Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This Form 10-Q, including without limitation our disclosures below under “OVERVIEW AND OUTLOOK*,*” includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify our forward-looking statements by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “scheduled,” “estimate,” “project,” “projection,” “predict,” “budget,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “target,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “may,” “strive,” “seek,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “aimed,” “considering,” “continue,” and similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding:

  • the effects and impact of the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus and government responses thereto;

  • the effect, impact, potential duration or timing, or other implications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict;

  • future Refining segment margins, including gasoline and distillate margins, and discounts;

  • future Renewable Diesel segment margins;

  • future Ethanol segment margins;

  • expectations regarding feedstock costs, including crude oil differentials, product prices for each of our segments, and operating expenses;

  • anticipated levels of crude oil and liquid transportation fuel inventories and storage capacity;

  • expectations regarding the levels of, and timing with respect to, the production and operations at our existing refineries and plants, and projects under construction or under development;

  • our anticipated level of capital investments, including deferred turnaround and catalyst cost expenditures, our expected allocation between, and/or within, growth capital expenditures and sustaining capital expenditures, capital expenditures for environmental and other purposes, and joint venture investments, the expected timing applicable to such capital investments and any related projects, and the effect of those capital investments on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity;

  • our anticipated level of cash distributions or contributions, such as our dividend payment rate and contributions to our qualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans;

  • our ability to meet future cash requirements, whether from funds generated from our operations or our ability to access financial markets effectively, and our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity;

  • our evaluation of, and expectations regarding, any future activity under our share purchase program or transactions involving our debt securities;

  • anticipated trends in the supply of, and demand for, crude oil and other feedstocks and refined petroleum products, renewable diesel, and ethanol and corn related co-products in the regions where we operate, as well as globally;

  • expectations regarding environmental, tax, and other regulatory matters, including SBx 1-2, the anticipated amounts and timing of payment with respect to our deferred tax liabilities, matters impacting our ability to repatriate cash held by our foreign subsidiaries, and the anticipated effect thereof on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity;

  • the effect of general economic and other conditions, including inflation and economic activity levels, on refining, renewable diesel, and ethanol industry fundamentals;

  • expectations regarding our risk management activities, including the anticipated effects of our hedge transactions;

  • expectations regarding our counterparties, including our ability to pass on increased compliance costs and timely collect receivables, and the credit risk within our accounts receivable or accounts payable;

  • expectations regarding adoptions of new, or changes to existing, low-carbon fuel standards or policies, blending and tax credits, or efficiency standards that impact demand for renewable fuels; and

  • expectations regarding our low-carbon fuels growth strategy, publicly announced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction/displacement targets and our current and any future low-carbon projects.

We based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates, and projections about ourselves, our industry, and the global economy and financial markets generally. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the ultimate outcomes of which we cannot predict with certainty. In addition, we based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future events, the ultimate outcomes of which we cannot predict with certainty and which may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, actual performance or results may differ materially from the future performance or results that we have expressed, suggested, or forecast in the forward-looking statements. Differences between actual performance or results and any future performance or results expressed, suggested, or forecast in these forward-looking statements could result from a variety of factors, including the following:

  • the effects arising out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including with respect to changes in trade flows and impacts to crude oil and other markets;

  • demand for, and supplies of, refined petroleum products (such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemicals), renewable diesel, and ethanol and corn related co-products;

  • demand for, and supplies of, crude oil and other feedstocks;

  • the effects of public health threats, pandemics, and epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and variants of the virus, governmental and societal responses thereto, and the adverse impacts of the foregoing on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity, and the global economy and financial markets generally;

  • acts of terrorism aimed at either our refineries and plants or third-party facilities that could impair our ability to produce or transport refined petroleum products, renewable diesel, ethanol, or corn related co-products, to receive feedstocks, or otherwise operate efficiently;

  • the effects of war or hostilities, and political and economic conditions, in countries that produce crude oil or other feedstocks or consume refined petroleum products, renewable diesel, ethanol or corn related co-products;

  • the ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and other petroleum-producing nations that collectively make up OPEC+, to agree on and to maintain crude oil price and production controls;

  • the level of consumer demand, consumption, and overall economic activity, including the effects from seasonal fluctuations and market prices;

  • refinery, renewable diesel plant, or ethanol plant overcapacity or undercapacity;

  • the risk that any transactions may not provide the anticipated benefits or may result in unforeseen detriments;

  • the actions taken by competitors, including both pricing and adjustments to refining capacity or renewable fuels production in response to market conditions;

  • the level of competitors’ imports into markets that we supply;

  • accidents, unscheduled shutdowns, weather events, civil unrest, expropriation of assets, and other economic, diplomatic, legislative, or political events or developments, terrorism, cyberattacks, or other catastrophes or disruptions affecting our operations, production facilities, machinery, pipelines and other logistics assets, equipment, or information systems, or any of the foregoing of our suppliers, customers, or third-party service providers;

  • changes in the cost or availability of transportation or storage capacity for feedstocks and our products;

  • political pressure and influence of environmental groups and other stakeholders upon policies and decisions related to the production, transportation, storage, refining, processing, marketing, and sales of crude oil or other feedstocks, refined petroleum products, renewable diesel, ethanol, or corn related co-products;

  • the price, availability, technology related to, and acceptance of alternative fuels and alternative-fuel vehicles, as well as sentiment and perceptions with respect to GHG emissions more generally;

  • the levels of government subsidies for, and executive orders, mandates, or other policies with respect to, alternative fuels, alternative-fuel vehicles, and other low-carbon technologies or initiatives, including those related to carbon capture, carbon sequestration, and low-carbon fuels, or affecting the price of natural gas and/or electricity;

  • the volatility in the market price of compliance credits (primarily RINs needed to comply with the RFS) under the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuel Programs and emission credits needed under other environmental emissions programs;

  • delay of, cancellation of, or failure to implement planned capital or other projects and realize the various assumptions and benefits projected for such projects or cost overruns in constructing such planned capital projects;

  • earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, and other weather events, which can unforeseeably affect the price or availability of electricity, natural gas, crude oil, waste and renewable feedstocks, corn, and other feedstocks, critical supplies, refined petroleum products, renewable diesel, and ethanol;

  • rulings, judgments, or settlements in litigation or other legal or regulatory matters, including unexpected environmental remediation costs, in excess of any reserves or insurance coverage;

  • legislative or regulatory action, including the introduction or enactment of legislation or rulemakings by government authorities, environmental regulations, changes to income tax rates, introduction of a global minimum tax, windfall taxes or penalties, tax changes or restrictions impacting the foreign repatriation of cash, actions implemented under SBx 1-2, actions implemented under the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuel Programs and other environmental emissions programs, including changes to volume requirements or other obligations or exemptions under the RFS, and actions arising from the EPA’s or other government agencies’ regulations, policies, or initiatives concerning GHGs, including mandates for or bans of specific technology, which may adversely affect our business or operations;

  • changing economic, regulatory, and political environments and related events in the various countries in which we operate or otherwise do business, including trade restrictions, expropriation or impoundment of assets, failure of foreign governments and state-owned entities to honor their contracts, property disputes, economic instability, restrictions on the transfer of funds, duties and tariffs, transportation delays, import and export controls, labor unrest, security issues involving key personnel, and decisions, investigations, regulations, issuances or revocations of permits and

other authorizations, and other actions, policies, and initiatives by the states, counties, cities, and other jurisdictions in the countries in which we operate or otherwise do business;

  • changes in the credit ratings assigned to our debt securities and trade credit;

  • the operating, financing, and distribution decisions of our joint ventures or other joint venture members that we do not control;

  • changes in currency exchange rates, including the value of the Canadian dollar, the pound sterling, the euro, the Mexican peso, and the Peruvian sol relative to the U.S. dollar;

  • the adequacy of capital resources and liquidity, including availability, timing, and amounts of cash flow or our ability to borrow or access financial markets;

  • the costs, disruption, and diversion of resources associated with lawsuits, demands, or investigations, or campaigns and negative publicity commenced by government authorities, investors, stakeholders, or other interested parties;

  • overall economic conditions, including the stability and liquidity of financial markets, and the effect thereof on consumer demand; and

  • other factors generally described in the “RISK FACTORS” section included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Any one of these factors, or a combination of these factors, could materially affect our future results of operations and whether any forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be accurate. Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future performance may differ materially from those expressed, suggested, or forecast in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and we do not intend to update these statements unless we are required by applicable securities laws to do so.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing, as it may be updated or modified by our future filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events unless we are required by applicable securities laws to do so.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The discussions in “OVERVIEW AND OUTLOOK,” “RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” and “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES” below include references to financial measures that are not defined under GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted operating income (including adjusted operating income for each of our reportable segments, as applicable); Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segment margin; and capital investments attributable to Valero. We have included these non-GAAP financial measures to help facilitate the comparison of operating results between periods, to help assess our cash flows, and because we believe they provide useful information as discussed further below. See the tables in note (c) beginning on page 41 for reconciliations of adjusted operating income (including adjusted operating income for each of our reportable segments, as applicable) and Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segment margin to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Also in note (c), we disclose the reasons why we believe our use of such non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information. See the table on page 47 for a reconciliation of capital investments attributable to Valero to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Beginning on page 46, we disclose the reasons why we believe our use of this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information.

OVERVIEW AND OUTLOOK

Overview

Business Operations Update

Our results for the first quarter of 2023 were favorably impacted by the continued strong worldwide demand for petroleum-based transportation fuels, while the worldwide supply of those products remained constrained. This supply and demand imbalance has continued to contribute to strong refining margins.

The strong demand for our products and the increase in refining margins were the primary contributors to us reporting $3.1 billion of net income attributable to Valero stockholders for the first quarter of 2023. Our operating results, including operating results by segment, are described in the following summary under “First Quarter Results,” with more detailed descriptions found under “RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” beginning on page 34.

Our operations generated $3.2 billion of cash during the first quarter of 2023. This cash was used to make $524 million of capital investments in our business and return $1.8 billion to our stockholders through purchases of common stock for treasury and dividend payments. In addition, we continued to reduce our outstanding debt through the purchase of approximately $199 million of our public debt during the first quarter of 2023. As a result of this and other activity, our cash and cash equivalents increased by $659 million, from $4.9 billion as of December 31, 2022 to $5.5 billion as of March 31, 2023. We had $10.8 billion in liquidity as of March 31, 2023. The components of our liquidity and descriptions of our cash flows, capital investments, and other matters impacting our liquidity and capital resources, can be found under “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES” beginning on page 44.

First Quarter Results

For the first quarter of 2023, we reported net income attributable to Valero stockholders of $3.1 billion compared to $905 million for the first quarter of 2022. The increase of $2.2 billion was primarily due to an increase in operating income of $2.7 billion, partially offset by an increase in income tax expense of $628 million. The details of our operating income and adjusted operating income by segment and in total are reflected on the following page. Adjusted operating income excludes the adjustment reflected in the table in note (c) on page 43.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022Change
Refining segment:
Operating income$4,057$1,451$2,606
Adjusted operating income4,0671,4692,598
Renewable Diesel segment:
Operating income20514956
Ethanol segment:
Operating income39138
Adjusted operating income39237
Total company:
Operating income4,0431,3842,659
Adjusted operating income4,0531,4032,650

While our operating income increased by $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022, adjusted operating income also increased by $2.7 billion primarily due to the following:

  • Refining segment. Refining segment adjusted operating income increased by $2.6 billion primarily due to higher gasoline and distillate (primarily diesel) margins, higher discounts on crude oils, and an increase in throughput volumes, partially offset by higher operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense).

  • Renewable Diesel segment. Renewable Diesel segment operating income increased by $56 million primarily due to higher sales volumes, partially offset by lower renewable diesel prices, higher operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense), and higher depreciation and amortization expense.

  • Ethanol segment. Ethanol segment adjusted operating income increased by $37 million primarily due to higher corn related co-product prices and higher production volumes, partially offset by lower ethanol prices.

Outlook

Many uncertainties remain with respect to the supply and demand imbalance in the petroleum-based products market worldwide. While it is difficult to predict future worldwide economic activity and its impact on product supply and demand, as well as any effect that the uncertainty described in Note 2 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements may have on us, we have noted several factors below that have impacted or may impact our results of operations during the second quarter of 2023.

  • Gasoline and diesel demand have returned to near pre-pandemic levels and are expected to follow typical seasonal patterns. Jet fuel demand continues to improve, but remains below pre-pandemic levels.

  • Light product (gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel) inventories in the U.S. and Europe are below historical levels and should support continued high utilization of refining capacity.

  • Crude oil discounts have narrowed with reduced sour crude oil production from suppliers in OPEC+ but are expected to remain near current levels absent further changes in crude oil supply or availability.

  • Renewable diesel margins are expected to remain consistent with current levels.

  • Ethanol demand is expected to follow typical seasonal patterns.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following tables, including the reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in note (c) beginning on page 41, highlight our results of operations, our operating performance, and market reference prices that directly impact our operations. Note references in this section can be found on pages 41 through 43.

First Quarter Results -

Financial Highlights By Segment and Total Company

(millions of dollars)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
RefiningRenewable DieselEthanolCorporate and EliminationsTotal
Revenues:
Revenues from external customers$34,407$935$1,097$—$36,439
Intersegment revenues3745223(971)—
Total revenues34,4101,6801,320(971)36,439
Cost of sales:
Cost of materials and other28,5101,3311,131(967)30,005
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense reflected below)1,26186130—1,477
Depreciation and amortization expense5725820—650
Total cost of sales30,3431,4751,281(967)32,132
Other operating expenses10———10
General and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense reflected below)———244244
Depreciation and amortization expense———1010
Operating income by segment$4,057$205$39$(258)4,043
Other income, net (a)129
Interest and debt expense, net of capitalized interest(146)
Income before income tax expense4,026
Income tax expense880
Net income3,146
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests79
Net income attributable to Valero Energy Corporation stockholders$3,067

First Quarter Results -

Financial Highlights By Segment and Total Company (continued)

(millions of dollars)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
RefiningRenewable DieselEthanolCorporate and EliminationsTotal
Revenues:
Revenues from external customers$36,813$595$1,134$—$38,542
Intersegment revenues4386127(517)—
Total revenues36,8179811,261(517)38,542
Cost of sales:
Cost of materials and other33,6067551,104(516)34,949
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense reflected below)1,19351135—1,379
Depreciation and amortization expense5492620—595
Total cost of sales35,3488321,259(516)36,923
Other operating expenses18—1—19
General and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense reflected below)———205205
Depreciation and amortization expense———1111
Operating income by segment$1,451$149$1$(217)1,384
Other expense, net (a)(20)
Interest and debt expense, net of capitalized interest(145)
Income before income tax expense1,219
Income tax expense252
Net income967
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests62
Net income attributable to Valero Energy Corporation stockholders$905

First Quarter Results -

Average Market Reference Prices and Differentials

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Refining
Feedstocks (dollars per barrel)
Brent crude oil$82.20$97.34
Brent less West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil6.092.88
Brent less WTI Houston crude oil4.291.31
Brent less Dated Brent crude oil0.92(3.90)
Brent less Argus Sour Crude Index crude oil8.414.93
Brent less Maya crude oil19.398.50
Brent less Western Canadian Select Houston crude oil17.369.65
WTI crude oil76.1194.46
Natural gas (dollars per million British Thermal Units)2.254.32
Renewable volume obligation (RVO) (dollars per barrel) (b)8.206.44
Product margins (RVO adjusted unless otherwise noted) (dollars per barrel)
U.S. Gulf Coast:
Conventional Blendstock of Oxygenate Blending (CBOB) gasoline less Brent10.039.23
Ultra-low-sulfur (ULS) diesel less Brent30.2721.51
Propylene less Brent (not RVO adjusted)(42.21)(28.82)
U.S. Mid-Continent:
CBOB gasoline less WTI17.709.58
ULS diesel less WTI34.1020.83
North Atlantic:
CBOB gasoline less Brent11.3211.24
ULS diesel less Brent33.3026.03
U.S. West Coast:
California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock of Oxygenate Blending 87 gasoline less Brent24.7120.29
California Air Resources Board diesel less Brent31.8324.10

First Quarter Results -

Average Market Reference Prices and Differentials (continued)

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Renewable Diesel
New York Mercantile Exchange ULS diesel (dollars per gallon)$2.93$3.04
Biodiesel RIN (dollars per RIN)1.631.43
California Low-Carbon Fuel Standard carbon credit (dollars per metric ton)65.68138.63
U.S. Gulf Coast (USGC) used cooking oil (dollars per pound)0.620.78
USGC distillers corn oil (dollars per pound)0.630.77
USGC fancy bleachable tallow (dollars per pound)0.600.71
Ethanol
Chicago Board of Trade corn (dollars per bushel)6.606.70
New York Harbor ethanol (dollars per gallon)2.302.39

Total Company, Corporate, and Other

The following table includes selected financial data for the total company, corporate, and other for the first quarter of 2023 and 2022. The selected financial data is derived from the Financial Highlights by Segment and Total Company tables, unless otherwise noted.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022Change
Revenues$36,439$38,542$(2,103)
Cost of sales32,13236,923(4,791)
General and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)24420539
Operating income4,0431,3842,659
Adjusted operating income (see note (c))4,0531,4032,650
Other income (expense), net (see note (a))129(20)149
Income tax expense880252628

Revenues decreased by $2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022 primarily due to decreases in product prices for the petroleum-based transportation fuels associated with sales made by our Refining segment. This decrease in revenues, along with an increase in general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense) of $39 million primarily due to an increase in certain employee compensation expenses, was more than offset by a decrease in cost of sales of $4.8 billion, which was primarily due to decreases in crude oil and other feedstock costs. These changes resulted in a $2.7 billion increase in operating income, from $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2022 to $4.0 billion in the first quarter of 2023.

Adjusted operating income also increased by $2.7 billion, from $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2022 to $4.1 billion in the first quarter of 2023. The components of this $2.7 billion increase in adjusted operating income are discussed by segment in the segment analyses that follow.

“Other income (expense), net” increased by $149 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022 due to the items noted in the following table (in millions):

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022Change
Interest income on cash$61$3$58
Net gain (loss) from early retirement of debt (see note (a))11(50)61
Equity income on joint ventures and other572730
Other income (expense), net$129$(20)$149

Income tax expense increased by $628 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022 primarily as a result of higher income before income tax expense.

Refining Segment Results

The following table includes selected financial and operating data of our Refining segment for the first quarter of 2023 and 2022. The selected financial data is derived from the Financial Highlights by Segment and Total Company tables, unless otherwise noted.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022Change
Operating income$4,057$1,451$2,606
Adjusted operating income (see note (c))4,0671,4692,598
Refining margin (see note (c))5,9003,2112,689
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense reflected below)1,2611,19368
Depreciation and amortization expense57254923
Throughput volumes (thousand barrels per day) (see note (d))2,9302,800130

Refining segment operating income increased by $2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022. Refining segment adjusted operating income, which excludes the adjustment in the table in note (c), also increased by $2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022. The components of this increase in the adjusted results, along with the reasons for the changes in those components, are outlined below.

  • Refining segment margin increased by $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022.

Refining segment margin is primarily affected by the prices for the petroleum-based transportation fuels that we sell and the cost of crude oil and other feedstocks that we process. The table on page 36 reflects market reference prices and differentials that we believe had a material impact on the change in our Refining segment margin in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022.

The increase in Refining segment margin was primarily due to the following:

◦An increase in distillate (primarily diesel) margins had a favorable impact of approximately $1.0 billion.

◦Higher discounts on crude oils had a favorable impact of approximately $676 million.

◦An increase in gasoline margins had a favorable impact of approximately $506 million.

◦An increase in throughput volumes of 130,000 barrels per day had a favorable impact of approximately $262 million.

  • Refining segment operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense) increased by $68 million primarily due to increases in chemicals and catalyst costs of $50 million, certain employee compensation costs of $24 million, and maintenance expense of $19 million, partially offset by a decrease in energy costs of $50 million.

Renewable Diesel Segment Results

The following table includes selected financial and operating data of our Renewable Diesel segment for the first quarter of 2023 and 2022. The selected financial data is derived from the Financial Highlights by Segment and Total Company tables, unless otherwise noted.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022Change
Operating income$205$149$56
Renewable Diesel margin (see note (c))349226123
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense reflected below)865135
Depreciation and amortization expense582632
Sales volumes (thousand gallons per day) (see note (d))2,9881,7381,250

Renewable Diesel segment operating income increased by $56 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022. The components of this increase, along with the reasons for the changes in those components, are outlined below.

  • Renewable Diesel segment margin increased by $123 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022.

Renewable Diesel segment margin is primarily affected by the price for the renewable diesel that we sell and the cost of the feedstocks that we process. The table on page 37 reflects market reference prices that we believe had a material impact on the change in our Renewable Diesel segment margin in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022.

The increase in Renewable Diesel segment margin was primarily due to the following:

◦An increase in sales volumes of 1.3 million gallons per day had a favorable impact of approximately $259 million. The increase in sales volumes was primarily due to the

additional production capacity resulting from the completion of the new DGD Port Arthur Plant that commenced operations in the fourth quarter of 2022.

◦Lower renewable diesel prices had an unfavorable impact of approximately $152 million.

  • Renewable Diesel segment operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense) increased by $35 million primarily due to increased costs resulting from the new DGD Port Arthur Plant that commenced operations in the fourth quarter of 2022.

  • Renewable Diesel segment depreciation and amortization expense increased by $32 million primarily due to depreciation expense of $16 million associated with the new DGD Port Arthur Plant that commenced operations in the fourth quarter of 2022, higher turnaround and catalyst amortization expense at the DGD St. Charles Plant of $8 million, and an increase in depreciation expense of $6 million associated with finance leases.

Ethanol Segment Results

The following table includes selected financial and operating data of our Ethanol segment for the first quarter of 2023 and 2022. The selected financial data is derived from the Financial Highlights by Segment and Total Company tables, unless otherwise noted.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022Change
Operating income$39$1$38
Adjusted operating income (see note (c))39237
Ethanol margin (see note (c))18915732
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense reflected below)130135(5)
Depreciation and amortization expense2020—
Production volumes (thousand gallons per day) (see note (d))4,1834,045138

Ethanol segment operating income increased by $38 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022; however, Ethanol segment adjusted operating income, which excludes the adjustment in the table in note (c), increased by $37 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022. This increase was primarily due to higher Ethanol segment margin.

Ethanol segment margin increased by $32 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022. Ethanol segment margin is primarily affected by prices for the ethanol and corn related co-products that we sell and the cost of corn that we process. The table on page 37 reflects market reference prices that we believe had a material impact on the change in our Ethanol segment margin in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022.

The increase in Ethanol segment margin was primarily due to the following:

  • Higher prices for the co-products that we produce, primarily dry distillers grains, had a favorable impact of approximately $31 million.

  • An increase in production volumes of 138,000 gallons per day had a favorable impact of approximately $17 million.

  • Lower ethanol prices had an unfavorable impact of approximately $18 million.


The following notes relate to references on pages 34 through 40.

(a)“Other income (expense), net” includes the following:

◦a net gain of $11 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023 related to the early retirement of approximately $199 million aggregate principal amount of various series of our senior notes; and

◦a charge of $50 million in the three months ended March 31, 2022 related to the early retirement of approximately $1.4 billion aggregate principal amount of various series of our senior notes.

(b)The RVO cost represents the average market cost on a per barrel basis to comply with the RFS program. The RVO cost is calculated by multiplying (i) the average market price during the applicable period for the RINs associated with each class of renewable fuel (i.e., biomass-based diesel, cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel) by (ii) the quotas for the volume of each class of renewable fuel that must be blended into petroleum-based transportation fuels consumed in the U.S., as set or proposed by the EPA, on a percentage basis for each class of renewable fuel.

(c)We use certain financial measures (as noted below) that are not defined under GAAP and are considered to be non-GAAP measures.

We have defined these non-GAAP measures and believe they are useful to the external users of our financial statements, including industry analysts, investors, lenders, and rating agencies. We believe these measures are useful to assess our ongoing financial performance because, when reconciled to their most comparable GAAP measures, they provide improved comparability between periods after adjusting for certain items that we believe are not indicative of our core operating performance and that may obscure our underlying business results and trends. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered as alternatives to their most comparable GAAP measures nor should they be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results of operations as reported under GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies because we may define them differently, which diminishes their utility.

Non-GAAP measures are as follows:

**◦**Refining margin is defined as Refining segment operating income excluding operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense), depreciation and amortization expense, and other operating expenses, as reflected in the table below.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Reconciliation of Refining operating income to Refining margin
Refining operating income$4,057$1,451
Adjustments:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)1,2611,193
Depreciation and amortization expense572549
Other operating expenses1018
Refining margin$5,900$3,211

**◦**Renewable Diesel margin is defined as Renewable Diesel segment operating income excluding operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense) and depreciation and amortization expense, as reflected in the table below.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Reconciliation of Renewable Diesel operating income to Renewable Diesel margin
Renewable Diesel operating income$205$149
Adjustments:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)8651
Depreciation and amortization expense5826
Renewable Diesel margin$349$226

**◦**Ethanol margin is defined as Ethanol segment operating income excluding operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense), depreciation and amortization expense, and other operating expenses, as reflected in the table below.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Reconciliation of Ethanol operating income to Ethanol margin
Ethanol operating income$39$1
Adjustments:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense)130135
Depreciation and amortization expense2020
Other operating expenses—1
Ethanol margin$189$157

**◦**Adjusted Refining operating income is defined as Refining segment operating income excluding other operating expenses, as reflected in the table below.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Reconciliation of Refining operating income to adjusted Refining operating income
Refining operating income$4,057$1,451
Adjustment: Other operating expenses1018
Adjusted Refining operating income$4,067$1,469

**◦**Adjusted Ethanol operating income is defined as Ethanol segment operating income excluding other operating expenses, as reflected in the table below.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Reconciliation of Ethanol operating income to adjusted Ethanol operating income
Ethanol operating income$39$1
Adjustment: Other operating expenses—1
Adjusted Ethanol operating income$39$2

**◦**Adjusted operating income is defined as total company operating income excluding other operating expenses, as reflected in the table below.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Reconciliation of total company operating income to adjusted operating income
Total company operating income$4,043$1,384
Adjustment: Other operating expenses1019
Adjusted operating income$4,053$1,403

(d)We use throughput volumes, sales volumes, and production volumes for the Refining segment, Renewable Diesel segment, and Ethanol segment, respectively, due to their general use by others who operate facilities similar to those included in our segments.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our Liquidity

Our liquidity consisted of the following as of March 31, 2023 (in millions):

Available capacity from our committed facilities (a):
Valero Revolver$3,994
Canadian Revolver (b)107
Accounts receivable sales facility1,300
Total available capacity5,401
Cash and cash equivalents (c)5,403
Total liquidity$10,804

(a)Excludes the committed facilities of the consolidated VIEs.

(b)The amount for our Canadian Revolver is shown in U.S. dollars. As set forth in the summary of our credit facilities in Note 4 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the availability under our Canadian Revolver as of March 31, 2023 in Canadian dollars was C$145 million.

(c)Excludes $118 million of cash and cash equivalents related to the consolidated VIEs that is for their use only.

Information about our outstanding borrowings, letters of credit issued, and availability under our credit facilities is reflected in Note 4 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

We believe we have sufficient funds from operations and from available capacity under our credit facilities to fund our ongoing operating requirements and other commitments over the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future. We expect that, to the extent necessary, we can raise additional cash through equity or debt financings in the public and private capital markets or the arrangement of additional credit facilities. However, there can be no assurances regarding the availability of any future financings or additional credit facilities or whether such financings or additional credit facilities can be made available on terms that are acceptable to us.

Cash Flows

Components of our cash flows are set forth below (in millions):

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Cash flows provided by (used in):
Operating activities$3,170$588
Investing activities(549)(841)
Financing activities:
Debt issuances and borrowings9141,066
Repayments of debt and finance lease obligations (including premiums paid on early retirement of debt)(1,156)(1,904)
Return to stockholders:
Purchases of common stock for treasury(1,451)(144)
Common stock dividend payments(379)(401)
Return to stockholders(1,830)(545)
Other financing activities74155
Financing activities(1,998)(1,228)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash36(3)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents$659$(1,484)

Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

In the first quarter of 2023, we used the $3.2 billion of cash generated by our operations and the $914 million in debt borrowings to make $549 million of investments in our business, repay $1.2 billion of debt and finance lease obligations (including premiums paid on the early retirement of debt), return $1.8 billion to our stockholders through purchases of our common stock for treasury and dividend payments, and increase our available cash on hand by $659 million. The debt borrowings and repayments are described in Note 4 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

As previously noted, our operations generated $3.2 billion of cash in the first quarter of 2023, driven primarily by net income of $3.1 billion and noncash charges to income of $558 million, partially offset by an unfavorable change in working capital of $534 million. Noncash charges primarily included $660 million of depreciation and amortization expense and $54 million of deferred income tax expense. Details regarding the components of the change in working capital, along with the reasons for the changes in those components, are described in Note 10 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, see “RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” for an analysis of the significant components of our net income.

Our investing activities of $549 million primarily consisted of $524 million in capital investments, as defined below under “Capital Investments,” of which $114 million related to capital investments made by DGD.

Other financing activities of $74 million consisted primarily of $75 million in contributions from the other joint venture member in DGD.

Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

In the first quarter of 2022, we used the $588 million of cash generated by our operations, $1.5 billion of cash on hand, and the $1.1 billion in debt issuances and borrowings to make $841 million of investments in our business, repay $1.9 billion of debt and finance lease obligations (including premiums paid on the early retirement of debt), and return $545 million to our stockholders through purchases of our common stock for treasury and dividend payments. The debt issuance, borrowings, and repayments are described in Note 4 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

As previously noted, our operations generated $588 million of cash in the first quarter of 2022, driven primarily by net income of $967 million and noncash charges to income of $343 million, partially offset by an unfavorable change in working capital of $722 million. Noncash charges primarily included $606 million of depreciation and amortization expense and a $50 million loss on the early retirement of debt, partially offset by a $234 million deferred income tax benefit. Details regarding the components of the change in working capital, along with the reasons for the changes in those components, are described in Note 10 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, see “RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” for an analysis of the significant components of our net income.

Our investing activities of $841 million consisted of $843 million in capital investments, of which $225 million related to capital investments made by DGD and $13 million related to capital expenditures of VIEs other than DGD.

Other financing activities of $155 million consisted primarily of $165 million in contributions from the other joint venture member in DGD.

Our Capital Resources

Our material cash requirements as of March 31, 2023 primarily consisted of working capital requirements, capital investments, contractual obligations, and other matters, as described below. Our operations have historically generated positive cash flows to fulfill our working capital requirements and other uses of cash as discussed below.

Capital Investments

Capital investments are comprised of our capital expenditures, deferred turnaround and catalyst cost expenditures, and investments in nonconsolidated joint ventures, as reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows as shown on page 5. Capital investments exclude acquisitions, if any.

We have publicly announced GHG emissions reduction/displacement targets for 2025 and 2035. We believe that our expected allocation of growth capital into low-carbon projects is consistent with such targets. Certain of these low-carbon projects have been completed or are already in execution and the associated capital investments are included in our expected capital investments for 2023. Our capital investments in future years, consistent with our targets, are expected to include investments associated with certain low-carbon projects currently at various stages of progress, evaluation, or approval.

Capital Investments Attributable to Valero

Capital investments attributable to Valero is a non-GAAP financial measure that reflects our net share of capital investments and is defined as all capital expenditures, deferred turnaround and catalyst cost expenditures, and investments in nonconsolidated joint ventures, excluding the portion of DGD’s capital investments attributable to the other joint venture member and all of the capital expenditures of other consolidated VIEs.

We are a 50 percent joint venture member in DGD and consolidate its financial statements. As a result, all of DGD’s net cash provided by operating activities (or operating cash flow) is included in our consolidated net cash provided by operating activities. DGD’s members use DGD’s operating cash flow (excluding changes in its current assets and current liabilities) to fund its capital investments rather than distribute all of that cash to themselves. Because DGD’s operating cash flow is effectively attributable to each member, only 50 percent of DGD’s capital investments should be attributed to our net share of capital investments. We also exclude all of the capital expenditures of other VIEs that we consolidate because we do not operate those VIEs. See Note 6 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information about the VIEs that we consolidate. We believe capital investments attributable to Valero is an important measure because it more accurately reflects our capital investments.

Capital investments attributable to Valero should not be considered as an alternative to capital investments, which is the most comparable GAAP measure, nor should it be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our cash flows as reported under GAAP. In addition, this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies because we may define it differently, which may diminish its utility.

Three Months Ended March 31,
20232022
Reconciliation of capital investments to capital investments attributable to Valero
Capital expenditures (excluding VIEs)$175$152
Capital expenditures of VIEs:
DGD90219
Other VIEs—13
Deferred turnaround and catalyst cost expenditures (excluding VIEs)235453
Deferred turnaround and catalyst cost expenditures of DGD246
Capital investments524843
Adjustments:
DGD’s capital investments attributable to the other joint venture member(57)(112)
Capital expenditures of other VIEs—(13)
Capital investments attributable to Valero$467$718

We have developed an extensive multi-year capital investment program, which we update and revise based on changing internal and external factors. As previously disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, we expect to incur approximately $2.0 billion for capital investments attributable to Valero during 2023. Approximately $1.5 billion of the expected capital investments attributable to Valero are for sustaining the business and the balance towards growth strategies, of which over 40 percent is allocated to expanding our low-carbon businesses.

Contractual Obligations

As of March 31, 2023, our contractual obligations included debt obligations, interest payments related to debt obligations, operating lease liabilities, finance lease obligations, other long-term liabilities, and purchase obligations. In the ordinary course of business, we had debt-related activities during the

three months ended March 31, 2023, as described in Note 4 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. There were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business with respect to our contractual obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we used cash on hand to purchase and retire approximately $199 million of our public debt. We will continue to evaluate further deleveraging opportunities.

Other Matters Impacting Liquidity and Capital Resources

Stock Purchase Programs

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we purchased for treasury 10,993,341 of our shares for $1.5 billion. See Note 5 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to our stock purchase programs. As of March 31, 2023, we had $899 million remaining available for purchase under the October 2022 Program and $2.5 billion available for purchase under the 2023 Program. We will continue to evaluate the timing of purchases when appropriate. We have no obligation to make purchases under these programs.

Pension Plan Funding

As disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, we plan to contribute $108 million to our pension plans and $21 million to our other postretirement benefit plans during 2023. No significant contributions were made during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Cash Held by Our Foreign Subsidiaries

As of March 31, 2023, $4.3 billion of our cash and cash equivalents was held by our foreign subsidiaries. Cash held by our foreign subsidiaries can be repatriated to us through dividends without any U.S. federal income tax consequences, but certain other taxes may apply, including, but not limited to, withholding taxes imposed by certain foreign jurisdictions, U.S. state income taxes, and U.S. federal income tax on foreign exchange gains. Therefore, there is a cost to repatriate cash held by certain of our foreign subsidiaries to us.

Environmental Matters

Our operations are subject to extensive environmental regulations by government authorities relating to, among other matters, the discharge of materials into the environment, climate, waste management, pollution prevention measures, GHG and other emissions, our refining and marketing facilities and operations, and characteristics and composition of many of our products. Because environmental laws and regulations are becoming more complex and stringent and new environmental laws and regulations are continuously being enacted or proposed, the level of future costs and expenditures required for environmental matters could increase.

Concentration of Customers

Our operations have a concentration of customers in the refining industry and customers who are refined petroleum product wholesalers and retailers. These concentrations of customers may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that these customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions, including the uncertainties concerning worldwide events causing volatility in the global crude oil markets. However, we believe that our portfolio of accounts receivable is sufficiently diversified to the extent necessary to minimize potential credit risk. Historically, we have not had any significant problems collecting our accounts receivable.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. There have been no changes to the critical accounting policies that involve critical accounting estimates disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

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