California Resources Management
Management criteria checks 2/4
California Resources' CEO is Francisco Leon, appointed in Apr 2023, has a tenure of 3.17 years. total yearly compensation is $12.08M, comprised of 7.7% salary and 92.3% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.18% of the company’s shares, worth $10.01M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 4.1 years and 5.1 years respectively.
Key information
Francisco Leon
Chief executive officer
US$12.1m
Total compensation
| CEO salary percentage | 7.71% |
| CEO tenure | 3.2yrs |
| CEO ownership | 0.2% |
| Management average tenure | 4.1yrs |
| Board average tenure | 5.1yrs |
Recent management updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • May 25
CRC: Higher 2026 Production And Margin Outlook Should Support Future Upside
Analysts have kept their $88 price target for California Resources unchanged, as slightly lower assumed revenue growth is offset by stronger projected profit margins and a higher future P/E multiple in their models. What's in the News Issued new consolidated production guidance for the second quarter of 2026, with expected net production between 148 MBoe/d and 150 MBoe/d, and full year 2026 guidance of 149 MBoe/d to 155 MBoe/d (company guidance).Analysis Article • May 11
These Analysts Think California Resources Corporation's (NYSE:CRC) Sales Are Under Threat
One thing we could say about the analysts on California Resources Corporation ( NYSE:CRC ) - they aren't optimistic...Narrative Update • May 10
CRC: Higher 2026 Production Outlook Will Support Stronger Future Share Value
Analysts now place California Resources' fair value at $88, up from $86. This reflects updated views on discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E assumptions.
Narrative Update • Apr 20
CRC: Carbon Storage Will Drive Future Earnings Profile And Risk Balance
Analysts have raised their price target for California Resources from about $63.31 to $81.50, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins and a slightly adjusted forward P/E as key drivers behind the change. What's in the News Reported fourth quarter 2025 production results with net total production of 137 MBoe/d, including 109 MBbl/d of oil, 9 MBbl/d of NGLs and 113 Mmcf/d of natural gas, along with full year 2025 net total production of 138 MBoe/d.
Narrative Update • Apr 06
CRC: Buybacks And Profitability Focus Will Shape Future Margin Profile
Analysts have raised their price target for California Resources from about $55 to $65, citing updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E that place more emphasis on profitability rather than top line expansion. What's in the News Repurchased 713,176 shares from October 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026, representing 0.85% of shares for $35.11 million, completing a total of 27,014,408 shares, or 33.93%, repurchased for $1.18b under the May 13, 2021 buyback authorization (Key Developments).Seeking Alpha • Mar 23
California Resources Boosted By Rising Brent-WTI Spread
Summary A change in state law last year allowed California Resources to obtain new drilling permits in Kern County. The company took advantage by buying a competitor and expanding its drilling operations. CRC's pricing benefits from being tied to the higher Brent price rather than West Texas Intermediate. The company's projected free cash flow this year will enable substantial share buybacks. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaNarrative Update • Mar 23
CRC: Expanded Buybacks And Higher Cash Returns Will Support Future Share Value
Analysts have raised their fair value estimate for California Resources from $73.00 to $86.00, citing updated assumptions for revenue growth, margins, and future P/E as key supports for the higher price target. What's in the News Updated share repurchase activity shows 713,176 shares bought between October 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026, representing 0.85% of shares for US$35.11 million.Narrative Update • Mar 08
CRC: Carbon Sequestration Plans Will Contrast With Compressed Profit Margins
Analysts have raised their price target for California Resources from about $52.30 to roughly $55.10, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E expectations. What's in the News Reported fourth quarter 2025 net total production of 137 MBoe/d, with net oil production of 109 MBbl/d, net NGL production of 9 MBbl/d, and net natural gas production of 113 Mmcf/d.Narrative Update • Feb 22
CRC: Carbon Storage Agreement Will Shape Future Earnings Profile And Risk Balance
Analysts have trimmed their price target on California Resources to $63 from about $66, citing updated assumptions that now reflect modestly positive revenue growth, stronger profit margins, a lower discount rate, and a reduced future P/E multiple. What's in the News California Resources and its carbon management unit, Carbon TerraVault, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Middle River Power for carbon transportation and sequestration services tied to MRP power facilities in California (company announcement).Analysis Article • Feb 12
Improved Earnings Required Before California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) Stock's 25% Jump Looks Justified
California Resources Corporation ( NYSE:CRC ) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great...Narrative Update • Feb 07
CRC: Carbon Capture MOU Will Support Stronger Future Share Value
Analysts have maintained their fair value estimate for California Resources at US$73.00, indicating that only minor adjustments were made to the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions in their updated price target work. What's in the News California Resources and its carbon management business, Carbon TerraVault, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Middle River Power to provide carbon transportation and sequestration services for power facilities in California (Key Developments).Analysis Article • Feb 06
California Resources (NYSE:CRC) Takes On Some Risk With Its Use Of Debt
Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously...Narrative Update • Jan 24
CRC: Carbon Capture Agreements Will Support Higher Future Share Value
Analysts now place fair value for California Resources at US$73, up from US$64. This reflects updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins and a lower future P/E multiple in their models.Narrative Update • Jan 10
CRC: Carbon Capture Projects And Rising Dividend Will Support Future Upside
Analysts have raised their price target for California Resources to about $52.30, up from roughly $51.61, citing updated views on fair value, discount rate, revenue trends, profit margins and future P/E assumptions. What's in the News California Resources and its carbon management unit, Carbon TerraVault (CTV), entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Middle River Power to evaluate carbon capture and sequestration solutions for two California power plants, High Desert and San Joaquin Energy Center, with potential coverage of up to 2.75 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year (company announcement).Narrative Update • Dec 26
CRC: Carbon Capture Agreements And Rising Payouts Will Support Future Upside
Analysts have trimmed their price target on California Resources slightly to approximately 51.61 dollars, citing modestly softer profit margin expectations, which are partially offset by a marginally improved revenue growth outlook and a higher assumed future price to earnings multiple. What's in the News Signed a non binding MOU through Carbon TerraVault with Middle River Power to provide exclusive CO2 transportation and sequestration services for two Northern California power plants emitting up to 2.75 million metric tons of CO2 per year (company announcement) Entered a separate MOU with Capital Power for potential carbon management services at the 1.1 GW La Paloma natural gas generation facility in Kern County, evaluating sequestration for up to 3 million metric tons of captured CO2 annually (company announcement) Issued fourth quarter 2025 guidance calling for net production of 131 to 135 MBoe per day, with approximately 78% oil and projected net income of 15 million to 27 million dollars (company guidance) Completed 33.08% of shares repurchased under the ongoing buyback program launched in May 2021, totaling 26.3 million shares and 1.14 billion dollars in capital returned, with no additional shares repurchased in the latest quarter (company filing) Announced a quarterly cash dividend increase to 0.405 dollars per share, payable on December 15, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2025 (Board declaration) Valuation Changes Fair Value Estimate has edged down slightly from approximately $51.83 to $51.61 per share.Narrative Update • Dec 12
CRC: Carbon Capture Progress And Shareholder Returns Will Support Steadier Outlook
Analysts have raised their price target on California Resources by approximately 8 percent, to about $52 per share from roughly $48, citing expectations for moderating revenue declines and a slightly lower future valuation multiple, despite some near term margin compression. What's in the News The company completed its multi-year share repurchase program, retiring 26.3 million shares, or about 33% of shares outstanding, for roughly $1.15 billion under the buyback announced in May 2021 (company buyback update).Analysis Article • Nov 13
California Resources' (NYSE:CRC) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's
California Resources Corporation's ( NYSE:CRC ) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period...Narrative Update • Sep 20
Regulatory Reforms And CCS Projects Will Reshape Energy Amid Uncertainty
The upward revision in California Resources’ price target reflects a markedly higher future P/E despite a weaker net profit margin, raising the consensus fair value from $60.75 to $65.64. What's in the News Total net production for Q2 and first half 2025 more than doubled YoY to 137–139 MBoe/d.Narrative Update • Sep 05
Regulatory Reforms And CCS Projects Will Reshape Energy Amid Uncertainty
With no analyst reasoning provided, California Resources' consensus price target and key valuation metrics such as the discount rate and future P/E remain effectively unchanged, maintaining the fair value estimate at $60.75. What's in the News Total net production for Q2 rose to 137 MBoe/d from 76 MBoe/d a year ago; six-month production also rose to 139 MBoe/d from 76 MBoe/d.Analysis Article • Jul 14
California Resources (NYSE:CRC) Seems To Use Debt Quite Sensibly
Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously...Analysis Article • Jun 22
Are Investors Undervaluing California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) By 44%?
Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, California Resources fair value estimate is US$83.41...Seeking Alpha • Mar 23
California Resources: Still On Hold
Summary California Resources has restored production levels to pre-bankruptcy levels (approximately). California's restrictive energy policies lead to high consumer prices along with limited industry opportunities to grow production. The company's stock performance hinges on finding an earnings growth avenue. That growth appears to be a few years away at best. Conservative debt management is crucial because the company is a high-cost operator. California has some of the worst air circulation in the continental "lower 48" United States. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaCEO Compensation Analysis
| Date | Total Compensation | Salary | Company Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31 2026 | n/a | n/a | -US$463m |
| Dec 31 2025 | US$12m | US$931k | US$363m |
| Sep 30 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$384m |
| Jun 30 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$665m |
| Mar 31 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$501m |
| Dec 31 2024 | US$8m | US$831k | US$376m |
| Sep 30 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$531m |
| Jun 30 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$164m |
| Mar 31 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$253m |
| Dec 31 2023 | US$10m | US$709k | US$564m |
| Sep 30 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$459m |
| Jun 30 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$907m |
| Mar 31 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$1b |
| Dec 31 2022 | US$1m | US$500k | US$524m |
| Sep 30 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$1b |
| Jun 30 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$832m |
| Mar 31 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$531m |
| Dec 31 2021 | US$5m | US$491k | US$612m |
| Sep 30 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$4b |
| Jun 30 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$4b |
| Mar 31 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$3b |
| Dec 31 2020 | US$4m | US$363k | US$2b |
Compensation vs Market: Francisco's total compensation ($USD12.08M) is above average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD8.29M).
Compensation vs Earnings: Francisco's compensation has increased whilst the company is unprofitable.
CEO
Francisco Leon (49 yo)
3.2yrs
Tenure
US$12,076,766
Compensation
Mr. Francisco J. Leon is Director of California Chamber Of Commerce from January 2025. Mr. Leon served as an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at California Resources Corporation since A...
Leadership Team
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO, President & Director | 3.2yrs | US$12.08m | 0.18% $ 10.0m | |
| Executive VP & CFO | 1.4yrs | US$7.22m | 0.0083% $ 456.2k | |
| COO & Executive VP | 2.9yrs | US$5.48m | 0.0015% $ 84.0k | |
| Executive VP | 12.4yrs | US$6.33m | 0.018% $ 993.6k | |
| Executive VP | 5yrs | US$4.97m | 0.076% $ 4.2m | |
| Vice President of Finance & Controller and Principal Accounting Officer | less than a year | no data | 0.013% $ 695.4k | |
| VP of Investor Relations & Treasurer | 5.4yrs | no data | no data | |
| Senior Director of Communications | no data | no data | no data | |
| Senior Vice President of People Operations | no data | no data | no data | |
| Executive VP & Chief Commercial Officer | 5.1yrs | US$4.32m | 0.14% $ 7.6m | |
| Senior Executive Advisor | no data | US$1.67m | no data |
4.1yrs
Average Tenure
56.5yo
Average Age
Experienced Management: CRC's management team is considered experienced (4.1 years average tenure).
Board Members
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO, President & Director | 3.2yrs | US$12.08m | 0.18% $ 10.0m | |
| Independent Director | 5.7yrs | US$449.16k | 0.0023% $ 125.4k | |
| Independent Chair of the Board | 5.7yrs | US$626.37k | 0.011% $ 621.9k | |
| Non-Executive Director | 5.7yrs | US$454.02k | 0.00056% $ 30.9k | |
| Independent Director | 4.5yrs | US$373.38k | no data | |
| Independent Director | 5.7yrs | US$451.66k | 0.011% $ 624.1k | |
| Independent Director | 2.1yrs | US$382.88k | 0.024% $ 1.3m | |
| Independent Director | 5.1yrs | US$387.88k | 0.00084% $ 46.4k | |
| Independent Director | 1.9yrs | US$347.38k | no data |
5.1yrs
Average Tenure
57yo
Average Age
Experienced Board: CRC's board of directors are considered experienced (5.1 years average tenure).
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/06/04 06:19 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/06/04 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/03/31 |
| Annual Earnings | 2025/12/31 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
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| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
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| Ownership | 10 years |
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| Management | 10 years |
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| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
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Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
California Resources Corporation is covered by 32 analysts. 6 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Wei Jiang | Barclays |
| Kaleinoheaokealaula Akamine | BofA Global Research |
| William Frohnhoefer | BTIG |