[Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:29 a.m. CDT April 26.]
Chevron Corp.'s first-quarter profit fell 27% from a year earlier due to lower crude oil prices and weaker margins in its refining and chemicals businesses, but topped forecasts and signaled it is committed to buying smaller rival Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
The No. 2 U.S. oil and natural gas producer this week found itself in a takeover duel for Anadarko, a smaller oil and gas producer, when Occidental Petroleum Corp. made a $38 billion offer that topped Chevron's $33 billion bid.
RELATED: Occidental Petroleum Kicks Off Anadarko Bidding War With Chevron
Chevron's oil and gas production rose during the quarter, and profits in its U.S. exploration business jumped 15% from a year earlier. But weakness in refining and international exploration knocked overall profit down 27% on a 6.8% decline in revenue.
"Earnings declined from a year ago largely due to lower crude oil prices and weaker downstream and chemicals margins," Chevron CEO Michael Wirth said.
Wirth signaled that Chevron considers itself on track to make a deal for Anadarko. He said combining the shale, deepwater and LNG businesses of the two companies "will unlock significant value to shareholders."
Although earnings topped Wall Street's consensus, investors are focused on the takeover battle for Anadarko, wrote analysts at Edward Jones. The brokerage firm rates Chevron a buy.
"We would not be surprised to see Chevron raise its offer," they said in a research note on April 26, saying the company's bid will "ultimately be the successful one."
RELATED: Anadarko Petroleum Profit Beats On Higher Sales Volumes, Lower Costs
Chevron's daily production of oil and gas rose to 3.04 billion of barrels, from 2.85 billions of barrels in the year-ago period. But the price for each barrel of U.S. crude oil and NGL fell to $48 from $56 a year earlier. Chevron's take from international output, slipped to $58 per barrel from $61 a year earlier.
The lower prices and weakness in gasoline margins knocked first-quarter net income to $2.65 billion, or $1.39 per share, from $3.64 billion, or $1.90 per share, a year earlier. Wall Street consensus was $1.30 per share.
Revenue fell nearly 7% to $35.2 billion from $37.64 billion a year ago.
Shares of San Ramona, Calif.-based Chevron slipped less than 1% to $117.18 in morning trading on April 26.
Rival Exxon Mobil Corp. on April 26 reported its earnings were well below analysts' estimates, citing the effects of weaker crude prices, heavier maintenance and weaker margins in its refining and chemicals businesses.
Exxon Mobil shares were off 2.4% at $80.25 in pre-market trading.
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