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HighPeak Energy, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net loss recorded: Net loss of $25.2 million, or ($0.21) per diluted share, with EBITDAX of $113.9 million, or $0.82 per diluted share. Source
  • Free cash flow negative in 2025: Free cash flow was negative $7.4 million in the fourth quarter and negative $37.8 million for full-year 2025, against $89.7 million in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales volumes 43.7 MBoe/d: Fourth-quarter volumes were about 64% crude oil and 83% liquids; full-year 2025 averaged 48.3 MBoe/d, about 68% crude oil and 85% liquids. Source
  • Full-year cash costs and unhedged margin: Cash costs were $15.33 per Boe, including lease operating $6.78, workovers $1.13, gathering $3.88, production taxes $2.11 and G&A $1.43; unhedged EBITDAX was $33.65 per Boe. Source
  • 2026 capital budget reduced sharply: Full-year 2025 capital expenditures excluding acquisitions were $511.8 million; the 2026 total budget is $255 to $285 million, which management describes as down nearly 50%. Source
  • Dividend suspended to add liquidity: The Board suspended the dividend in the first quarter of 2026; management estimates this adds $20 to $25 million of annual liquidity. Source
  • Profitability and free cash flow first: The 2026 plan uses one rig and one completion crew and is designed to operate within cash flow with crude averaging the mid-to-upper $50s per barrel. Source
  • Free cash flow directed to debt: Incremental free cash flow in a stronger price environment goes to accelerating debt reduction; the top financial objective is strengthening the balance sheet. Source

“Our priority is clear: protect profitability and maximize free cash flow, not chase production volumes.”

Michael Hollis, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operated wells drilled Source202628 - 30 wellsNew
Operated wells turned in line Source202636 - 38 wellsNew
Operated D,C,E&F capital expenditures Source2026$230 - $240 million
Total capital expenditures Source2026$255 - $285 millionLowered
Average daily production Source202641,000 - 44,000 Boe/dNew
Oil share of production Source202667% - 68%New
Lease operating expenses including workovers Source2026$8.50 - $8.90 per BoeNew
Gathering, processing and transportation expenses Source2026$4.25 - $4.50 per BoeNew
General and administrative expenses Source2026$1.50 - $1.75 per BoeNew
Crude price planning assumption Source2026mid-to-upper $50s per barrelNew
Annual liquidity from dividend suspension Source2026$20 - $25 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 guidance and capital budget provided, as approved by the Board of Directors. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Annual capital budget reduced to align expenditures with cash flow generation. Source
  • Ended: Quarterly dividend suspended in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • New: Drilling rig released in late January, moving the program to one rig and one frac crew. Source
  • New: Hedging program expanded to address commodity price volatility. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter net loss recorded: Net loss of $25.2 million, or ($0.21) per diluted share, with EBITDAX of $113.9 million, or $0.82 per diluted share. Source
  • Full-year net income reported: Full-year 2025 net income of $19.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, with EBITDAX of $607.1 million, or $4.40 per diluted share. Source
  • Revenue lower year over year: Total operating revenues were $165.8 million in the fourth quarter against $248.9 million a year earlier, and $863.4 million for full-year 2025 against $1,117.2 million. Source
  • Free cash flow negative in 2025: Free cash flow was negative $7.4 million in the fourth quarter and negative $37.8 million for full-year 2025, against $89.7 million in 2024. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower: Net cash from operations was $511.6 million for full-year 2025 against $690.4 million in 2024; fourth-quarter discretionary cash flow was $78.8 million. Source
  • Derivative gains and debt charge: Full-year 2025 included a $25.4 million loss on extinguishment of debt and a $44.9 million derivative gain; the fourth quarter had a $19.5 million derivative gain. Source

Production and drilling activity

  • Fourth-quarter sales volumes 43.7 MBoe/d: Fourth-quarter volumes were about 64% crude oil and 83% liquids; full-year 2025 averaged 48.3 MBoe/d, about 68% crude oil and 85% liquids. Source
  • Wells drilled and turned in line: Full-year 2025 operations ran one to two rigs and one frac crew; fourth quarter drilled 15 gross wells with two rigs and turned 13 gross wells in line. Source
  • Wells in progress at year-end: 23 gross wells were in various stages of drilling and completion at year-end 2025, against 19 gross at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Early 2026 production above 46: Quarter-to-date production exceeded 46 MBoe/d, including the effects of winter storm Fern. Source

“We are building a business that is durable through the cycle, beginning with strengthening our financial foundation.”

Michael Hollis, President and CEO

Realized prices and product mix

  • Full-year unhedged realized price: Realized price was $48.98 per Boe, or 75% of the NYMEX crude weighted average; including derivatives it was $49.77 per Boe. Source
  • Fourth-quarter prices by product: Fourth-quarter realized price was $41.27 per Boe, or 70% of NYMEX crude; natural gas realized $0.17 per Mcf before derivatives and $0.76 with them. Source
  • Derivatives added to realizations: With derivatives, full-year oil realized $65.82 per Bbl and gas $1.82 per Mcf; fourth-quarter oil realized $60.36 per Bbl with derivatives. Source

Unit costs and margins

  • Full-year cash costs and unhedged margin: Cash costs were $15.33 per Boe, including lease operating $6.78, workovers $1.13, gathering $3.88, production taxes $2.11 and G&A $1.43; unhedged EBITDAX was $33.65 per Boe. Source
  • Fourth-quarter cash costs and margin: Fourth-quarter cash costs were $14.45 per Boe, with lease operating $7.46, workovers $1.72 and gathering $4.38 per Boe; unhedged EBITDAX was $26.81 per Boe. Source
  • Severance tax refund cut taxes: Fourth-quarter production and ad valorem taxes were a negative $0.08 per Boe, reflecting a $10 million natural gas severance tax refund. Source
  • Exploration and abandonment expense detail: Exploration and abandonments were $13.0 million in the fourth quarter against $0.4 million a year earlier, and $16.7 million for full-year 2025. Source

“Although recent events in the world have caused a surge in near-term oil prices, we are committed to developing our assets at the appropriate cadence”

Michael Hollis, President and CEO

Capital spending, debt and cash

  • 2026 capital budget reduced sharply: Full-year 2025 capital expenditures excluding acquisitions were $511.8 million; the 2026 total budget is $255 to $285 million, which management describes as down nearly 50%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter capital spending: Fourth-quarter capital expenditures excluding acquisitions were $119.9 million, including a second rig added in October and released in mid-January 2026. Source
  • Long-term debt higher at year-end: Long-term debt, net was $1,132.8 million at December 31, 2025, against $928.4 million a year earlier; the current portion was $60.0 million. Source
  • Term loan borrowings and repayments: Full-year 2025 borrowed $180.0 million under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and repaid $60.0 million; a $25.4 million loss on extinguishment was recognized. Source
  • Cash balance higher at year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $162.1 million at December 31, 2025, against $86.6 million a year earlier. Source

Returns to shareholders

  • Fourth-quarter dividend paid: The Board approved a $0.04 per share quarterly dividend, with $5.0 million paid to stockholders in the quarter; full-year 2025 dividends declared were $0.16 per share. Source
  • Dividend suspended to add liquidity: The Board suspended the dividend in the first quarter of 2026; management estimates this adds $20 to $25 million of annual liquidity. Source
  • No share repurchases in 2025: No shares were repurchased in 2025, against $35.2 million in 2024; dividends paid were $20.9 million in 2025 and $20.1 million in 2024. Source

Commodity hedging positions

  • Hedging program being expanded: Management is expanding the hedging program to mitigate commodity price volatility, with positions listed through 2027. Source
  • Crude swaps and collars for 2026: For April to June 2026, crude positions include 10,000 Bbl per day of WTI Cushing swaps at $64.91 and 12,350 Bbl per day of costless collars with a $59.87 floor and $66.82 ceiling. Source
  • Gas swaps at $4.30 for 2026: Natural gas swaps cover 30,000 MMBtu per day at Henry Hub $4.30 for April through December 2026. Source

2026 plan and priorities

  • Profitability and free cash flow first: The 2026 plan uses one rig and one completion crew and is designed to operate within cash flow with crude averaging the mid-to-upper $50s per barrel. Source
  • Free cash flow directed to debt: Incremental free cash flow in a stronger price environment goes to accelerating debt reduction; the top financial objective is strengthening the balance sheet. Source
  • Development paced cautiously: Management is cautious about accelerating development into a volatile market and cites multiple decades of high-return inventory at the current pace. Source
  • Life-of-field infrastructure supports returns: Management points to a life-of-field infrastructure system designed to extract resources efficiently and maximize returns for shareholders. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 March 2026

  • Roth Conference appearance in March: HighPeak will participate in person at the 38th Annual Roth Conference in Dana Point, California, March 23 to 25, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Production volumes SourceQ4 2025 43.7 MBoe/d; FY2025 48.3 MBoe/d; 2026 guidance 41,000 - 44,000 Boe/d
Realized prices SourceFY2025 $48.98 per Boe unhedged, $49.77 with derivatives; oil $65.43 per Bbl
Proved reserves Source174 MMBoe at December 31, 2025 (66% crude oil)
PV-10 Sourceapproximately $2.1 billion at year-end 2025
Capital expenditures SourceFY2025 $511.8 million excluding acquisitions; 2026 total $255 - $285 million
Unit costs SourceFY2025 cash costs $15.33 per Boe; Q4 2025 $14.45 per Boe
Shareholder returns SourceDividend $0.04 per share quarterly; $5.0 million paid in Q4 2025; suspended Q1 2026

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cites geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price volatility as reasons for a measured 2026 approach. Source
  • Operational: Management notes that inventory depth and remaining Tier 1 locations are sector-wide themes and does not take its own position for granted. Source
  • Financial: Management names strengthening the balance sheet as the top financial objective, given the company's debt position. Source
  • External: Winter storm Fern affected production in early 2026, which management included in its quarter-to-date production figure. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Plan states an aim to maximize free cash flow and accelerate debt paydown in a higher price environment. Source
  • Not stated: Management lists strict cost optimization as one of three plan elements for 2026. 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.