Trump says Exxon and Chevron made 'too much money' off high oil prices during Iran conflict: 'I don't like it'
Chevron will award employees a special bonus for operational results so far this year, following the U.S. oil producer's record earnings report on Friday that was boosted by high oil prices from the ongoing war in Iran.
High energy prices have become one of the biggest inflation stories of 2026.
Chevron's Q2 call spotlights early cost cuts, lower capital spending and repeatable power projects alongside global upstream growth options.
ExxonMobil remains the superior investment versus Chevron, driven by robust earnings, cost discipline, and strategic production growth. XOM's Q2 2026 revenue surged 42.3% to $116.02B, with EPS doubling, propelled by higher energy prices and margin expansion despite Middle East volume declines. Management projects $25B earnings and $35B cash flow growth by 2030, underpinned by $20B cost savings and upstream production rising to 5.5M barrels/day.
Chevron delivered record Q2 profitability, driven by higher crude prices, production growth, and recent Hess acquisition synergies. CVX achieved $12.1B in earnings (386% YoY growth) and $15.4B in free cash flow, enabling $6.5B in shareholder returns and $8.4B in debt repayment. Permian Basin expansion and international growth, especially in Kazakhstan, underpin the favorable outlook and rising EPS estimates.
American oil and gas giants raked in massive spring profits while fighting between Iran and the U.S. impeded petroleum shipments and consumers around the world paid more for fuel and confronted shortages.The conflict, now in its sixth month, halted most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that previously served as a delivery route for a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas. With global supplies constrained, prices for Brent crude, the international standard, soared from about $70 to above $100 a barrel for much of March, April and May, and at one point reached $126.The money that oil companies accrued between the beginning of April and the end of June could receive extra scrutiny this year.
The two largest U.S. integrated supermajors, Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), reported second-quarter profits that surged on rising oil prices due to renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. With these two firms accounting for large allocations in many energy ETFs, their earnings serve as a primary catalyst for the entire energy ETF landscape.
Chevron NYSE: CVX reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $12.1 billion, or $6.11 per share, as higher upstream realizations, production volumes and refining margins lifted results. Adjusted earnings were $12 billion, or $6.06 per share, while cash flow from operations excluding working capital totaled nearly $20 billion.
Chevron posts a strong Q2 as upstream output climbs, downstream margins improve and free cash flow jumps year over year.
Chevron TodayCVXChevron$195.83 +3.52 (+1.83%) As of 12:45 PM Eastern This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.52-Week Range$146.49▼$214.71Dividend Yield3.64%P/E Ratio33.93Price Target$207.17Add to WatchlistIt doesn't come as a big surprise that Chevron NYSE: CVX just posted one of its strongest quarters in years.
Combined profits of ExxonMobil and Chevron for the second quarter soared more than 300% in three months to more than $26 billion.