Raymond James upgrades CVR Energy to Market Perform
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 25 2026
0mins
CVR Energy Inc (CVI) shares surged 5.05% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, despite the broader market decline with Nasdaq-100 down 2.37% and S&P 500 down 1.76%.
The upgrade from Raymond James to 'Market Perform' from 'Underperform' indicates a positive shift in the company's market standing, which may enhance investor confidence. This upgrade comes amid rising oil prices, which are expected to benefit refining margins for CVR Energy, although the company is projected to report a quarterly loss of $0.21 per share.
This upgrade could lead to increased interest from investors, especially as the refining sector is currently experiencing favorable conditions due to geopolitical tensions affecting oil supply.
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Analyst Views on CVI
Wall Street analysts forecast CVI stock price to fall
4 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
3 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 28.880
Low
25.00
Averages
28.50
High
35.00
Current: 28.880
Low
25.00
Averages
28.50
High
35.00
About CVI
CVR Energy, Inc. is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the renewable fuels and petroleum refining and marketing businesses, as well as in the nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing business through its interest in CVR Partners, LP. The Company's segments include Petroleum Segment, Renewables Segment and Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment. Petroleum Segment includes the refining and marketing of high value transportation fuels which consist of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and distillates. The Petroleum Segment also includes activities related to crude gathering and logistics that support the refinery operations. Renewables Segment includes the refining of renewable feedstocks, such as soybean oil, corn oil, and other renewable feedstocks, into renewable diesel and marketing of renewables products. Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment includes the production and distribution of nitrogen fertilizer products, primarily in the form of ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate, for the farming industry.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
CVR Energy Appoints New CEO Dane Neumann
- Executive Transition: CVR Energy announced that Dane Neumann will assume the role of President and CEO effective June 18, replacing Mark Pytosh who resigned for personal reasons, marking a significant leadership change for the company.
- Professional Background: Neumann has served as Executive VP and CFO for CVR Energy and CVR Partners since October 2021 and February 2022, respectively, and has extensive experience in various refining and marketing companies, showcasing his strong financial management background.
- Former CEO Achievements: Pytosh has been CEO of CVR Partners since 2014 and became CEO of CVR Energy in 2026, bringing over 30 years of executive experience and successfully driving growth in the fertilizer and petroleum refining sectors.
- Equity Structure: CVR Energy owns approximately 37% of CVR Partners' common units and serves as its general partner, indicating that the new leadership transition may impact the strategic direction and market performance of both companies.
See More
CVR Energy Appoints New CEO Dane Neumann
- Executive Transition: Dane Neumann has been appointed as the new CEO of CVR Energy and CVR Partners, succeeding Mark Pytosh who resigned for personal reasons, with the transition effective June 18, 2026, indicating a significant leadership change for the company.
- Leadership Acknowledgment: Chairman Robert Flint noted that Neumann's exceptional leadership and financial discipline at CVR have made him a critical catalyst for process improvements, suggesting potential for future growth and value creation.
- Continuous Improvement Strategy: Neumann emphasized the commitment to the philosophy of Continuous Improvement, ensuring safe and reliable operations while driving meaningful growth and shareholder returns, reflecting the company's strong confidence in future development.
- Company Background: CVR Energy, headquartered in Texas, is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing, with CVR Partners focusing on the production and marketing of nitrogen fertilizer products.
See More
Sky Quarry Enters Production Phase at Nevada's Only Refinery
- Production Phase Launch: Sky Quarry announces that its Foreland Refinery in Nevada will commence production in July, marking a significant transition after years of preparation, which is expected to enhance its competitive position in the market.
- Sufficient Inventory Preparedness: The company reports approximately 10,000 barrels of crude oil and in-process inventory on-site, indicating operational readiness and providing immediate working assets to facilitate a swift entry into the value creation process.
- Strategic Storage Capacity: The Foreland refinery boasts over 100,000 barrels of total storage capacity, which is viewed as a crucial component of the refinery's long-term value, enabling effective responses to market demand fluctuations.
- Market Scarcity: Nevada is one of the most fuel-import-dependent states in the U.S., and Sky Quarry argues that Foreland's in-state refining capacity is increasingly valuable as Western refining capacity exits the market, allowing it to directly meet in-state demand.
See More
Sky Quarry Enters Production Phase, Filling Fuel Market Gap in Nevada
- Production Phase Launch: Sky Quarry Inc. announces that its Foreland Refinery is entering the production phase, with operations expected to commence in July, marking a significant milestone after years of preparation and infrastructure repairs, aimed at meeting Nevada's urgent fuel demands.
- Sufficient Inventory Prepared: The company has approximately 10,000 barrels of crude oil and in-process inventory on-site, combined with over 100,000 barrels of storage capacity, providing a solid production foundation that enables immediate participation in the value creation process from the outset.
- Strategic Market Importance: As Western refining capacity continues to shrink, the Foreland Refinery, being the only operational refinery in Nevada, gains strategic significance by directly meeting the state's gasoline and diesel needs, thereby reducing reliance on external imports.
- Economic Model Shift: Sky Quarry shifts its focus from infrastructure repairs to production, customer deliveries, and cash flow generation, emphasizing that managing refining margins is more crucial than merely tracking crude oil prices, showcasing its viability in a competitive energy market.
See More
Sky Quarry's Strategic Shift to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pivot: Sky Quarry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Energy Renewables and DevvStream to develop low-carbon fuels and integrate refinery operations, aiming to establish a pilot production pathway for sustainable aviation fuel, demonstrating the company's strategic adaptability in a rapidly changing fuel market.
- Unique Strategic Asset: The Foreland Refinery, operated by Sky Quarry in Nevada, is the only operating refinery in the state with a permitted capacity of approximately 5,000 barrels per day, and as West Coast refining capacity shrinks, the strategic value of this facility becomes increasingly significant.
- Robust Resource Base: The company's PR Spring development project in Utah covers about 5,930 acres of bitumen leases with an estimated resource of approximately 180 million barrels, utilizing its proprietary water-free ECOSolv recovery process, which enhances its competitiveness in the low-carbon fuel market.
- Execution Risks and Financing Challenges: Although management states that repairs at the Foreland refinery are complete and production is expected to resume in June 2026, the company still requires financing to support its development plans, and after experiencing a significant revenue drop in Q1 2026, future production capabilities remain uncertain.
See More
Sky Quarry's Strategic Shift to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pivot: Sky Quarry has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Energy Renewables and DevvStream to pursue low-carbon fuel development, refinery integration, and a pilot pathway for sustainable aviation fuel, demonstrating the company's strategic adaptability in a rapidly changing fuel market.
- Unique Strategic Asset: The Foreland Refinery, operated by Sky Quarry in Nevada, is the only operating refinery in the state with a permitted capacity of approximately 5,000 barrels per day, significantly enhancing its strategic value as West Coast refining capacity shrinks.
- Robust Resource Base: The company's PR Spring development in Utah covers about 5,930 acres of bitumen leases with an estimated resource of approximately 180 million barrels, utilizing its proprietary water-free ECOSolv recovery process, which strengthens its competitive position in the low-carbon fuel market.
- Execution Risks and Financing Needs: The Foreland refinery faced production halts due to boiler repairs in late 2025 and Q1 2026, leading to a sharp revenue decline; management expects production to resume around June 2026, but the company still requires financing to support its development plans.
See More
CVR Energy Appoints New CEO Dane Neumann
- Executive Transition: CVR Energy announced that Dane Neumann will assume the role of President and CEO effective June 18, replacing Mark Pytosh who resigned for personal reasons, marking a significant leadership change for the company.
- Professional Background: Neumann has served as Executive VP and CFO for CVR Energy and CVR Partners since October 2021 and February 2022, respectively, and has extensive experience in various refining and marketing companies, showcasing his strong financial management background.
- Former CEO Achievements: Pytosh has been CEO of CVR Partners since 2014 and became CEO of CVR Energy in 2026, bringing over 30 years of executive experience and successfully driving growth in the fertilizer and petroleum refining sectors.
- Equity Structure: CVR Energy owns approximately 37% of CVR Partners' common units and serves as its general partner, indicating that the new leadership transition may impact the strategic direction and market performance of both companies.
See More
CVR Energy Appoints New CEO Dane Neumann
- Executive Transition: Dane Neumann has been appointed as the new CEO of CVR Energy and CVR Partners, succeeding Mark Pytosh who resigned for personal reasons, with the transition effective June 18, 2026, indicating a significant leadership change for the company.
- Leadership Acknowledgment: Chairman Robert Flint noted that Neumann's exceptional leadership and financial discipline at CVR have made him a critical catalyst for process improvements, suggesting potential for future growth and value creation.
- Continuous Improvement Strategy: Neumann emphasized the commitment to the philosophy of Continuous Improvement, ensuring safe and reliable operations while driving meaningful growth and shareholder returns, reflecting the company's strong confidence in future development.
- Company Background: CVR Energy, headquartered in Texas, is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing, with CVR Partners focusing on the production and marketing of nitrogen fertilizer products.
See More
Sky Quarry Enters Production Phase at Nevada's Only Refinery
- Production Phase Launch: Sky Quarry announces that its Foreland Refinery in Nevada will commence production in July, marking a significant transition after years of preparation, which is expected to enhance its competitive position in the market.
- Sufficient Inventory Preparedness: The company reports approximately 10,000 barrels of crude oil and in-process inventory on-site, indicating operational readiness and providing immediate working assets to facilitate a swift entry into the value creation process.
- Strategic Storage Capacity: The Foreland refinery boasts over 100,000 barrels of total storage capacity, which is viewed as a crucial component of the refinery's long-term value, enabling effective responses to market demand fluctuations.
- Market Scarcity: Nevada is one of the most fuel-import-dependent states in the U.S., and Sky Quarry argues that Foreland's in-state refining capacity is increasingly valuable as Western refining capacity exits the market, allowing it to directly meet in-state demand.
See More
Sky Quarry Enters Production Phase, Filling Fuel Market Gap in Nevada
- Production Phase Launch: Sky Quarry Inc. announces that its Foreland Refinery is entering the production phase, with operations expected to commence in July, marking a significant milestone after years of preparation and infrastructure repairs, aimed at meeting Nevada's urgent fuel demands.
- Sufficient Inventory Prepared: The company has approximately 10,000 barrels of crude oil and in-process inventory on-site, combined with over 100,000 barrels of storage capacity, providing a solid production foundation that enables immediate participation in the value creation process from the outset.
- Strategic Market Importance: As Western refining capacity continues to shrink, the Foreland Refinery, being the only operational refinery in Nevada, gains strategic significance by directly meeting the state's gasoline and diesel needs, thereby reducing reliance on external imports.
- Economic Model Shift: Sky Quarry shifts its focus from infrastructure repairs to production, customer deliveries, and cash flow generation, emphasizing that managing refining margins is more crucial than merely tracking crude oil prices, showcasing its viability in a competitive energy market.
See More
Sky Quarry's Strategic Shift to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pivot: Sky Quarry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Energy Renewables and DevvStream to develop low-carbon fuels and integrate refinery operations, aiming to establish a pilot production pathway for sustainable aviation fuel, demonstrating the company's strategic adaptability in a rapidly changing fuel market.
- Unique Strategic Asset: The Foreland Refinery, operated by Sky Quarry in Nevada, is the only operating refinery in the state with a permitted capacity of approximately 5,000 barrels per day, and as West Coast refining capacity shrinks, the strategic value of this facility becomes increasingly significant.
- Robust Resource Base: The company's PR Spring development project in Utah covers about 5,930 acres of bitumen leases with an estimated resource of approximately 180 million barrels, utilizing its proprietary water-free ECOSolv recovery process, which enhances its competitiveness in the low-carbon fuel market.
- Execution Risks and Financing Challenges: Although management states that repairs at the Foreland refinery are complete and production is expected to resume in June 2026, the company still requires financing to support its development plans, and after experiencing a significant revenue drop in Q1 2026, future production capabilities remain uncertain.
See More
Sky Quarry's Strategic Shift to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pivot: Sky Quarry has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Energy Renewables and DevvStream to pursue low-carbon fuel development, refinery integration, and a pilot pathway for sustainable aviation fuel, demonstrating the company's strategic adaptability in a rapidly changing fuel market.
- Unique Strategic Asset: The Foreland Refinery, operated by Sky Quarry in Nevada, is the only operating refinery in the state with a permitted capacity of approximately 5,000 barrels per day, significantly enhancing its strategic value as West Coast refining capacity shrinks.
- Robust Resource Base: The company's PR Spring development in Utah covers about 5,930 acres of bitumen leases with an estimated resource of approximately 180 million barrels, utilizing its proprietary water-free ECOSolv recovery process, which strengthens its competitive position in the low-carbon fuel market.
- Execution Risks and Financing Needs: The Foreland refinery faced production halts due to boiler repairs in late 2025 and Q1 2026, leading to a sharp revenue decline; management expects production to resume around June 2026, but the company still requires financing to support its development plans.
See More
