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Comstock Resources Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Production rose 9% year over year: Q3 2026 production was 122.4 Bcfe, up 9% from Q3 2025 and 8% from Q2 2026, which management attributed to its drilling program. Nine-month production was 1,221 MMcfe per day. Source
  • Net income and adjusted EBITDAX figures: Net income available to the Company was $22.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. Adjusted net income was $5.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDAX was $266.5 million. Source
  • Realized prices slightly lower year over year: Realized price was $2.61 per Mcfe before hedging and $2.94 after hedging, compared with $2.76 and $3.00 in Q3 2025 and $2.55 and $2.93 in Q2 2026. Source
  • Production cost per Mcfe rose: Production cost was $0.80 per Mcfe in Q3 2026, against $0.77 a year earlier. Gathering and transportation was $0.41 per Mcfe, against $0.36, while lease operating cost was $0.23, against $0.26. Source
  • Total capital spending rose: Exploration and development capital was $382.9 million in Q3 2026, against $267.1 million a year earlier. Nine-month spending was $1,116.6 million, against $785.1 million. Source
  • Long-term debt increased this year: Long-term debt was $3,357.0 million at September 30, 2026, up from $2,809.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • SOCAR to buy non-operated interests: Comstock agreed on November 4, 2026 to sell SOCAR non-operated interests in 20% of its Legacy Haynesville and 15% of its Western Haynesville upstream assets, plus 15% of its Pinnacle interest, for $1.65 billion in cash. Source

“Growth in production drove the third quarter 2026 financial results:”

Comstock Resources Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Bank credit facility commitments and borrowing base Sourceafter closing of the SOCAR transaction$1.5 billion commitments; borrowing base initially $1.6 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Comstock entered into a definitive agreement to sell non-operated interests to SOCAR for $1.65 billion in cash. The prior release did not include this transaction. Source
  • New: The bank credit facility maturity was extended to November 15, 2028. The prior release did not include this amendment. Source
  • New: The Q3 release reports a $450 million Haynesville shale drilling venture with Jerry Jones. The Q2 release did not mention it. Source

Production and earnings

  • Production rose 9% year over year: Q3 2026 production was 122.4 Bcfe, up 9% from Q3 2025 and 8% from Q2 2026, which management attributed to its drilling program. Nine-month production was 1,221 MMcfe per day. Source
  • Net income and adjusted EBITDAX figures: Net income available to the Company was $22.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. Adjusted net income was $5.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDAX was $266.5 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow before working capital: Operating cash flow before changes in working capital was $208.0 million, or $0.71 per share, compared with $190.4 million in Q3 2025. Cash flows from operating activities were $180.2 million. Source
  • Nine-month net income and adjusted income: For the nine months, net income available to the Company was $138.5 million, or $0.47 per diluted share. Adjusted net income was $53.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. Source

Gas services and pricing

  • Realized prices slightly lower year over year: Realized price was $2.61 per Mcfe before hedging and $2.94 after hedging, compared with $2.76 and $3.00 in Q3 2025 and $2.55 and $2.93 in Q2 2026. Source
  • Hedging gains added to gas sales: Natural gas and oil sales including realized hedging gains were $359.3 million, including $39.5 million of realized hedging gains. Realized hedging gains were $26.4 million in Q3 2025. Source
  • Unrealized hedging gain in net income: Net income included a pre-tax $35.1 million unrealized gain on hedging contracts from changes in future natural gas prices. Excluding it and exploration expense, adjusted net income was $5.9 million. Source
  • Gas services margin turned positive: Gas services revenue was $64.5 million, against $141.3 million in Q3 2025. Expenses were $59.4 million, giving a margin of $5.1 million against a $0.4 million loss a year earlier. Source

“$1.65 billion SOCAR divestiture will substantially enhance Comstock's balance sheet.”

Comstock Resources Inc., press release

Costs and margins

  • Production cost per Mcfe rose: Production cost was $0.80 per Mcfe in Q3 2026, against $0.77 a year earlier. Gathering and transportation was $0.41 per Mcfe, against $0.36, while lease operating cost was $0.23, against $0.26. Source
  • Unhedged margin lower than last year: Unhedged operating margin was 69% in Q3 2026, against 72% in Q3 2025. After hedging it was 73%, against 74%. Source
  • General and administrative costs rose: General and administrative expense was $16.1 million, against $11.5 million in Q3 2025. Cash general and administrative cost was $8.6 million, against $5.9 million. Source

Drilling and capital spending

  • Total capital spending rose: Exploration and development capital was $382.9 million in Q3 2026, against $267.1 million a year earlier. Nine-month spending was $1,116.6 million, against $785.1 million. Source
  • Q3 wells turned to sales: Comstock turned 23 (20.4 net) operated wells to sales in Q3 2026. Sixteen Legacy Haynesville wells averaged 25 MMcf per day initial production, with average lateral length of 10,812 feet. Source
  • Drilling activity in the quarter: Comstock drilled 21 (13.9 net) operated horizontal Haynesville/Bossier wells in Q3 2026, with average lateral length of 10,967 feet. Source
  • Western Haynesville wells turned to sales: Six Western Haynesville wells were turned to sales in Q3 2026, with a 33 MMcf per day average initial production rate. Since the July update, 22 (17.1 net) wells were turned to sales. Source

Balance sheet and bank facility

  • Long-term debt increased this year: Long-term debt was $3,357.0 million at September 30, 2026, up from $2,809.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Bank facility maturity extended: The maturity date moved to November 15, 2028 on November 4, 2026. It moves to November 15, 2031 once the SOCAR transaction closes and debt is retired. Source
  • Noncontrolling interest rose to $587.5 million: Noncontrolling interest was $587.5 million, up from $316.1 million at December 31, 2025. Total stockholders' equity was $3,196.3 million. Source

SOCAR and Pinnacle transactions

  • SOCAR to buy non-operated interests: Comstock agreed on November 4, 2026 to sell SOCAR non-operated interests in 20% of its Legacy Haynesville and 15% of its Western Haynesville upstream assets, plus 15% of its Pinnacle interest, for $1.65 billion in cash. Source
  • Western interest reduces after five years: SOCAR's interest in the Western Haynesville assets falls to 7.5% after five years and after SOCAR achieves a 15% return on investment in those assets. Source
  • Pinnacle stake sold earlier for $600 million: In Q2 2026 Comstock sold a 27% noncontrolling interest in Pinnacle for $600 million and used the proceeds to retire Pinnacle's preferred equity and debt.

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • SOCAR closing expected by year end: The SOCAR transaction has an effective date of July 1, 2026 and is expected to close by year end, subject to customary conditions. Source
  • Bank facility extends on SOCAR closing: After the SOCAR closing and the retirement of debt with its proceeds, the bank credit facility maturity moves to November 15, 2031. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Production Source122.4 Bcfe in Q3 2026 (up 9% year over year); 1,221 MMcfe per day for nine months
Realized price per Mcfe Source$2.61 before hedging, $2.94 after hedging (Q3 2026); $3.08 and $3.09 for nine months
Production cost per Mcfe Source$0.80 in Q3 2026; $0.83 for nine months
Exploration and development capital expenditure Source$382.9 million in Q3 2026; $1,116.6 million for nine months
Unhedged operating margin Source69% in Q3 2026; 73% for nine months

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Closing of the SOCAR sale depends on customary conditions and any required governmental approvals. 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.