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Diversified Energy Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 9 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Production averaged 1,189 MMcfepd: Average daily production was 1,189 MMcfepd (198 Mboepd), compared with 1,253 MMcfepd (209 Mboepd) in the second quarter. Source
  • Net loss on derivative fair value: Net loss was $(202) million, including a $(348) million loss on non-cash unsettled derivatives. The income tax line was a benefit of $132 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $256 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $256 million, against $285 million a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $782 million, against $702 million. Source
  • First four Oklahoma wells drilled: Drilling is complete on the first four wells of a 20 gross well Oklahoma operated development program, with completion activities underway. Source
  • Birch closing expected fourth quarter: The Birch Resources acquisition is on schedule for expected fourth-quarter closing, which management said would create a top-15 U.S. publicly listed independent by production with a vertically integrated Permian position. Source
  • Birch adds estimated 55% to adjusted EBITDA: Management estimates Birch would raise adjusted EBITDA by about 55% and adjusted free cash flow by more than 100%, using August 17, 2026 strip pricing for Birch. Source
  • $157 million returned year to date: Year-to-date shareholder returns were about $157 million, including $94 million of share repurchases and about $63 million of fixed dividends, which the company says represents about a 17% return yield. Source
  • Full-year 2026 guidance reiterated: Management reiterated its previously announced full-year 2026 guidance. The Birch acquisition is not included in the guidance figures. Source

“These initial activities represent an important step in unlocking the additional reserve value of our existing acreage through measured, capital-disciplined investment”

Rusty Hutson, Jr., CEO of Diversified

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total production SourceFull year 20261,180 to 1,210 Mmcfe/dKept
Total capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$225 to $255 millionKept
Operated development capital SourceFull year 2026$35 to $50 millionKept
Non-operated JV partnership capital SourceFull year 2026$115 to $125 millionKept
Maintenance and other capital SourceFull year 2026$75 to $80 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$960 to $1,010 millionKept
Adjusted free cash flow SourceFull year 2026~$440 millionKept
Income from equity affiliates SourceFull year 2026~$15 millionKept
Leverage target SourceFull year 20262.0x to 2.5xKept
Portfolio optimization cash proceeds SourceFull year 2026approximately $150 millionRaised from ~$135 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The 2026 portfolio optimization cash proceeds estimate was raised to about $150 million from about $135 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 guidance was reiterated, and the Birch acquisition is excluded from the guidance figures. Source
  • New: Birch Resources acquisition is pending, with closing expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • New: The bank group approved an upsize of the credit facility from $900 million to $1 billion after quarter end. Source
  • New: Net debt now also deducts acquisition deposits, in addition to cash and restricted cash. Source
  • New: The Adjusted EBITDA definition now also adjusts for income from equity affiliates and gains or losses on interest rate swaps. Source

Results and cash generation

  • Production averaged 1,189 MMcfepd: Average daily production was 1,189 MMcfepd (198 Mboepd), compared with 1,253 MMcfepd (209 Mboepd) in the second quarter. Source
  • Net loss on derivative fair value: Net loss was $(202) million, including a $(348) million loss on non-cash unsettled derivatives. The income tax line was a benefit of $132 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $256 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $256 million, against $285 million a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $782 million, against $702 million. Source
  • Cash flow and adjusted free cash flow: Operating cash flow was $136 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $153 million, against $117 million and $174 million a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted FCF was $427 million. Source
  • Nine-month net loss after derivative losses: Nine-month net loss was $(115) million, against net income of $146 million a year earlier, after fair-value derivative losses of $394 million. Source

Production mix and development

  • Gas-weighted production mix: Production was about 72% natural gas, 14% oil and 14% NGLs. The second-quarter mix was 71% natural gas, 15% NGLs and 14% oil. Source
  • First four Oklahoma wells drilled: Drilling is complete on the first four wells of a 20 gross well Oklahoma operated development program, with completion activities underway. Source
  • Camino SPV first cash distributions: The 40% interest in the Camino producing-asset special purpose vehicle paid its first quarter of cash flows, about $8.6 million in total, including $2.0 million of management fees. Source
  • Nine-month average production: Nine-month average production was 1,213 MMcfepd (202 Mboepd), with the same mix of 72% natural gas, 14% NGLs and 14% oil. Source

“Birch is expected to make Diversified a stronger, larger, and more resilient company”

Rusty Hutson, Jr., CEO of Diversified

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Realized price and revenue per unit: Average realized price was $4.02/Mcfe ($24.12/Boe). Total revenue and divestiture proceeds were $4.36/Mcfe ($26.16/Boe), with Adjusted EBITDA margin at 56%, against 66% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating cost per unit flat: Adjusted operating cost per unit was $2.08/Mcfe ($12.48/Boe), the same as a year earlier. Lease operating expense was $1.20/Mcfe ($7.20/Boe). Source
  • Midstream and transportation expenses decreased: Midstream and transportation expenses decreased against prior period levels, which management cited as progress on cost savings and synergy capture. Source

Birch and portfolio optimization

  • Birch closing expected fourth quarter: The Birch Resources acquisition is on schedule for expected fourth-quarter closing, which management said would create a top-15 U.S. publicly listed independent by production with a vertically integrated Permian position. Source
  • Birch adds estimated 55% to adjusted EBITDA: Management estimates Birch would raise adjusted EBITDA by about 55% and adjusted free cash flow by more than 100%, using August 17, 2026 strip pricing for Birch. Source
  • Birch ABS-linked production hedged: The portion of Birch production tied to the ABS financing was hedged before closing. Source
  • Acreage sales reach $149 million: Year-to-date acreage sales have generated about $149 million of value, against $126 million reported at the second quarter. Third-quarter leasehold sale proceeds were $24 million. Source

“We remain committed to providing meaningful shareholder returns and to delivering even greater lasting long-term value.”

Rusty Hutson, Jr., CEO of Diversified

Capital, debt and liquidity

  • Capital expenditures $39 million: Third-quarter capital expenditures were $39 million, against $48 million a year earlier. Nine-month capital expenditures were $138 million. Source
  • Leverage ratio at 2.66x: Net debt to pro forma adjusted EBITDA was 2.66x at September 30, 2026, compared with 2.45x at June 30, 2026 and 2.42x at September 30, 2025. Source
  • ABS notes retired $313 million: The company retired $313 million, about 11%, of outstanding debt under certain ABS notes in 2026. About 72% of consolidated debt is in deleveraging non-recourse ABS and amortizing notes. Source
  • Liquidity at $506 million: Liquidity was $506 million of credit facility availability and unrestricted cash at September 30, 2026, against $678 million at June 30, 2026. Source

Shareholder returns

  • $157 million returned year to date: Year-to-date shareholder returns were about $157 million, including $94 million of share repurchases and about $63 million of fixed dividends, which the company says represents about a 17% return yield. Source
  • Share repurchases through November 4: Through November 4, 2026, the company repurchased 698,502 shares in the third quarter, about 1% of shares outstanding, and 6,676,753 shares year to date, about 9%. Source
  • Dividend declared at $0.29: The company declared a dividend of $0.29 per share for the third quarter, the same amount declared for the second quarter. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Full-year 2026 guidance reiterated: Management reiterated its previously announced full-year 2026 guidance. The Birch acquisition is not included in the guidance figures. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and FCF guidance unchanged: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance remains $960 to $1,010 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance remains about $440 million. Source
  • Capital plan by program: Capital expenditures are guided at $225 to $255 million, split into operated development of $35 to $50 million, non-operated JV partnerships of $115 to $125 million, and maintenance and other of $75 to $80 million. Source
  • Portfolio proceeds guidance raised: The full-year 2026 portfolio optimization cash proceeds estimate is about $150 million, up from about $135 million. Source

Permian position and integration

  • Permian consolidation runway cited: Management said Birch broadens the commodity mix and Permian presence, where it sees a long runway for future consolidation. Source
  • Integration and margin improvement cited: Management pointed to further margin improvement from integration, portfolio optimization and in-house marketing capabilities. Source
  • Oklahoma synergies expected to continue: Management expects continued significant operational synergies from a larger, consolidated position in Oklahoma, following recent acquisitions and divestitures. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Birch closing in fourth quarter: The Birch acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Oklahoma program update in 2027: Management plans to share further updates on the Oklahoma operated development program in 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Production volume Source1,189 MMcfepd (198 Mboepd)
Average realized price Source$4.02/Mcfe ($24.12/Boe)
Lease operating expense Source$1.20/Mcfe ($7.20/Boe)
Adjusted operating cost per unit Source$2.08/Mcfe ($12.48/Boe)
Capital expenditures Source$39 million
Shareholder returns, year to date Source$157 million (including $94 million of repurchases and about $63 million of dividends)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net loss included a $(348) million loss on non-cash unsettled derivatives, which reflects fair-value changes before settlement. Source
  • Regulatory: Other adjusting costs included legal fees from certain litigation, alongside one-time personnel-related expenses and asset integration costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said operations on the Oklahoma operated program remain on schedule. Source
  • On track: Management said the Birch acquisition remains on track to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management said per-unit expenses are anticipated to improve as the company continues its playbook for synergies and cost savings. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated the full-year 2026 guidance announced earlier. 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.