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Antero Resources Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 lowered, 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDAX rose 57%: Adjusted EBITDAX was $595 million, up from $379 million a year earlier. Net income was $279 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, against $0.50 a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow before working capital rose: Adjusted Free Cash Flow before changes in working capital was $220 million, up 41%. Including working capital changes of $127 million, Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $93 million. Source
  • Daily production rose 21%: Daily combined production averaged 4,144 MMcfe/d, up 714 MMcfe/d from 3,430. The quarter was the first full quarter after the HG Energy acquisition. Source
  • Total cash costs down 11%: Total cash operating costs were $2.38 per Mcfe, at the low end of the guidance range and down $0.29 or 11% from a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to a full quarter of HG Energy assets. Source
  • July West Virginia acquisitions: About $315 million of West Virginia properties were acquired in July. They include about 125 MMcfe/d of net production, 3,500 net undeveloped acres and 15 net undeveloped locations. Source
  • Total debt rose to $2.61 billion: Total debt was $2.61 billion at June 30, 2026, against $1.40 billion at December 31, 2025. Cash was nil at June 30, so Net Debt equaled total debt. Source
  • Buyback capacity remains about $880 million: The company bought 1.1 million shares for about $38 million in the quarter. Management said about $880 million of capacity remains under the program. Source

“Our quarterly results highlight the substantial benefits from this transaction.”

Michael Kennedy, CEO and President of Antero Resources

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net daily production SourceFull year 20264.15 to 4.2 Bcfe/dRaised from approximately 4.1 Bcfe/d
Net daily production SourceThird quarter 20264.25 to 4.3 Bcfe/dNew
Net daily production SourceFourth quarter 20264.4 to 4.5 Bcfe/dNew
Curtailments SourceThird quarter 20265 BcfeNew
Net production at year-end SourceExit of 2026over 25% higher than the prior yearNew
Cash production expense SourceFull year 2026$2.20 to $2.30 per McfeLowered from $2.25 to $2.35 per Mcfe
C2 NGL realized price premium to Mont Belvieu SourceFull year 2026$2.50 to $3.00 per BblRaised from $2.00 to $3.00 per Bbl
Natural gas realized price premium to NYMEX SourceFull year 2026$0.05 to $0.15 per McfLowered
Cash flow from Martica royalty reversion SourceAnnualized, from third quarter 2026$60 million a year; $0.04 per Mcfe margin upliftNew
Cash cost reduction SourceFrom full year 2025 to year-end 2028$0.70 per McfeNew
EBITDAX margin SourceCost reduction plan horizon, to year-end 2028$0.35 per Mcfe improvementNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 net daily production guidance raised to 4.15 to 4.2 Bcfe/d. Source
  • Guidance raised: C2 NGL realized price premium to Mont Belvieu raised to $2.50 to $3.00 per Bbl. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Cash production expense guidance lowered to $2.20 to $2.30 per Mcfe. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Natural gas realized price premium to NYMEX lowered to $0.05 to $0.15 per Mcf. Source
  • New guidance: Third- and fourth-quarter production ranges and third-quarter curtailments are given for the first time. Source
  • New: Cash cost reduction initiative announced in June 2026. Source
  • New: Acquisition of West Virginia development properties for about $315 million, completed in July 2026. Source
  • Ended: Martica override entity dissolved on June 30, 2026. Source
  • New: Share repurchase program timing accelerated, with buybacks resumed in the quarter. Source

Earnings and cash flow

  • Adjusted EBITDAX rose 57%: Adjusted EBITDAX was $595 million, up from $379 million a year earlier. Net income was $279 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, against $0.50 a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow before working capital rose: Adjusted Free Cash Flow before changes in working capital was $220 million, up 41%. Including working capital changes of $127 million, Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $93 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow declined: Net cash provided by operating activities was $439 million, against $492 million a year earlier. Changes in current assets and liabilities moved from a $116 million inflow to a $117 million outflow. Source
  • Adjusted Net Income more than doubled: Adjusted Net Income was $236 million, against $110 million. The adjustments removed $26 million of unrealized commodity derivative gains and $15 million of gains on asset sales. Source
  • Commodity derivative gains lifted revenue: Total revenue rose 20% to $1.56 billion. Commodity derivative fair value gains were $161 million, against $53 million a year earlier. Source

Production and well results

  • Daily production rose 21%: Daily combined production averaged 4,144 MMcfe/d, up 714 MMcfe/d from 3,430. The quarter was the first full quarter after the HG Energy acquisition. Source
  • 26 Marcellus wells placed in sales: The 26 wells had an average lateral of 13,323 feet. Twenty-one have been online about 60 days, averaging 25 MMcfe/d per well, including 975 Bbl/d of liquids per well at 25% ethane recovery. Source
  • Five-well dry gas pad results: A five-well dry gas pad, Antero’s first in over 12 years, has produced 125 MMcf/d without declines for over 60 days. Estimated ultimate recovery is over 2.0 Bcf per 1,000 feet. Source
  • Longest lateral on HG acreage: Antero drilled its longest lateral in company history, over 24,000 feet, on recently acquired HG Energy acreage. Source

“Lower cash costs will drive significant increases in per unit margins.”

Brendan Krueger, CFO of Antero Resources

Products, prices and revenue

  • NGL and oil sales grew: Natural gas liquids sales rose 22% to $588 million and oil sales rose 77% to $60 million, as liquids volumes and oil prices both increased. Source
  • Gas price fell as volumes rose: Natural gas sales were flat at $688 million. The realized price before hedges fell 22% to $2.66 per Mcf, offsetting gas volumes that were 28% higher. Source
  • Liquids and gas volume split: Quarterly volumes were 121,132 Bbl/d of C3+ NGLs, 86,769 Bbl/d of C2 NGLs, 8,330 Bbl/d of oil and 2,847 MMcf/d of natural gas. Source
  • Marketing revenue and expense rose: Marketing revenue rose 66% to $56 million and marketing expense rose 39% to $72 million. Source

Costs and margins

  • Total cash costs down 11%: Total cash operating costs were $2.38 per Mcfe, at the low end of the guidance range and down $0.29 or 11% from a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to a full quarter of HG Energy assets. Source
  • Transport cost per Mcfe fell: Transportation cost fell to $0.49 per Mcfe from $0.58. Gathering, compression, processing and transportation expense in dollars rose to $748 million from $702 million. Source
  • Net marketing expense per Mcfe eased: Net marketing expense fell to $0.04 per Mcfe from $0.06. General and administrative expense excluding equity-based compensation was $0.12 per Mcfe, against $0.13. Source
  • Integration drives cost plan: Management named the HG Energy integration, firm transportation optimization and increased dry gas development as the main drivers of the planned cost and margin gains. Source
  • Depletion rate edged up: Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion was $0.61 per Mcfe, up from $0.60 a year earlier. Source

“Our improved competitive position provides us with great visibility and confidence in our Free Cash Flow, which supported the accelerated timing of our share repurchase program.”

Michael Kennedy, CEO and President of Antero Resources

Hedge book and price exposure

  • 2026 gas swaps and collars: Swaps cover 1,390,000 MMBtu/d for July to December 2026 at a weighted average $3.90. Collars cover 577,000 MMBtu/d for the same period, between a $3.26 floor and a $5.66 ceiling. Source
  • 2027 hedge positions: For 2027, swaps cover 1,000,000 MMBtu/d at $3.84, and collars cover 80,000 MMBtu/d between $3.52 and $4.63. Source
  • Hedges as of July 29: Hedge positions are shown as of the July 29, 2026 publication. Basis hedges are detailed in a separate presentation on the company website. Source

Acquisitions and capital spending

  • July West Virginia acquisitions: About $315 million of West Virginia properties were acquired in July. They include about 125 MMcfe/d of net production, 3,500 net undeveloped acres and 15 net undeveloped locations. Source
  • Capital expenditures rose: Capital expenditures were $341 million, against $208 million a year earlier. Source
  • Land buy adds drilling locations: Antero spent $29 million on land, adding about 5,000 net acres and 20 incremental net drilling locations at about $650,000 per location. Source

Debt, buybacks and returns

  • Total debt rose to $2.61 billion: Total debt was $2.61 billion at June 30, 2026, against $1.40 billion at December 31, 2025. Cash was nil at June 30, so Net Debt equaled total debt. Source
  • Buyback capacity remains about $880 million: The company bought 1.1 million shares for about $38 million in the quarter. Management said about $880 million of capacity remains under the program. Source
  • Martica distribution paid in kind: In the first half, $160.6 million was paid to noncontrolling interests as an in-kind liquidating distribution, following the Martica dissolution. Source
  • Debt instruments outstanding: At June 30 the company had a $1.1 billion term loan, $750 million of 5.400% senior notes due 2036, $600 million of 5.375% notes due 2030, and $182 million of commercial paper. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Updated presentation before the call: An updated presentation will be posted on the company website before the call. Source
  • Per-unit costs to keep declining: Management expects per-unit costs to continue declining into year-end, combining the July acquisitions with the cost initiatives. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net daily production Source4.1 Bcfe/d, including 216 MBbl/d of liquids
Realized natural gas price before hedges Source$2.66 per Mcf
Realized natural gas price after settled derivatives Source$3.18 per Mcf
Realized oil price before hedges Source$78.60 per Bbl
Realized C3+ NGL price before hedges Source$44.33 per Bbl
Cash production expense Source$2.22 per Mcfe
Drilling and completion capital expenditures Source$297 million
Shares repurchased Source1.1 million shares at $34.25 average

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited commodity price volatility and said the lower cost structure, liquids diversification and hedging are expected to reduce cash flow volatility. Source
  • External: CFO noted the Henry Hub natural gas price fell 16% from a year earlier during the quarter, while adjusted EBITDAX rose. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Q2 production was guided to 4.1 Bcfe/d in April. Management said output was above guidance. Source
  • Not stated: April release expected Q2 production growth of 6% and 15% lower cash costs per Mcfe than Q1. The July release gives Q2 cash production expense of $2.22 per Mcfe, against $2.64 in Q1.
  • Ahead: Management said its cash flow visibility supported accelerating the repurchase program. Source
  • Not stated: CFO said integration had already brought the company nearly halfway to the target. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.