Assessing Valuation After Record Q3 Output, Hess Acquisition, and Shareholder Return Strength

Chevron (CVX) caught investors’ attention this week after the company topped third-quarter earnings forecasts and set a new production record. This was supported by the freshly integrated Hess assets and output growth in key fields.

Even as oil prices wavered and analysts weighed short-term concerns, Chevron maintained steady shareholder returns through both dividends and share buybacks. These latest results have become a talking point on Wall Street.

See our latest analysis for Chevron.

Shares of Chevron have climbed 5.7% year-to-date, and while the 1-year total shareholder return stands at a modest 3.3%, the company is coming off a highly active quarter. The quarter capped record output and the completion of its transformative Hess acquisition. Recent board changes and robust buybacks further highlight Chevron’s evolving strategy, keeping sentiment constructive even as near-term earnings forecasts soften. Overall, momentum is steady, and big-picture performance remains healthy for long-term holders.

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With Chevron trading at a double-digit discount to analyst price targets, but facing declining earnings estimates, investors are left to consider whether there is value still on the table or if the market fully reflects its future growth prospects.

Chevron’s most widely followed narrative places its fair value at $172.04, which is noticeably above the last close of $155.02. With this gap in focus, Chevron’s current price may not reflect the narrative’s full expectations for long-term growth, earnings, and operational leverage.

Strength in low-cost production and strategic acquisitions positions Chevron for revenue growth, operational leverage, and resilience to commodity price cycles. Investment in efficiency, renewables, and cost reductions supports industry-leading margins, shareholder returns, and diversified growth amid regulatory shifts.

Read the complete narrative.

Want to know the growth blueprint behind this high valuation? The key element of this narrative is record-breaking earnings and a future profit multiple usually associated with tech leaders. Interested in which bold financial projections support that price target? Dive deeper to see the surprising numbers that drive this fair value calculation.

Result: Fair Value of $172.04 (UNDERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

However, persistent reliance on hydrocarbons and slow progress in renewables could impact Chevron’s revenue growth and long-term earnings stability.

Find out about the key risks to this Chevron narrative.

When we compare Chevron’s share price using standard industry ratios, the numbers present a very different story. The company trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.4x, which is much higher than both the US Oil and Gas industry average (13.5x) and the peer average (20.7x). This suggests that, even accounting for Chevron’s scale and strengths, investors are paying a substantial premium. This premium exceeds what our fair ratio of 23.5x would indicate. Is this premium justified, or could it be leaving investors with less upside?

See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown.

NYSE:CVX PE Ratio as at Nov 2025

If you see Chevron’s value differently or want to examine the numbers from another angle, you can build your own narrative in minutes, Do it your way.

A great starting point for your Chevron research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include CVX.

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