- Earnings were $9.1 billion compared with second-quarter earnings of $7.9 billion. Results improved with strong operating performance, including record third-quarter refining throughput1 as well as a higher crude price and industry refining margin environment. These factors were partly offset by weaker chemical margins, unfavorable derivative mark-to-market impacts and trading timing effects that are expected to unwind over time.
- The company achieved $9.0 billion of cumulative structural cost savings versus 2019, ahead of schedule, with further savings expected by year-end.
- Strong earnings drove cash flow from operations of $16.0 billion and free cash flow of $11.7 billion, an increase of $6.6 billion and $6.7 billion respectively versus the second quarter. Third-quarter shareholder distributions of $8.1 billion included $3.7 billion of dividends and $4.4 billion of share repurchases. Year-to-date share repurchases were $13.1 billion, consistent with the company’s plan to repurchase $17.5 billion of shares in 2023.
- The Corporation declared a fourth-quarter dividend of $0.95 per share, payable on Dec. 11, 2023, to shareholders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on Nov. 15, 2023. The company has increased its annual dividend for 41 consecutive years, including this increase of $0.04 per share, or 4 percent.
- The debt-to-capital ratio remained at 17% and the net-debt-to-capital ratio was 4%, reflecting a period-end cash balance of $33.0 billion.
- The company continued to strengthen its portfolio with the closing of the Thailand refinery divestment in the third quarter. Total asset sales and divestments generated $0.9 billion of cash proceeds, bringing the year-to-date total to $3.1 billion.
