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Expand Energy Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose to $1,159 million: Net income was $1,159 million, or $4.81 diluted EPS, against a $249 million net loss a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $923 million, or $3.83 per diluted share, against $487 million and $2.02. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $1,695 million: Operating cash flow of $2,402 million less cash capital expenditures of $707 million gave free cash flow of $1,695 million, against $533 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt fell $1.6 billion: Net debt was $2.8 billion at March 31, 2026, against $4.4 billion at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Net production averaged 7.44 Bcfe/d: Net production was 7,436 MMcfe/d, of which natural gas was 6,914 MMcf/d, against 6,788 MMcfe/d in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Realized price $4.35 per Mcfe: Realized price including derivatives was $4.35 per Mcfe, against $3.69 a year earlier. Natural gas realized $4.28 per Mcf and oil realized $64.77 per Bbl. Source
  • About $1.3 billion of debt redeemed: Total debt was $5.0 billion at quarter-end. An April 2026 senior note redemption reduced it by about $1.3 billion. Source
  • Delfin LNG offtake agreement signed: Expand Energy will buy about 1.15 million tonnes of LNG a year from Delfin, priced at Henry Hub, with a contract targeted start in 2031. Source

“The world critically needs natural gas supply to meet rapidly rising power demand, growing industrial activity, and global LNG expansion to address a global reset in energy security”

Mike Wichterich, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Expand Energy

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net production Sourcefull-year 2026~7.5 Bcfe/dKept
Rigs Source202611 to 12 rigsKept
Capital expenditure Source2026approximately $2.85 billionKept
Quarterly base dividend Sourcepayment June 4, 2026$0.575 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Delfin FLNG 1 LLC sales and purchase agreement executed April 22, 2026 for about 1.15 million tonnes of LNG a year, subject to final investment decision. Source
  • Ended: Earlier SPAs with Delfin and Gunvor Group Ltd were terminated. Source

Results and cash generation

  • Net income rose to $1,159 million: Net income was $1,159 million, or $4.81 diluted EPS, against a $249 million net loss a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $923 million, or $3.83 per diluted share, against $487 million and $2.02. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDAX reached $1,968 million: Adjusted EBITDAX was $1,968 million, compared with $1,395 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $1,695 million: Operating cash flow of $2,402 million less cash capital expenditures of $707 million gave free cash flow of $1,695 million, against $533 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt fell $1.6 billion: Net debt was $2.8 billion at March 31, 2026, against $4.4 billion at December 31, 2025. Source

Production by region and product

  • Net production averaged 7.44 Bcfe/d: Net production was 7,436 MMcfe/d, of which natural gas was 6,914 MMcf/d, against 6,788 MMcfe/d in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Haynesville and Northeast volumes rose: Haynesville produced 3,148 MMcf/d at $4.40 per Mcf, up from 2,617 MMcf/d. Northeast Appalachia produced 2,785 MMcf/d at $5.70 per Mcf, up from 2,668 MMcf/d. Source
  • Southwest Appalachia held flat: Southwest Appalachia produced 1,503 MMcfe/d, unchanged from a year earlier, including 15 MBbl/d of oil at $64.37 per Bbl and 72 MBbl/d of NGL at $25.49 per Bbl. Source

“Our scale, direct access to rapidly expanding global markets, and operational discipline aren’t aspirations, they’re the foundation we’re building upon.”

Mike Wichterich, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Expand Energy

Realized prices and derivatives

  • Realized price $4.35 per Mcfe: Realized price including derivatives was $4.35 per Mcfe, against $3.69 a year earlier. Natural gas realized $4.28 per Mcf and oil realized $64.77 per Bbl. Source
  • NYMEX gas averaged $5.04: Average NYMEX gas price was $5.04 per Mcf, against $3.65 a year earlier. Average NYMEX oil price was $71.93 per Bbl, against $71.42. Source
  • Derivative losses narrowed to $129 million: Losses on derivatives were $129 million, against $1,014 million. Cash payments on derivative settlements were $386 million, against $45 million. Source
  • Unrealized derivative gains excluded: Unrealized gains on derivatives of $279 million were excluded from adjusted net income, against a $969 million unrealized loss a year earlier. Source

Costs and income tax

  • Gathering and transport costs rose: Gathering, processing and transportation expense was $690 million, against $563 million. Total operating expenses were $2,866 million, against $2,464 million. Source
  • Production expense rose to $185 million: Production expense was $185 million, against $147 million. Severance and ad valorem taxes were $60 million, against $48 million. Source
  • Depletion expense held at $711 million: Depreciation, depletion and amortization was $711 million in both periods. General and administrative expense was $63 million, against $47 million. Source
  • Income tax expense of $330 million: Income tax expense was $330 million on pre-tax income of $1,489 million, against a $70 million benefit a year earlier. Source

Capital program and activity

  • Cash capital spending $707 million: Cash capital expenditures were $707 million, against $563 million a year earlier. Source
  • Thirteen rigs drilled 60 wells: Expand Energy ran an average of 13 rigs, drilled 60 wells and turned 49 wells in line during the quarter. Source
  • Drilling spend split across three regions: Drilling and completion accrued capital was $568 million: Haynesville $296 million, Northeast Appalachia $116 million and Southwest Appalachia $156 million. Source

Debt, cash and shareholder returns

  • About $1.3 billion of debt redeemed: Total debt was $5.0 billion at quarter-end. An April 2026 senior note redemption reduced it by about $1.3 billion. Source
  • Share repurchases of $150 million: Share repurchases totaled $150 million through April 24, 2026. Source
  • Dividends paid $141 million: Cash paid for common stock dividends was $141 million in the first quarter, against $142 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $2.2 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,220 million at March 31, 2026, against $616 million at year-end. Source
  • Free cash flow to balance sheet and shareholders: Management expects to use 2026 free cash flow to strengthen the balance sheet and to return cash through the base dividend and share repurchases. No amount was given. Source

LNG offtake and contract changes

  • Delfin LNG offtake agreement signed: Expand Energy will buy about 1.15 million tonnes of LNG a year from Delfin, priced at Henry Hub, with a contract targeted start in 2031. Source
  • Market reach extended to LNG demand: The 20-year agreement with Delfin is described as extending market reach to growing global demand centers. Source
  • Earlier Delfin and Gunvor SPAs ended: The earlier SPAs with Delfin and Gunvor Group Ltd have been terminated. Source

Non-GAAP adjustments and items

  • Separation costs of $9 million: Separation and other termination costs were $9 million, against none a year earlier, and are excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Contract amortization adjustment: Contract amortization was a $30 million deduction in the adjusted net income reconciliation, against $52 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjustments taxed at 22 percent: The tax effect of adjustments was $65 million, using a statutory rate of 22%. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net production, total Source7,436 MMcfe/d
Natural gas production Source6,914 MMcf/d
Oil production Source15 MBbl/d
NGL production Source72 MBbl/d
Realized price, total Source$4.35/Mcfe
Realized price, natural gas Source$4.28/Mcf
Realized price, oil Source$64.77/Bbl
Realized price, NGL Source$25.49/Bbl
Capital expenditures, accrued Source$716 million
Share repurchases Source$150 million through April 24, 2026
Dividends paid Source$141 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: The Delfin SPA is subject to a final investment decision, and its contract start is targeted for 2031. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The February release set debt reduction of at least $1 billion for 2026; the April release reports redemptions year to date.

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.