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Matador Resources Co.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 1 lowered, 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record quarterly production above guidance: Production averaged 209,184 BOE per day, a company record, with oil and gas both above the July 2025 guidance midpoints. Source
  • Haynesville non-operated wells added gas: Six non-operated Haynesville wells, mostly mineral interests, added 1.5 Bcf in the quarter, which management links to a 200 to 300 Bcf gas bank in Northwest Louisiana. Source
  • Third quarter capital spend above guidance: Quarterly drilling, completing and equipping spend exceeded the July guidance midpoint by $95 million, reflecting accelerated operating activity. Source
  • Record processing throughput: Processing reached a record quarterly level after the Marlan expansion, providing flow assurance for Matador and repeat third-party customers. Source
  • San Mateo value not fully reflected: Management believes San Mateo’s value is not fully reflected in Matador’s share price and that the team is working on strategic solutions for it. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 44%: Net cash from operating activities rose 44% from the second quarter, per the company, on a consolidated basis including 100% of San Mateo. Source
  • Revolver balance cut by $105 million: Free cash flow and working capital changes funded the paydown, lowering the reserves-based loan balance to $285 million at September 30. Source

“The management team, Board of Directors and staff remain confident in this positive outlook despite occasional headwinds.”

Joseph Wm. Foran, Matador’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total production Sourcefull-year 2025205,500 to 206,500 BOE per dayRaised from 200,000 to 205,000 BOE per day
Oil production Sourcefull-year 2025119,250 to 119,750 Bbl per dayRaised from 117,500 to 119,500 Bbl per day
Natural gas production Sourcefull-year 2025517.5 to 520.5 MMcf per dayRaised from 495 to 513 MMcf per day
D/C/E capital expenditure Sourcefull-year 2025$1.47 to $1.55 billionRaised from $1.18 to $1.37 billion
Midstream capital expenditure Sourcefull-year 2025$155 to $175 millionRaised from $120 to $180 million
Total capital expenditure Sourcefull-year 2025$1.625 to $1.725 billionRaised from $1.30 to $1.55 billion
Net operated wells turned to sales Sourcefull-year 2025118.3 net operated wellsRaised from 106.3 net operated wells
D/C/E cost per completed lateral foot Sourcefull-year 2025$835 to $855Lowered from $865 to $895
Production Sourcefourth quarter of 2025205,000 to 208,000 BOE per day; oil 119,000 to 121,000 Bbl per day; natural gas 516 to 522 MMcf per dayNew
D/C/E capital expenditure Sourcefourth quarter of 2025$300 to $380 millionNew
Midstream capital expenditure Sourcefourth quarter of 2025$10 to $30 millionNew
Net operated wells turned to sales SourceJanuary 202613.6 net operated horizontal wellsNew
Organic production Source2026approximately 210,000 BOE per dayNew
Organic oil production growth Source2026 versus 20252 to 5%New
Total capital expenditure change Source2026 versus 20258 to 12% lowerNew
San Mateo Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2025$285 to $295 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 guidance raised for oil, natural gas and total production, and for capital expenditure. Source
  • Guidance raised: Expected full-year 2025 net operated wells turned to sales increased from 106.3 to 118.3. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2025 drilling and completion cost per lateral foot range lowered. Source
  • New guidance: First fourth quarter 2025 production estimates given, with oil expected to rise and gas to fall. Source
  • New: Annual base dividend raised from $1.25 to $1.50 per share, announced October 15, 2025. Source
  • New: Over $125 million of land transactions completed in the quarter, all in the Delaware Basin. Source

Results and production drivers

  • Record quarterly production above guidance: Production averaged 209,184 BOE per day, a company record, with oil and gas both above the July 2025 guidance midpoints. Source
  • Haynesville non-operated wells added gas: Six non-operated Haynesville wells, mostly mineral interests, added 1.5 Bcf in the quarter, which management links to a 200 to 300 Bcf gas bank in Northwest Louisiana. Source
  • Avalon well payout cited: The Gavilon #104H had more than paid out in about one year; management believes there are over 85 potential future Avalon drilling locations in that area. Source

Drilling and completion activity

  • Third quarter capital spend above guidance: Quarterly drilling, completing and equipping spend exceeded the July guidance midpoint by $95 million, reflecting accelerated operating activity. Source
  • Fourth quarter well costs in third quarter spend: Part of the excess was spending on wells due in the fourth quarter, along with $15 million of unforecast non-operated activity and $9 million of added working interests. Source
  • Lower service pricing cut well costs: Continued execution and lower service pricing reduced drilling and completion cost per lateral foot, supporting the decision to accelerate operating activity in the quarter. Source
  • Completion efficiency up 20%: Drilling days, expanded trimul-frac and remote frac operations, and other initiatives raised 2025 completion efficiency about 20% over the 2024 average. Source

“Matador is fully prepared to make adjustments and to update our guidance as necessary in today’s volatile times and conditions”

Joseph Wm. Foran, Matador’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

Realized prices and oil output

  • Oil price flat sequentially, lower yearly: Realized oil price was essentially unchanged from the second quarter and lower than the third quarter of 2024. Source
  • Gas price down sequentially, up yearly: Realized natural gas price fell from the second quarter and rose from the third quarter of 2024, per the company's comparison table. Source
  • Oil output expected to rise in fourth quarter: Oil output is expected to increase in the fourth quarter because larger well batches were turned on late in the third quarter. Source

San Mateo midstream

  • Ranger North compressor station started: The Ranger North compressor and gathering system started in September, designed for 30 MMcf per day and expandable to 70 MMcf per day. Source
  • First sour gas station adds customer options: Ranger North is San Mateo’s first station built for sour gas, giving it room to add third-party customers in northeastern Lea County. Source
  • Record processing throughput: Processing reached a record quarterly level after the Marlan expansion, providing flow assurance for Matador and repeat third-party customers. Source
  • Midstream results in line with expectations: San Mateo net income and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter were, per management, in line with expectations. Source
  • San Mateo value not fully reflected: Management believes San Mateo’s value is not fully reflected in Matador’s share price and that the team is working on strategic solutions for it. Source

“Over time, these targeted acquisitions by our land team have positioned us with over 10 years of engineered locations with average rates of return of approximately 50% at oil price levels even as low as $50 per barrel.”

Joseph Wm. Foran, Matador’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

Costs and cash generation

  • Operating cash flow up 44%: Net cash from operating activities rose 44% from the second quarter, per the company, on a consolidated basis including 100% of San Mateo. Source
  • Net income and EPS reported: Matador’s integrated business reported net income, diluted earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow reported: Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow for the quarter funded debt repayment, according to the company. Source
  • Unit G&A and midstream costs rose: General and administrative cost per BOE rose from the second quarter, and the company notes it includes non-cash stock-based compensation. Source

Debt and liquidity

  • Revolver balance cut by $105 million: Free cash flow and working capital changes funded the paydown, lowering the reserves-based loan balance to $285 million at September 30. Source
  • Nine-month repayments total $311 million: Borrowings under the reserves-based loan were reduced by $311 million during the first nine months of 2025. Source
  • Leverage under 1.0x, liquidity about $2 billion: Debt-to-EBITDA leverage was under 1.0x and available liquidity under the current reserves-based loan was about $2 billion at September 30, 2025. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Dividend yield about 3.5%: The base dividend represents an annualized yield of about 3.5% as of October 20, 2025, based on the current share price. Source
  • Buybacks total $55 million: Under the current authorization, 1.3 million shares were repurchased, over 1% of shares outstanding, through October 21, 2025. Source
  • Insiders bought about 67,000 shares: Directors and executive officers bought about 67,000 shares during 2025, and over 95% of employees took part in the employee share purchase plan. Source

Land, 2026 plan and priorities

  • Brick-by-brick land acquisitions continue: Land purchases aim to improve the over 200,000 net acre Delaware Basin position and raise working interests and mineral positions in key areas. Source
  • Five top priorities for 2026: Named priorities are a strong balance sheet, growing proved reserves, more engineered inventory, brick-by-brick acreage buying and midstream growth. Source
  • Flexible 2026 capital program: The 2026 program is described as capital-efficient, with ability to adjust production and capital depending on commodity prices and the economy. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 October 2025

  • Full-year 2026 forecast due February: The customary full-year 2026 forecast will be provided with the February 2026 earnings release. Source
  • Dividend payable December 5: The increased quarterly dividend of $0.375 per share is payable December 5, 2025 to holders of record on November 10, 2025. Source
  • San Mateo strategic solutions in progress: The team is working on strategic solutions to increase the value of San Mateo; no timing was given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total production Source209,184 BOE per day
Oil production Source119,556 Bbl per day
Natural gas production Source537.8 MMcf per day
Realized oil price Source$64.91 per Bbl
Realized natural gas price Source$1.95 per Mcf
D/C/E capital expenditure Source$429.9 million
Midstream capital expenditure Source$42.8 million
Drilling and completion cost Source$855 per completed lateral foot
Lease operating cost Source$5.58 per BOE
Total operating cost Source$30.31 per BOE
Share repurchases Source1.3 million shares for about $55 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Production from six non-operated Haynesville wells is expected to decline, reducing fourth quarter gas volumes. Source
  • External: Negative Waha prices led to shut-ins of about 0.9 Bcf of gas and 45,000 Bbl of oil in October 2025, removed from fourth quarter estimates. Source
  • Demand: Management says it can flex the capital program based on changes in economic conditions, commodity prices and service prices. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Production exceeded the July 2025 guidance midpoint by 5%. Source
  • Not stated: Third quarter midstream capital expenditure was described as consistent with the expected range. 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.