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ConocoPhillips: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Earnings rose on higher prices: Earnings were $3.9 billion, or $3.23 per share, against $2.0 billion, or $1.56, in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Middle East and royalties offset growth: Lower 48 organic growth was more than offset by the Qatar impact from the Middle East conflict and higher Surmont royalties. Source
  • Realized price rose 36%: Total average realized price was $62.33 per BOE in the second quarter, against $45.77 per BOE a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks doubled; 45% return target: Management said quarterly repurchases doubled and the company is on track for a 45% return of CFO in 2026. Source
  • Noncore Lower 48 sales closed: Agreements to sell noncore Lower 48 assets for $1.7 billion closed in July, reaching the $5 billion disposition target ahead of schedule. Source
  • LNG offtake raised to 12 MTPA: Additional offtake agreements of 2 MTPA took total LNG offtake to 12 MTPA. Source
  • Third-quarter production range given: Third-quarter production is expected at 2.29 to 2.32 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. Source

“record production from our peer-leading Permian position and disciplined execution across the business, all while continuing to progress our strategic priorities”

Ryan Lance, chairman and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Third-quarter production SourceThird quarter 20262.29 to 2.32 million barrels of oil equivalent per dayNew
Full-year productionFull year 20262.295 to 2.325 MMBOEDKept
Capital spending2026$12 to $12.5 billionKept
Shareholder returns Source202645% return of CFOKept
Free cash flow SourceBy 2029$7 billion free cash flow inflection

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Production guidance moved to the third quarter; the prior release gave a second-quarter range. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year guidance items reaffirmed without change. Source
  • New: Agreement signed to acquire a 42% interest in a joint venture in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq. Source
  • New: Agreement executed for re-entry into Syria to restore and increase production at onshore fields. Source

Earnings and cash generation

  • Earnings rose on higher prices: Earnings were $3.9 billion, or $3.23 per share, against $2.0 billion, or $1.56, in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted earnings slightly above reported: Adjusted earnings were $4.0 billion, or $3.24 per share, against $1.8 billion, or $1.42, a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow reported both ways: Cash provided by operating activities was $7.4 billion; excluding working capital changes, cash from operations was $7.2 billion. Source
  • Six-month adjusted earnings higher: Six-month adjusted earnings were $6.3 billion, or $5.13 per share, against $4.5 billion, or $3.52, a year earlier. Source

Production and growth drivers

  • Production down year on year: After adjusting for closed acquisitions and dispositions, the decline was 98 MBOED, or 4%, from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Middle East and royalties offset growth: Lower 48 organic growth was more than offset by the Qatar impact from the Middle East conflict and higher Surmont royalties. Source
  • Six-month production lower: Six-month production was 2,278 MBOED; after adjusting for closed acquisitions and dispositions, it decreased 57 MBOED, or 2%. Source
  • Underlying production compared: Pro forma underlying production was 2,248 MBOED against 2,346 MBOED a year earlier, after closed Lower 48 noncore dispositions of 45 MBOED. Source
  • Lower 48 basin output split: Delaware Basin output was 720 MBOED, Eagle Ford 363 MBOED, Midland Basin 202 MBOED and Bakken 189 MBOED, within a Lower 48 total of 1,479 MBOED. Source

“We doubled our quarterly share repurchases, achieved our $5 billion asset disposition target ahead of schedule”

Ryan Lance, chairman and chief executive officer

Realized prices per barrel

  • Realized price rose 36%: Total average realized price was $62.33 per BOE in the second quarter, against $45.77 per BOE a year earlier. Source
  • Six-month price up 14%: Six-month realized price was $56.37 per BOE, against $49.54 per BOE in the first six months of 2025. Source
  • First-quarter price was lower: First-quarter 2026 realized price was $50.36 per BOE, against $53.34 per BOE in the first quarter of 2025.

Cash flow, capital and returns

  • Quarter spending and share buybacks: Capital expenditures and investments were $3.0 billion, share repurchases $2.0 billion and ordinary dividends $1.0 billion in the quarter. Source
  • Buybacks doubled; 45% return target: Management said quarterly repurchases doubled and the company is on track for a 45% return of CFO in 2026. Source
  • Year-end cash and investments: Cash and short-term investments were $8.1 billion and long-term investments $1.2 billion at quarter end. Source
  • Disposition proceeds received in quarter: The company received $0.2 billion of disposition proceeds from noncore asset sales in the quarter, in addition to operating cash. Source
  • Six-month capital and cash generation: Six-month CFO excluding working capital was $12.6 billion, with $6.0 billion of capital funded and $3.0 billion of share repurchases. Source

“We are executing well, delivering on our strategy, and remain on track to achieve our $7 billion free cash flow inflection by 2029.”

Ryan Lance, chairman and chief executive officer

Portfolio and LNG strategy

  • Noncore Lower 48 sales closed: Agreements to sell noncore Lower 48 assets for $1.7 billion closed in July, reaching the $5 billion disposition target ahead of schedule. Source
  • Middle East access added: A 42% Kirkuk joint venture interest was agreed, and a Syria re-entry agreement was executed to restore onshore fields. Source
  • LNG offtake raised to 12 MTPA: Additional offtake agreements of 2 MTPA took total LNG offtake to 12 MTPA. Source

Guidance for the coming quarter

  • Third-quarter production range given: Third-quarter production is expected at 2.29 to 2.32 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. Source
  • Full-year items unchanged: Full-year production of 2.295 to 2.325 MMBOED from the prior release is carried forward; management reaffirmed full-year guidance items.
  • Free cash flow inflection target: Management said it remains on track to achieve a $7 billion free cash flow inflection by 2029. Source

Special items and adjustments

  • Asset sale gains in six months: Six-month special items included a $274 million pre-tax gain on asset sales, excluded from adjusted earnings. Source
  • Pending claims adjusted in quarter: Second-quarter special items included a $30 million pre-tax adjustment for pending claims and settlements. Source
  • Transaction costs excluded in quarter: Transaction, integration and restructuring expenses of $32 million pre-tax were excluded from adjusted earnings. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Kirkuk joint venture closing: Closing of the 42% Kirkuk joint venture interest is expected by year-end 2026. Source
  • Third-quarter dividend payment: Third-quarter ordinary dividend of $0.84 per share is payable Sept. 1, 2026 to holders of record on Aug. 17, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Qatar production was affected by the Middle East conflict, offsetting Lower 48 organic growth. Source
  • Financial: Surmont royalty rate was adjusted upward by 15 MBOED annually because of higher oil prices.

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company is on track for a 45% return of CFO in 2026. Source
  • On track: Management said the company remains on track for a $7 billion free cash flow inflection by 2029. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the $5 billion disposition target was achieved ahead of schedule. Source
  • Not stated: Management stated all full-year guidance items remain unchanged. 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.