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Hallador 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 raised, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Merom generation rose after outage: Generation rose 77% sequentially to about 1.4 million MWh, following the planned major maintenance outage completed in July. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $4.5 million, compared with net income of $23.9 million a year earlier and a $15.2 million loss in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reported at $17.3 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $17.3 million, compared with $24.9 million a year earlier and $(2.9) million in the second quarter. Source
  • Offtake prices stepped up: Each of three major Merom offtake agreements this year priced substantially higher than the one before; the October agreement priced over $80 per MWh on a combined basis, the highest in the book. Source
  • Turbine title taken in October: Hallador took title in October 2026 to turbine equipment bought under a $350 million asset purchase agreement with Energy World Corporation Ltd. The turbines have never been operated. Source
  • MISO interconnection study completed: MISO notified Hallador that the interconnection study, run under its Expedited Resource Addition Study program, is complete. Source
  • Total debt rose to $551.9 million: Total debt at September 30 was $551.9 million, up from $45.0 million at June 30, after the bridge facility closed and existing debt was refinanced. Source

“We believe the market ascribes little to no value to the project today.”

Brent Bilsland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Turtle Creek value Sourceover the next 24 months$1.6 billionNew
Contracted forward sales, segment level Source2026 through 2040$3.0 billionRaised from $2.4 billion
Turtle Creek commercial operation Sourcesecond half of 2028second half of 2028Kept
Turtle Creek final investment decision Sourcebefore end of 2026before year-end 2026
Super-priority revolving credit facility Sourcenot stated$75 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Segment-level contracted forward sales rose to $3.0 billion from $2.4 billion at June 30, 2026. Source
  • New: During the quarter Hallador entered into a $600 million senior secured construction bridge loan facility to fund Turtle Creek. Source
  • Guidance kept: The second half of 2028 commercial operation target was kept from the prior quarter. Source

Results and Merom generation

  • Merom generation rose after outage: Generation rose 77% sequentially to about 1.4 million MWh, following the planned major maintenance outage completed in July. Source
  • Revenue rose 28% sequentially: Total revenue rose 28% from the second quarter, owing to higher delivered energy sales. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $4.5 million, compared with net income of $23.9 million a year earlier and a $15.2 million loss in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reported at $17.3 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $17.3 million, compared with $24.9 million a year earlier and $(2.9) million in the second quarter. Source
  • Diluted EPS loss in Q3: Diluted loss per share was $(0.10) against $0.55 a year earlier; the nine-month diluted loss per share was $(0.62). Source

Segments and revenue mix

  • Electric sales up sequentially: Electric sales were $92.8 million, up from $59.5 million in the second quarter and close to $93.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Third-party coal sales down year-on-year: Third-party coal sales were $36.1 million, down from $51.3 million a year earlier and $40.6 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Other revenue was small: Other revenue was $1.3 million, against $2.1 million a year earlier and $1.4 million in the second quarter. Source

“Offtake contracts are the next step in building the project’s value.”

Brent Bilsland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and expenses

  • Purchased power cost rose sharply: Cost of purchased power was $11.1 million, against $2.1 million a year earlier; the nine-month figure was $34.6 million. Source
  • Other operating costs fell: Other operating and maintenance costs were $31.5 million, down from $44.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Depreciation fell year-on-year: Depreciation, depletion and amortization was $7.6 million, down from $9.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Interest expense rose year-on-year: Total interest expense was $6.0 million, up from $4.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Loss on debt extinguishment recorded: The company recorded a $5.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt in the quarter and $5.9 million for the nine months. Source

Contracted sales and pricing

  • Contracted revenue reached $2.5 billion: As of September 30, 2026, including the October 7 agreements, contracted revenue from delivered energy, accredited capacity and third-party coal was $2.5 billion, with capacity commitments through 2040. Source
  • Offtake prices stepped up: Each of three major Merom offtake agreements this year priced substantially higher than the one before; the October agreement priced over $80 per MWh on a combined basis, the highest in the book. Source
  • October energy agreement base volume: The October 7 energy agreement has a base energy quantity of 200 MW on an annual average, reduced when Merom units are not producing above a threshold. Source
  • Pricing steps up from 2027: Management said contract pricing steps up materially beginning in 2027. Source

“As we advance toward our targeted commercial operation date in the second half of 2028, our objective is to build value at each development stage with little to no equity dilution.”

Brent Bilsland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Turtle Creek project and financing

  • Turbine title taken in October: Hallador took title in October 2026 to turbine equipment bought under a $350 million asset purchase agreement with Energy World Corporation Ltd. The turbines have never been operated. Source
  • MISO interconnection study completed: MISO notified Hallador that the interconnection study, run under its Expedited Resource Addition Study program, is complete. Source
  • Turbines bought at a discount: The equipment was acquired at a substantial discount, due in part to its location in the Philippines; management cites a speed-to-market advantage over competing projects. Source
  • Remaining price held in escrow: The remaining $265 million of purchase consideration was deposited into escrow, with releases tied to milestones under the agreement. Source
  • Multi-fuel generation diversification: Management says Turtle Creek diversifies generation into natural gas and makes Hallador a multi-fuel independent power producer. Source
  • Financing not dependent on offtake: Management says the financing plan does not require offtake contracts to be in place, while long-term contracts are expected to improve the terms on which capital can be raised. Source

Capital, debt and liquidity

  • Total debt rose to $551.9 million: Total debt at September 30 was $551.9 million, up from $45.0 million at June 30, after the bridge facility closed and existing debt was refinanced. Source
  • Bridge facility funding structure: The bridge facility is $550 million funded at closing, with a $50 million delayed draw tranche undrawn at quarter-end and available subject to funding conditions. Source
  • Liquidity rose to $103.2 million: Total liquidity was $103.2 million, compared with $84.2 million at June 30, 2026 and $46.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Bridge proceeds held in restricted cash: $329.8 million of the funded proceeds remained in restricted cash at quarter-end, primarily for the turbine acquisition and related costs. Source

Cash flow and share count

  • Operating cash outflow in Q3: Operating cash flow was $(21.8) million, compared with $23.2 million a year earlier and $(23.9) million in the second quarter. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash used: Net cash used in operating activities was $(25,144) thousand for the nine months, against $72,978 thousand provided in the prior-year period. Source
  • Shares outstanding increased: Shares issued and outstanding were 47,147 thousand at September 30, 2026, up from 43,817 thousand at December 31, 2025. Source

Contract terms and approvals

  • Actual revenue may differ: Management notes forward-sales revenue may differ materially for various reasons, including unit contingencies, price adjustment features, volume optionality and force majeure. Source
  • Estimated volumes for 2029 to 2035: Management estimated energy quantities for 2029, 2030 and 2031 - 2035 using forward energy curve pricing comparisons, and says these estimates could vary materially. Source
  • 2026 forward sales cover Q4: Forward sales figures in the 2026 column cover the period from October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 November 2026

  • Offtake contracts targeted early 2027: Management is focused on securing long-term offtake agreements with investment-grade counterparties in early 2027. Source

In management's words

“which we believe broadens the group of investors who can own our shares and finance our company.”

Brent Bilsland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan: Turtle Creek investment Source$800 million
Capital expenditures, Q3 2026 Source$57.1 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: The interconnection agreement is unsigned, and the engineering and construction agreement and remaining equipment purchase orders are still being finalized. Source
  • Operational: The turbines have never been operated and must be inspected and brought to current spec by Siemens before installation. Source
  • Financial: Hallador continues to evaluate additional sources for remaining capital requirements, with a focus on structures that result in little to no equity dilution. Source
  • Demand: Under a volume option, the counterparty can reduce the base quantity to zero for up to 90 days a year in the October energy agreement. Source
  • Regulatory: Some included forward sales positions are subject to approval by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release expected generation volumes to improve sequentially in the third quarter; this release does not state a status against that expectation.
  • Not stated: The prior release targeted the final investment decision and generator interconnection agreement for September; this release targets FID before year-end.
  • Not stated: The prior release said shipment remained on schedule for September; this release reports the equipment has departed the Philippines.
  • Not stated: The prior release targeted commercial operation in the second half of 2028, the same target this release repeats.

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.