CVX 10-K Analysis: Why Chevron's 106% Payout Ratio Is a D&A Mirage
Chevron's FY2025 10-K reports a 106% dividend payout ratio — the company paid more in dividends than it earned. But operating cash flow tells the opposite story, covering the dividend 2.6 times. The $73.5 billion Hess PP&E step-up created the widest cash-vs-earnings divergence among supermajors, collapsed ROIC from 9.5% to 5.9%, and transformed Chevron from the least leveraged to the most leveraged in its peer group. Here's what the filing reveals about dividend safety, balance sheet risk, and when the Hess bet might pay off.