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Chord Energy Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 4 lowered, 5 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Oil volumes at high end: Oil volumes were 165.4 MBopd, at the high end of the 162.5 to 165.5 MBopd guidance range and up from 158.0 MBopd in 1Q26. Source
  • LOE per Boe rose: LOE was $10.28/Boe, against $9.87 in 1Q26 and $10.02 in 2Q25, within the $9.70 to $10.70 guidance range. Source
  • Oil production taxes above range: Production taxes were 8.4% of oil, NGL and gas sales, above the 7.9% to 8.3% guidance range. Per Boe, production taxes were $4.83, up from $3.50 in 1Q26. Source
  • Four 4-mile pads turned in line: Four additional 4-mile pads were turned in line since the last update. 26 total 4-mile wells had been executed as of early 3Q26. Chord had 66 gross (47 net) operated TILs in 2Q26. Source
  • CapEx below midpoint: CapEx was $416MM, excluding $0.7MM reimbursable non-op CapEx, and modestly below the $425MM midpoint of the $410MM to $440MM guidance. Source
  • 54% of free cash flow returned: The company returned 54% of Adjusted Free Cash Flow in 2Q26, through the base dividend and $147.4MM of share repurchases. Source

“Adjusted free cash flow came in above expectations driven by oil production at the high end of guidance and capital spending below midpoint guidance.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY26approximately $3.0BLowered from approximately $3.1B
Adjusted Free Cash Flow SourceFY26approximately $1.3BLowered from approximately $1.4B
Price assumption Source2H26$75/Bbl WTI and $3.00/MMBtu Henry HubLowered from $80/Bbl WTI and $3.25/MMBtu Henry Hub for 2Q26-4Q26
Oil volumes SourceFY26160.2 - 161.8 MBopd (midpoint 161 MBopd)Kept
Oil volumes Source3Q26161.5 - 164.5 MBopd (midpoint 163.0 MBopd)New
Oil volumes Source4Q26156.0 - 159.0 MBopdNew
NGL volumes SourceFY2650.2 - 51.4 MBblpdRaised from 49.5 - 50.5 MBblpd
Natural gas volumes SourceFY26406.6 - 410.6 MMcfpdRaised from 401.0 - 407.0 MMcfpd
Total volumes SourceFY26278.2 - 281.8 MBoepdRaised from 276.4 - 280.3 MBoepd
CapEx Source3Q26$360 - $390MM (midpoint $375MM)New
CapEx Source4Q26$242 - $292MMNew
CapEx SourceFY26$1,360 - $1,440MM (midpoint $1.4B)Kept
Oil premium to WTI SourceFY26$(0.80) - $(0.00) per BblLowered from $(0.50) - $0.50 per Bbl
NGL realization SourceFY267% - 11% of WTIRaised from 4% - 12% of WTI
Natural gas realization SourceFY2638% - 44% of Henry HubRaised from 36% - 44% of Henry Hub
LOE SourceFY26$10.05 - $10.55 per Boe (midpoint $10.30)Raised from $9.55 - $10.35 per Boe
Cash GPT SourceFY26$2.80 - $3.00 per BoeKept
Cash G&A SourceFY26$98 - $103MMKept
Production taxes SourceFY268.0% - 8.2% of oil, NGL and gas salesRaised from 7.8% - 8.1%
Cash interest SourceFY26$102 - $106MMKept
Cash taxes SourceFY265% - 8% of Adjusted EBITDAKept
TIL program SourceFY26140 - 160 gross operated wells at ~75% average working interestKept
Shareholder returns Source3Q2675% of free cash flowNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: FY26 Adjusted EBITDA guidance is about $3.0B, down from about $3.1B, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow is about $1.3B, down from about $1.4B. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY26 LOE midpoint increased to $10.30 per Boe from $9.95, reflecting enhancement initiatives, higher workover costs and higher non-operated LOE. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY26 production tax guidance is 8.0% to 8.2% of sales, up slightly from 7.8% to 8.1%. Source
  • New guidance: Quarterly guidance for 3Q26 and 4Q26 is now presented, alongside the FY26 range. Source
  • Guidance kept: FY26 oil volume midpoint is unchanged at 161 MBopd. Source
  • Guidance kept: FY26 CapEx midpoint is unchanged at $1.4B. Source
  • New: The second frac crew is to be dropped in 3Q26, lowering activity and CapEx. Source
  • New: The chemical workover program is being broadened to test multiple new opportunities. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Oil volumes at high end: Oil volumes were 165.4 MBopd, at the high end of the 162.5 to 165.5 MBopd guidance range and up from 158.0 MBopd in 1Q26. Source
  • Net income and adjusted EPS higher: Net income was $525.2MM, with diluted EPS of $9.28. Adjusted diluted EPS was $6.44, against $4.56 in 1Q26 and $1.79 in 2Q25. Source
  • Operating cash flow and Adjusted FCF rose: Operating cash flow was $1,116.2MM and Adjusted EBITDA $923.5MM. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is $413.4MM in the table; the highlights give $414.1MM excluding $0.7MM reimbursable non-op CapEx. Source
  • Oil, NGL and gas revenue higher: Oil, NGL and natural gas revenues were $1,494.3MM, against $1,150.6MM in 1Q26. Crude oil revenues were $1,415.0MM. Source

Production volumes and mix

  • Crude oil share of output rose: Crude oil was 57.8% of total production, against 57.3% in 1Q26 and 55.6% in 2Q25. Source
  • Total production higher: Total production was 286.4 MBoepd, against 275.6 MBoepd in 1Q26. Natural gas was 408.0 MMcfpd, against 411.4 MMcfpd in 1Q26. Source
  • Marcellus gas volumes lower: Marcellus natural gas volumes were 116.9 MMcfpd, against 130.5 MMcfpd in 1Q26 and 129.9 MMcfpd in 2Q25. Source

“Chord is expected to increase returns to 75% of free cash flow in the third quarter as leverage fell below half a turn at quarter-end.”

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

Pricing and realizations

  • Oil price before hedges: Crude oil sold at $93.99/Bbl without realized derivatives and $86.94/Bbl with them, against $70.05 and $69.57 in 1Q26. Source
  • Oil hedge losses in quarter: Realized crude oil derivative losses were $106.2MM in 2Q26, against a $6.9MM loss in 1Q26. Source
  • Oil premium to WTI: Oil sold at a $1.27/Bbl premium to NYMEX WTI, against a $2.35/Bbl discount in 1Q26. Source
  • Gas and NGL prices: Marcellus gas realized $2.10/Mcf, against $6.40/Mcf in 1Q26. Natural gas without derivatives was $0.94/Mcf. NGL realized $9.25/Bbl without derivatives. Source

Operating costs

  • LOE per Boe rose: LOE was $10.28/Boe, against $9.87 in 1Q26 and $10.02 in 2Q25, within the $9.70 to $10.70 guidance range. Source
  • Oil production taxes above range: Production taxes were 8.4% of oil, NGL and gas sales, above the 7.9% to 8.3% guidance range. Per Boe, production taxes were $4.83, up from $3.50 in 1Q26. Source
  • Cash GPT and G&A within range: Cash GPT was $2.83/Boe, within the $2.70 to $3.20 guidance. Cash G&A was $21.1MM, against $24MM to $26MM guidance. Source
  • Cash taxes paid and share of EBITDA: Cash taxes paid were $67.4MM, equal to 7.3% of Adjusted EBITDA against a 2% to 8% guidance range. Cash interest was $26.0MM, within the $25MM to $27MM guidance. Source

“Chord is scaling its 4-mile program and management expects 4-mile laterals to become a larger part of our program.”

Chord Energy Corp., press release

4-mile lateral program

  • Four 4-mile pads turned in line: Four additional 4-mile pads were turned in line since the last update. 26 total 4-mile wells had been executed as of early 3Q26. Chord had 66 gross (47 net) operated TILs in 2Q26. Source
  • Program in line with expectations: Drilling, completion and early performance of the 4-mile program are in line with expectations. Management expects 4-mile laterals to become a larger part of the program. Source
  • Deepest well and first trimulfrac: The company drilled the deepest measured depth well in the Basin at 33,810ft. It executed the Basin's first trimulfrac completion, furthering cost efficiencies on 4-mile developments. Source
  • Facilities capital declining: Facilities-related capital continues to decline through equipment re-use and scalable facility design, according to the company. Source

Base production and operations

  • Base production above 2026 plan: Base production performance is driving volumes above the initial 2026 plan. Focus areas include AI-optimized artificial lift, expanding workover activity and chemical treatments. Source
  • Chemical workover scope broadened: The company is broadening its chemical workover program to test multiple new opportunities. Source
  • Cleanouts reach total depth: Cleanouts continue to reach total depth, ensuring contribution from the toe. Cycle times to return non-producing wells are being reduced. Source

Capital spending and activity

  • CapEx below midpoint: CapEx was $416MM, excluding $0.7MM reimbursable non-op CapEx, and modestly below the $425MM midpoint of the $410MM to $440MM guidance. Source
  • First-half capital total: E&P capital was $402.3MM and midstream $14.2MM in 2Q26. First-half total CapEx was $761.6MM, excluding $1.8MM of capitalized interest. Source
  • Second frac crew to be dropped: 3Q26 CapEx midpoint of $375MM reflects lower activity and dropping the second frac crew in 3Q26. Source
  • 2026 TIL plan: Plan calls for 140 to 160 gross operated TILs in 2026, at about 75% average working interest. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash from operations was $1,116.2MM in 2Q26, against $507.5MM in 1Q26 and $419.8MM in 2Q25. The first-half total was $1,623.6MM. Source
  • Cash on hand increased: Cash and equivalents were $611.6MM at June 30, 2026, against $225.8MM at March 31, 2026 and $189.5MM at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Debt and liquidity: Total debt was $1,500.0MM of senior notes, with the revolver undrawn. Liquidity was $2,581.2MM against a $2.75B borrowing base. Source

Shareholder returns

  • 54% of free cash flow returned: The company returned 54% of Adjusted Free Cash Flow in 2Q26, through the base dividend and $147.4MM of share repurchases. Source
  • Buybacks at $133.47 average: The company repurchased 1,104,346 shares at a weighted average price of $133.47, totaling $147.4MM. 1Q26 repurchases were $70.7MM. Source
  • Share count reduced: Shares outstanding were 55.2MM (56.0MM fully diluted) at June 30, 2026, down from 56.3MM (57.1MM) at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Base dividend declared: The company declared a base dividend of $1.30 per share of common stock. Source

Production and realization guidance detail

  • Gas realization guidance raised: FY26 natural gas realization is 38% to 44% of Henry Hub, up from 36% to 44%. Source
  • Quarterly guidance for 3Q and 4Q: 3Q26 and 4Q26 guidance covers volumes, CapEx of $360MM to $390MM and $242MM to $292MM, and cost metrics. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Dividend payment date: The base dividend is payable on September 4, 2026 to holders of record as of August 20, 2026. Source
  • 4Q26 capital spending falls: 4Q26 CapEx is expected to fall from 3Q26 levels on lower activity, within guidance of $242MM to $292MM. Source
  • Trimulfrac use to continue: The company expects to keep implementing the trimulfrac completion in certain areas. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Crude oil production Source165.4 MBopd
NGL production Source53.0 MBblpd
Natural gas production Source408.0 MMcfpd
Total production Source286.4 MBoepd
Crude oil price, without derivatives Source$93.99/Bbl
Crude oil price, with derivatives Source$86.94/Bbl
Oil differential to WTI Source+$1.27/Bbl
Natural gas price, without derivatives Source$0.94/Mcf
Marcellus gas realized price Source$2.10/Mcf
NGL price, without derivatives Source$9.25/Bbl
Capital expenditure Source$416.7MM
Lease operating expense Source$10.28/Boe
Production taxes per Boe Source$4.83/Boe
Cash GPT Source$2.83/Boe
Shareholder returns Source54% of Adjusted Free Cash Flow
Share repurchases Source$147.4MM (1,104,346 shares)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cites the volatile macro environment as a condition the company must navigate, alongside its capital allocation. Source
  • Financial: Realized crude oil derivative losses of $106.2MM reduced the oil price to $86.94/Bbl from $93.99/Bbl without derivatives. Source
  • Operational: 4Q26 oil volumes are expected to fall from 3Q26 as TILs decline and completions accelerate into 2Q26. Source
  • Regulatory: The production tax rate rises slightly because oil carries a higher production tax than gas and NGLs. Source
  • External: Cash tax guidance assumes WTI of $70 to $100/Bbl in 2H26, so cash taxes depend on that price range. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management reported 2Q26 oil volumes at the high end of guidance. Source
  • Met: Management reported 2Q26 CapEx modestly below the midpoint of guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Management said base production performance is driving volumes above the initial 2026 plan. Source
  • On track: Management said drilling, completion and early performance of the 4-mile program are in line with expectations. Source
  • On track: Management said capital costs continue to be in line with expectations. 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.