Valero Energy Corporation today reported net income attributable to Valero stockholders of $2.6 billion, or $7.49 per share, for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $2.8 billion, or $7.19 per share, for the third quarter of 2022. Excluding the adjustments shown in the accompanying earnings release tables, adjusted net income attributable to Valero stockholders was $2.8 billion, or $7.14 per share, for the third quarter of 2022.
Refining
The Refining segment reported operating income of $3.4 billion for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $3.8 billion for the third quarter of 2022. Refining throughput volumes averaged 3.0 million barrels per day in the third quarter of 2023.
“Our refineries operated well and achieved 95 percent throughput capacity utilization, which is a testament to our team’s relentless focus on operational excellence,” said Lane Riggs, Valero’s Chief Executive Officer and President. “Product demand remained strong in our U.S. wholesale system, which matched the second quarter record of over 1 million barrels per day of sales volume.”
Renewable Diesel
The Renewable Diesel segment, which consists of the Diamond Green Diesel joint venture (DGD), reported $123 million of operating income for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $212 million for the third quarter of 2022. Segment sales volumes averaged 3.0 million gallons per day in the third quarter of 2023, which was 761 thousand gallons per day higher than the third quarter of 2022. The higher sales volumes were due to the impact of additional volumes from the DGD Port Arthur plant, which started up in the fourth quarter of 2022. Operating income was lower than the third quarter of 2022 primarily due to lower renewable diesel margin in the third quarter of 2023.
Ethanol
The Ethanol segment reported $197 million of operating income for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $1 million for the third quarter of 2022. Ethanol production volumes averaged 4.3 million gallons per day in the third quarter of 2023, which was 831 thousand gallons per day higher than the third quarter of 2022. Operating income was higher than the third quarter of 2022 primarily as a result of higher production volumes and lower corn prices in the third quarter of 2023.
Corporate and Other
General and administrative expenses were $250 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $214 million in the third quarter of 2022. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2023 was 23 percent.
Investing and Financing Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.3 billion in the third quarter of 2023. Included in this amount was a $33 million favorable change in working capital and $82 million of adjusted net cash provided by operating activities associated with the other joint venture member’s share of DGD. Excluding these items, adjusted net cash provided by operating activities was $3.2 billion in the third quarter of 2023.
Capital investments totaled $394 million in the third quarter of 2023, of which $303 million was for sustaining the business, including costs for turnarounds, catalysts and regulatory compliance. Excluding capital investments attributable to the other joint venture member’s share of DGD, capital investments attributable to Valero were $352 million.
Valero returned $2.2 billion to stockholders in the third quarter of 2023, of which $360 million was paid as dividends and $1.8 billion was for the purchase of approximately 13 million shares of common stock, resulting in a payout ratio of 68 percent of adjusted net cash provided by operating activities.
Valero continues to target an annual payout ratio between 40 and 50 percent of adjusted net cash provided by operating activities. Valero defines payout ratio as the sum of dividends paid and the total cost of stock buybacks divided by net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for changes in working capital and DGD’s net cash provided by operating activities, excluding changes in its working capital, attributable to the other joint venture member’s share of DGD.