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Fervo Energy Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating loss widened on G&A: Operating loss was $43.7 million. General and administrative expense rose to $39.4 million from $27.4 million in Q2, which the company attributed to stock-based compensation, public company costs and headcount growth. Source
  • Net income included one-time items: Net income of $11.7 million included $15.4 million of interest income, an $11.8 million non-cash swap gain, and a $29.9 million tax benefit from tax credits. The release calls the swap gain and tax benefit non-recurring. Source
  • GeoBlock 1 in commercial operation: GeoBlock 1, the first of three 33-megawatt units in Cape Station Phase I, was declared in commercial operation on September 30 and is operating in line with expectations under its PPA. Source
  • Cape Google 400 equipment arriving: The first set of 50-megawatt turbines passed factory acceptance testing. Recuperators and over 60 percent of air-cooled condensers have been delivered to site. Source
  • Google contract called largest: With Google, the company signed what it believes is the largest enhanced geothermal PPA to date. Source
  • Capacity in operation and construction: Capacity in operation rose to 36 megawatts from 3 megawatts at the end of Q2. Capacity under construction is 466 megawatts, covering GeoBlocks 2 through 11. Ready-to-build capacity remains 550 megawatts. Source
  • Quarter-end cash and debt: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,916,477 thousand at September 30, down from $2,106,371 thousand at June 30. Current and long-term debt was $301.6 million. Source

“In the third quarter, Cape Station achieved a major milestone, reaching first power and contractual commercial operation,”

Tim Latimer, CEO and Co-founder of Fervo

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital expenditures SourceSecond half of 2026$700.0 million to $750.0 millionLowered from $850.0 million to $900.0 million
Capital expenditures SourceFourth quarter of 2026$450.0 million to $500.0 millionNew
Commercial operation date SourceCape Station Phase I GeoBlocks 2 and 3by January 1, 2027
Power delivery timing SourceCape Google 400 (Google PPA, GeoBlocks 4 to 11)first power mid-2028; full capacity by year-end 2028
Installed cost SourceCape Google 400$5,500 per kilowattKept
Installed cost SourceCape Station Phase I GeoBlocks 1 through 3approximately $7,000 per kilowattNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Second-half 2026 capital expenditure expectation reduced to $700.0 million to $750.0 million from $850.0 million to $900.0 million. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 capital expenditure range of $450.0 million to $500.0 million is given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New: Google power purchase agreement signed: 396 megawatts, 15-year take-or-pay, first power expected in mid-2028. Source
  • New: Fervo committed to offering Google an option to expand offtake by about 600 megawatts, for a total of nearly 1 gigawatt. Source
  • New: Updated heat-initially-in-place study at Cape Station supports about 8.4 gigawatts of capacity potential, versus a prior estimate of 4.3 gigawatts. Source
  • New: Selected for two potential U.S. Department of Energy awards totaling about $20.0 million, including appraisal wells in Idaho and Nevada. Source
  • New: GeoBlock 1 declared in commercial operation on September 30, ahead of its contractual commercial operation date. Source
  • New: GeoBlocks 4 through 11 are now referred to as Cape Google 400. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Operating loss widened on G&A: Operating loss was $43.7 million. General and administrative expense rose to $39.4 million from $27.4 million in Q2, which the company attributed to stock-based compensation, public company costs and headcount growth. Source
  • Net income included one-time items: Net income of $11.7 million included $15.4 million of interest income, an $11.8 million non-cash swap gain, and a $29.9 million tax benefit from tax credits. The release calls the swap gain and tax benefit non-recurring. Source
  • Net loss per-share figures differ: The narrative gives a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $20.8 million, while the statement of operations shows $(19,527) thousand. Both show $(0.07) per share. Source

Cape Station construction progress

  • GeoBlock 1 in commercial operation: GeoBlock 1, the first of three 33-megawatt units in Cape Station Phase I, was declared in commercial operation on September 30 and is operating in line with expectations under its PPA. Source
  • GeoBlock 2 in early operations: GeoBlock 2 completed grid sync, which ends hot commissioning, and is now delivering test energy to the grid. Source
  • GeoBlock 3 in cold commissioning: GeoBlock 3 is mechanically complete. It is in cold commissioning, where mechanical and electrical systems are tested before brine is introduced. Source
  • Cape Google 400 equipment arriving: The first set of 50-megawatt turbines passed factory acceptance testing. Recuperators and over 60 percent of air-cooled condensers have been delivered to site. Source
  • Solar array for station power: Installation has begun on a small on-site solar array at Cape Station Phase I, to provide station auxiliary power. Source

“We also signed what we believe is the largest enhanced geothermal power purchase agreement to date with Google, creating a pathway to scaling our partnership to nearly a gigawatt.”

Tim Latimer, CEO and Co-founder of Fervo

Google agreement and contracted capacity

  • Google contract called largest: With Google, the company signed what it believes is the largest enhanced geothermal PPA to date. Source
  • Contracted capacity rose sharply: Binding PPAs now total 1,054 megawatts, about $11.9 billion in contracted revenue, up from 658 megawatts and about $7.2 billion at the end of Q2. Source
  • Cape Google 400 subsurface drilling: Drilling for the Cape Google 400 GeoBlocks is about 18 percent complete. Source

Resource and development pipeline

  • Capacity in operation and construction: Capacity in operation rose to 36 megawatts from 3 megawatts at the end of Q2. Capacity under construction is 466 megawatts, covering GeoBlocks 2 through 11. Ready-to-build capacity remains 550 megawatts. Source
  • Early development pipeline grew: Early Development rose to about 54.7 gigawatts from 48.6 gigawatts. Advanced Development is unchanged at 3.0 gigawatts. Source
  • Land portfolio about 670,000 acres: The current land portfolio spans approximately 670,000 acres, compared with more than 650,000 acres in the Q2 release. Source
  • Heat study drivers named: The increase reflects a new heat-initially-in-place study of Cape Station, attributed to deeper drilling under the 3.0 well design and added leases. Source

“With commercial operations underway and significant demand for our technology, we are focused on delivering the remaining Phase I GeoBlocks on schedule and building toward geothermal as a reliable, always-on, low-cost source of power.”

Tim Latimer, CEO and Co-founder of Fervo

Capital spending and balance sheet

  • Q3 capital spending rose: Q3 capital expenditures were $256.7 million, up from $226.5 million in Q2, mainly for Cape Station activity. Source
  • Cape Google 400 spending shifted later: Construction efficiencies let some Cape Google 400 spending occur later in the construction cycle. Company states commercial operation dates and total expected investment are unchanged. Source
  • GeoBlock 1 transfer exceeds standalone cost: About $514.3 million moved from construction-in-process to PP&E when GeoBlock 1 was placed in service. The company says this is not GeoBlock 1's standalone cost. Source
  • Quarter-end cash and debt: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,916,477 thousand at September 30, down from $2,106,371 thousand at June 30. Current and long-term debt was $301.6 million. Source
  • Debt increased during the quarter: Current and long-term debt rose to $301.6 million from about $228.4 million at June 30, computed from the balance sheet line items. Source

Strategy and framework agreements

  • Geothermal framework through 2033: The Google expansion would be the first qualifying project under the Geothermal Framework Agreement, which covers up to 3 gigawatts through 2033. Source
  • Behind-the-meter path under Utah law: Fervo and Google are pursuing direct-to-load delivery under Utah's SB132 framework, which could power a potential data center in Beaver County. Source
  • 3.0 well design for Google GeoBlocks: Cape Google 400 uses the 3.0 well design, with longer laterals, larger casing and deeper targets than Phase I, to raise output per well and lower cost per kilowatt. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 November 2026

  • Cape Phase I completion expected January 2027: GeoBlocks 2 and 3 are expected to reach commercial operation by January 1, 2027, which the company said will complete Cape Station Phase I. Source
  • Investor open house at Cape Station: Investors can tour the site, including the drill rig and power plant, on November 19, 2026. Space is limited, requests go through the October 16, 2026 release link, and no new disclosures will be made. Source
  • More site tours planned for 2027: The company anticipates hosting additional site tours in 2027. Source
  • DOE awards await funding agreements: The two DOE awards, for appraisal wells in Nevada and Idaho, are potential awards subject to definitive funding agreements not yet signed. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Sourcesecond-half 2026 capital expenditures of $700.0 million to $750.0 million, versus prior $850.0 million to $900.0 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: The 600-megawatt Google expansion depends on Google accepting the offer; the company says it would then be the first qualifying project under the framework. Source
  • Financial: General and administrative expense rose on stock-based compensation, public company costs and headcount growth, adding pressure to the operating loss. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: GeoBlock 1 was declared in commercial operation ahead of its contractual commercial operation date. Source
  • On track: GeoBlocks 2 and 3 remain on schedule for commercial operation by January 1, 2027. Source
  • Not stated: Company continues to target $5,500 per kilowatt installed cost for Cape Google 400, versus a prior Phase II target stated at the same figure. Source
  • Not stated: Company continues to anticipate fourth-quarter 2026 revenue in line with prior 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.