 adjusted EPS surged 274.5% to $1.91, beating estimates by 33.57%, as revenues rose 20.6%.
  • OXY's realized crude oil prices rose 32.6% to $85.91 per barrel, offsetting a 2.6% decline in production.
  • Occidental generated $2.78 billion in free cash flow and repaid $1.8 billion in debt during the quarter.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.91 per share, surging 274.5% year over year from 51 cents and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.43 by 33.57%. Higher realized crude oil prices and strong adjusted Midstream and Marketing performance supported results.

Reported earnings were $1.61 per share compared with 65 cents a year earlier.

OXY's shares have gained 2.7% in the two trading sessions after earnings release, driven by positive investor sentiment following its strong third-quarter earnings results.

Total Revenues

Total revenues climbed 20.6% to $6.77 billion from $5.61 billion in the year-ago quarter. 

Oil and Gas revenues totaled $6.44 billion, increasing 19.1% from $5.40 billion in the year-ago quarter. Higher commodity realizations supported revenues despite lower production volumes.

Midstream and Marketing revenues declined 1.1% year over year to $262 million from $265 million. Interest, dividends and other income increased to $171 million from $60 million a year earlier. Gains on asset sales and other items remained unchanged at $34 million.

Occidental's Production Exceeds Guidance Midpoint

Worldwide production averaged 1,427 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboe/d), exceeding the midpoint of management's guidance but declined 2.6% year over year from 1,465 Mboe/d. Domestic production averaged 1,203 Mboe/d compared with 1,227 Mboe/d in the prior-year quarter.

Permian Resources production increased to 812 Mboe/d from 800 Mboe/d a year earlier. Rockies and Other Domestic production declined to 281 Mboe/d from 288 Mboe/d. Gulf of America output decreased to 110 Mboe/d from 139 Mboe/d, reflecting a third-party gas pipeline constraint and extended maintenance activities. Management indicated that full production was restored in late October.

International production declined to 224 Mboe/d from 238 Mboe/d a year earlier. Despite these challenges, strong Permian and Rockies performance helped overall production exceed guidance.

OXY Benefits From Higher Commodity Realizations

Occidental's worldwide realized crude oil price increased 32.6% year over year to $85.91 per barrel from $64.78. The average WTI and Brent marker prices were $85.79 and $91.62 per barrel, respectively, compared with $64.93 and $68.14 a year earlier.

Worldwide realized natural gas liquids prices advanced 25.7% to $24.63 per barrel from $19.60. Domestic realized natural gas prices improved to $1.61 per thousand cubic feet from $1.48 in the year-ago quarter.

Sequentially, worldwide realized crude oil prices declined 11.2% from $96.78 per barrel, weighing on Oil and Gas profitability. Higher domestic natural gas realizations partially offset this pressure.

Occidental's Operating Costs Decline Y/Y

Total costs and other deductions decreased 5.5% year over year to $4.51 billion. Oil and gas lease operating expenses increased 1.5% to $1.19 billion, while transportation and gathering expenses declined 6.5% to $445 million.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses decreased 8.4% to $1.78 billion. Interest and debt expense dropped 70.7% to $78 million, reflecting the company's accelerated debt-reduction efforts.

Oil and Gas reported adjusted pre-tax income of $2.67 billion compared with $1.32 billion in the year-ago quarter. Midstream and Marketing adjusted pre-tax income increased to $309 million from $51 million, exceeding the upper end of management's guidance.

OXY's Cash Flow Supports Further Debt Reduction

During the third quarter, operating cash flow from continuing operations totaled $4.13 billion. Excluding working-capital movements, operating cash flow reached $4.10 billion. Capital expenditures, net of noncontrolling interest, were $1.32 billion, resulting in free cash flow before working capital of $2.78 billion.

Occidental reduced principal debt by $1.8 billion during the quarter, reaching its $10 billion milestone. Year-to-date debt repayments totaled $10.4 billion, generating approximately $740 million in annualized interest savings compared with 2025.

The company ended September with $3.88 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Management established a new principal debt target of $6 billion and continues to prioritize balance-sheet strengthening.

Occidental Provides Q4 Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2026, Occidental expects worldwide production of 1,430-1,470 Mboe/d. Permian production is projected at 820-840 Mboe/d, while Rockies and Other Domestic output is anticipated at 271-277 Mboe/d.

Gulf of America production is expected between 112 Mboe/d and 120 Mboe/d. International production is expected to be 227-233 Mboe/d.

Management expects fourth-quarter Midstream and Marketing pre-tax income of $100-$200 million. Net capital expenditures are projected at approximately $1.3 billion, with adjusted interest expense of nearly $130 million.

The company is targeting more than $4 billion in incremental annual sustainable cash flow by 2030 through operating efficiencies, lower sustaining capital requirements and reduced financing costs.

Zacks Rank of OXY

Occidental currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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