greeksoup/ stock research

Chord Energy Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 raised, 3 lowered, 15 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Oil volumes above guidance high end: Oil volumes reached 158.0 MBopd against guidance of 152.5 to 155.5 MBopd; total volumes reached 275.6 MBoepd against 267.3 to 272.7 guided. Source
  • First full four-mile development online: The five-well Toonie pad was brought online at quarter end, with capital costs in line with expectations and multi-well efficiencies including simulfrac. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow of $324.0MM: Adjusted free cash flow was $324.0MM excluding reimbursable non-op CapEx; the reconciliation table shows $321.2MM including it. Source
  • Operating cash flow and Adjusted EBITDA: Net cash from operating activities was $507.5MM, against $656.9MM in 1Q25; Adjusted EBITDA was $713.0MM. Source
  • $145MM returned to shareholders: Returns comprised the $1.30 per share base dividend and $71MM of share repurchases, totaling $145MM in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA is about $3.1B and Adjusted free cash flow about $1.4B, from $2.3B and $700MM previously, at $80/Bbl WTI. Source
  • Full-year oil volume midpoint raised: Full-year oil volume guidance is 160.0 to 162.0 MBopd, against 157.0 to 161.0 MBopd previously. Source

“Chord delivered strong first quarter execution, demonstrated efficient operations, and generated free cash flow above expectations”

Danny Brown, Chord Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Oil volumes Source2Q26162.5 - 165.5 MBopd (midpoint 164.0)New
Oil volumes SourceFY26160.0 - 162.0 MBopd (midpoint 161)Raised from 157.0 - 161.0 MBopd (midpoint 159)
NGL volumes Source2Q2650.5 - 51.5 MBblpdNew
NGL volumes SourceFY2649.5 - 50.5 MBblpdKept
Natural gas volumes Source2Q26400.0 - 408.0 MMcfpdNew
Natural gas volumes SourceFY26401.0 - 407.0 MMcfpdLowered from 403.0 - 413.0 MMcfpd
Total volumes Source2Q26279.7 - 285.0 MBoepdNew
Total volumes SourceFY26276.4 - 280.3 MBoepdRaised from 273.7 - 280.3 MBoepd
Oil volume path Source3Q26similar to 2Q26 levelsNew
CapEx Source2Q26$410 - $440MM (midpoint $425MM)New
CapEx SourceFY26$1,355 - $1,445MM (midpoint about $1.4B)Kept
Oil premium or discount to WTI Source2Q26$0.50 - $1.50/Bbl premium to WTINew
Oil premium or discount to WTI SourceFY26$(0.50) - $0.50/BblRaised from $(1.50) - $(2.50)/Bbl
NGL realization Source2Q264% - 10% of WTINew
NGL realization SourceFY264% - 12% of WTILowered from 5% - 15% of WTI
Natural gas realization Source2Q2625% - 35% of Henry HubNew
Natural gas realization SourceFY2636% - 44% of Henry HubKept
LOE per Boe Source2Q26$9.70 - $10.70/BoeNew
LOE per Boe SourceFY26$9.55 - $10.35/Boe (midpoint $9.95)Raised from $9.30 - $10.30/Boe (midpoint $9.80)
Cash GPT per Boe Source2Q26$2.70 - $3.20/BoeNew
Cash GPT per Boe SourceFY26$2.70 - $3.10/BoeKept
Cash G&A Source2Q26$24 - $26MMNew
Cash G&A SourceFY26$98 - $103MM (midpoint $100.5MM)Raised from $90 - $100MM (midpoint $95MM)
Production taxes Source2Q267.9% - 8.3% of oil, NGL and natural gas salesNew
Production taxes SourceFY267.8% - 8.1% of oil, NGL and natural gas salesRaised from 7.7% - 8.1%
Cash interest Source2Q26$25 - $27MMNew
Cash interest SourceFY26$100 - $108MMLowered from $100 - $110MM
Cash tax as share of Adjusted EBITDA Source2Q262% - 8%New
Cash tax as share of Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY264% - 9%Raised from 1% - 5%
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY26approximately $3.1BRaised from approximately $2.3B
Adjusted free cash flow SourceFY26approximately $1.4B including derivativesRaised from approximately $700MM
Operated TILs Source2026135 - 165 gross operated wells, about 75% average working interestKept
4-mile laterals share Source2026approximately 40% of TILs and 60% of spuds

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year oil volume guidance raised 2 MBopd at the midpoint to 161 MBopd. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA about $3.1B and Adjusted free cash flow about $1.4B, from $2.3B and $700MM previously. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year LOE midpoint increased $0.15/Boe to $9.95/Boe. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year cash tax range raised to 4% to 9% of Adjusted EBITDA from 1% to 5%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year NGL realization range lowered to 4% to 12% of WTI from 5% to 15%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year capital expenditure guidance unchanged at about $1.4B at the midpoint. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance provided for the first time, with oil volumes at a 164.0 MBopd midpoint. Source
  • Guidance kept: Planned operated turn-in-lines of 135 to 165 gross wells retained. Source
  • New: Management said it has identified and is implementing multiple base production enhancement initiatives. Source
  • New: The five-well Toonie pad, the first full 4-mile DSU development, was brought online at the end of the first quarter. Source

Results and volumes

  • Oil volumes above guidance high end: Oil volumes reached 158.0 MBopd against guidance of 152.5 to 155.5 MBopd; total volumes reached 275.6 MBoepd against 267.3 to 272.7 guided. Source
  • Production above expectations on optimization: Management attributed production above expectations to base optimization efforts focused on low-cost, high-return initiatives. Source
  • Net income and adjusted earnings: Net income was $108.6MM, against $219.8MM in 1Q25; adjusted net income was $258.9MM, or $4.56 per diluted share, against $4.04 a year earlier. Source

Realizations by product

  • Oil sold at $70.05 per barrel: Crude oil without realized derivatives averaged $70.05/Bbl, against $56.90 in 4Q25; with realized derivatives it was $69.57/Bbl. Source
  • Oil differential to WTI widened: Oil differential to NYMEX WTI was $(2.35) per Bbl, compared with $(2.24) in 4Q25 and $(2.30) in 1Q25. Source
  • Gas realizations favorable on seasonal prices: Natural gas without realized derivatives was $3.14/Mcf, against $1.40 in 4Q25; management cited seasonally strong regional benchmark prices. Source
  • NGL price rose per barrel: NGL without realized derivatives averaged $8.66/Bbl, up from $4.88 in 4Q25; NGL realization was 12% of WTI against a 5% to 15% guided range. Source
  • Realized derivatives added to revenue: Realized oil derivatives gained $6.9MM in 1Q26, against a $24.3MM loss in 4Q25; natural gas derivatives gained $11.6MM. Source

“This strong operational performance supported robust free cash flow, enabling high return of capital to shareholders.”

Danny Brown, Chord Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Operating costs

  • LOE at guidance midpoint: LOE was $9.87/Boe, up from $9.72 in 4Q25; total LOE expense was $244.9MM. Source
  • Cash GPT within guided range: Cash GPT was $2.79/Boe, within the $2.75 to $3.25 guided range; GPT expense was $67.0MM, against $70.5MM in 4Q25. Source
  • Production taxes higher per Boe: Production taxes were $86.7MM, or $3.50/Boe, against $2.74/Boe in 4Q25; the rate was 7.5% of sales. Source
  • Cash G&A and interest reported: Cash G&A was $26.9MM against a $23MM to $28MM guided range; cash interest was $26.0MM against $25MM to $27MM. Source

Capital and drilling program

  • CapEx in line with midpoint: CapEx was $342MM excluding $3.0MM of reimbursable non-op CapEx, or $344.9MM in total, against a $325MM to $355MM guided range. Source
  • E&P spending led capital: E&P capital was $330.6MM, including $3.0MM of reimbursable non-op CapEx; midstream was $14.2MM and other $0.1MM. Source
  • First full four-mile development online: The five-well Toonie pad was brought online at quarter end, with capital costs in line with expectations and multi-well efficiencies including simulfrac. Source
  • Operated turn-in-lines in quarter: Chord turned in line 37 gross (30 net) operated wells in 1Q26. Source
  • Drilling cycle times improving: Management said cycle times are improving across the Williston program, with most 4-mile laterals drilled in a single run. Source

“Chord has identified and is implementing multiple base production enhancement initiatives that are expected to grow volumes with a minimal increase to costs, further improving our free cash flow outlook.”

Danny Brown, Chord Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Adjusted free cash flow of $324.0MM: Adjusted free cash flow was $324.0MM excluding reimbursable non-op CapEx; the reconciliation table shows $321.2MM including it. Source
  • Operating cash flow and Adjusted EBITDA: Net cash from operating activities was $507.5MM, against $656.9MM in 1Q25; Adjusted EBITDA was $713.0MM. Source
  • Debt and liquidity at quarter end: Senior notes were $1,500MM with the revolver undrawn; cash was $225.8MM and liquidity $2,193.2MM against a $2.75B borrowing base. Source
  • Cash tax within guided range: Cash tax was 2.9% of Adjusted EBITDA, within the 0% to 3% guided range for 1Q26; cash taxes paid were $21.0MM. Source

Shareholder returns

  • $145MM returned to shareholders: Returns comprised the $1.30 per share base dividend and $71MM of share repurchases, totaling $145MM in the quarter. Source
  • Buybacks at $126.53 average price: Repurchases totaled 559,064 shares, $70.7MM, at a weighted average $126.53 per share. Source
  • Share count reduced in quarter: Shares outstanding fell to 56.3MM from 56.8MM, with fully-diluted shares at 57.1MM against 57.2MM at year end. Source

Base production and facilities

  • Base production raised at minimal cost: Management linked the higher FY26 volume view to base production initiatives with minimal impact on costs. Source
  • AI applied to artificial lift: Focus areas include AI-based artificial lift optimization, expanded workover activity, chemical treatment programs and logistics optimization. Source
  • Facilities capital reduced through design: Facilities capital is being reduced through infrastructure optimization, with most of the program using equipment re-use and scalable facility design. Source

Full-year guidance changes

  • Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA is about $3.1B and Adjusted free cash flow about $1.4B, from $2.3B and $700MM previously, at $80/Bbl WTI. Source
  • Full-year oil volume midpoint raised: Full-year oil volume guidance is 160.0 to 162.0 MBopd, against 157.0 to 161.0 MBopd previously. Source
  • Second-quarter oil growth from efficiencies: Management tied the 2Q26 oil increase to production optimization and faster D&C cycle times, with CapEx expected to decline in 3Q26 and again in 4Q26. Source
  • Full-year capital held at February level: Full-year capital guidance was held at the February level; 2Q26 CapEx reflects faster D&C cycle times. Source
  • LOE midpoint raised on initiatives: Full-year LOE midpoint rose to $9.95/Boe on production enhancement initiatives; oil realization improved to reflect market premiums to WTI. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Dividend payable June 5: The $1.30 base dividend is payable June 5, 2026 to holders of record as of May 20, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Crude oil production Source158.0 MBopd
Total production Source275.6 MBoepd
Natural gas production Source411.4 MMcfpd
Realized crude oil price without derivatives Source$70.05/Bbl
Realized crude oil price with derivatives Source$69.57/Bbl
Realized natural gas price without derivatives Source$3.14/Mcf
Oil differential to NYMEX WTI Source$(2.35)/Bbl
Capital expenditure Source$344.9MM
Lease operating expense per Boe Source$9.87/Boe
Shareholder returns Source$145MM

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Diesel price volatility is named as an exposure; running both frac fleets on dual fuel reduces it. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said execution and performance on the first full 4-mile DSU pad are in line with expectations. Source
  • Ahead: Management said operating cash flow and Adjusted free cash flow exceeded expectations in 1Q26. 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.