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Matador Resources Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 12 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record fourth-quarter production: Fourth quarter production averaged 211,290 BOE per day, the highest in company history and 2% above the midpoint of October 2025 guidance. Growth came from Arrowhead and Ranger wells. Source
  • Proved reserves reached record: Proved reserves rose 9% to 667.0 million BOE at year-end 2025, with a 173% replacement ratio, about 98% organic. Future development cost per BOE fell 6% to $10.34. Source
  • First quarter 2026 cut: Management revised the first quarter forecast lower. Drivers were January winter storm shut-ins, elective shut-ins, and scheduled maintenance at a third-party treatment plant. Source
  • Five Point moves its stake: Five Point is moving its 49% San Mateo stake into a continuation vehicle. Management wants to work on transactions, including combining Matador's wholly-owned midstream assets with San Mateo. Source
  • Hugh Brinson gives Henry Hub access: Matador holds 500 MMBtu per day of firm transport on Energy Transfer's Hugh Brinson pipeline, giving access from Waha to Henry Hub. Each $0.50 per MMBtu change in realized gas price is about $90 million of annual revenue. Source
  • Oil output to grow about 3%: Management projects 2026 oil production of 122,000 to 124,000 barrels per day, about 3% growth, with natural gas of 525 to 545 million cubic feet per day. Source
  • Capital spending cut 11%: Management said the plan reduces total 2026 capex 11% to $1.50 billion, citing operating efficiencies and a 13% reduction in well cycle time. Source

“2025 was another record year for Matador and San Mateo.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Oil production Sourcefull-year 2026122,000 to 124,000 Bbl/dKept
Natural gas production Sourcefull-year 2026525.0 to 545.0 MMcf/dNew
Oil equivalent production Sourcefull-year 2026209,500 to 215,000 BOE/dKept
Total operating expenses per BOE Sourcefull-year 2026$30.00 to $31.00New
Current income taxes Sourcefull-year 20260% to 0.5% of pretax incomeNew
D/C/E capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$1.35 to $1.44 billionNew
Midstream capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$100 to $110 millionNew
Total D/C/E and midstream capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$1.45 to $1.55 billionKept
Drilling and completion cost per lateral foot Sourcefull-year 2026$785 to $805 per lateral footNew
Production Sourcefirst quarter 2026201,000 to 205,000 BOE/d; 115,500 to 117,500 Bbl/d oil; 515.0 to 525.0 MMcf/d gasLowered from Forecast previously expected consistent with fourth quarter 2025 volumes of 211,290 BOE/d
D/C/E and midstream capital expenditures Sourcefirst quarter 2026about $425 million totalNew
Combined midstream Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026$360 million, up 8%New
Average lateral length Sourcefull-year 2026about 10% increase versus 2025New
Batch developments share of net lateral footage Sourcefull-year 2026about 50%, up from 40% in 2025New
Net operated wells turned to sales Sourcefirst quarter 2026about 34 net (39 gross) operated wellsNew
Shareholder returns Sourcefull-year 2026similar amount to 2025 ($218.9 million returned)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance ranges were given in this release. The prior release said the customary 2026 forecast would follow with the February 2026 earnings release.
  • Guidance lowered: The first quarter 2026 production forecast was revised lower, after earlier expectations of volumes consistent with fourth quarter 2025. Source
  • New: Matador changed how it reports taxes: taxes other than income tax are now one line in the income statement, for all periods presented. Source
  • New: Five Point is moving its 49% San Mateo stake into a continuation vehicle, which management said would allow the partnership to continue. Source
  • New: Matador plans to test the Woodford shale on prospective acreage in the first half of 2026. Source
  • New: The enhanced completion surfactant program is planned to expand in 2026 and 2027, with initial funding in the 2026 capital budget. Source

Record 2025 production and reserves

  • Record fourth-quarter production: Fourth quarter production averaged 211,290 BOE per day, the highest in company history and 2% above the midpoint of October 2025 guidance. Growth came from Arrowhead and Ranger wells. Source
  • Proved reserves reached record: Proved reserves rose 9% to 667.0 million BOE at year-end 2025, with a 173% replacement ratio, about 98% organic. Future development cost per BOE fell 6% to $10.34. Source
  • Full-year production grew 21%: Full-year 2025 D/C/E capex of $1.53 billion stayed within the expected range. The company delivered 129.4 net wells, 8.1 more than February 2025 guidance. Source

Fourth quarter operations and cadence

  • Gas shut-ins held back volumes: About 4,000 BOE per day was shut in during the fourth quarter because of low natural gas prices at Waha. Most of these shut-ins had been included in the fourth quarter guidance. Source
  • Wells pulled forward from first quarter: The company turned 30.4 net operated wells to sales in the fourth quarter, about three more than expected, because they were pulled forward from the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • First quarter 2026 cut: Management revised the first quarter forecast lower. Drivers were January winter storm shut-ins, elective shut-ins, and scheduled maintenance at a third-party treatment plant. Source
  • First quarter is the 2026 low: Management expects first quarter 2026 to be the lowest quarter of 2026, with a significant increase from the second quarter and steady gains after that. Source

“Altogether, Matador projects its drilling plans, capital efficiencies and other catalysts to drive a 2026 operating plan that grows oil production by approximately 3% to 123,000 barrels of oil per day”

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

Midstream and San Mateo

  • Midstream earnings reported for 2025: Combined San Mateo and wholly-owned midstream assets reported net income of $239 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $332 million for 2025. Source
  • Gas gathering hit quarterly high: San Mateo's gas gathering reached 559 MMcf per day in the fourth quarter, up 23% year over year. Oil gathering fell 14% as Matador drilled outside Eddy and Loving Counties. Source
  • Five Point moves its stake: Five Point is moving its 49% San Mateo stake into a continuation vehicle. Management wants to work on transactions, including combining Matador's wholly-owned midstream assets with San Mateo. Source
  • Cash distributions from San Mateo: San Mateo distributed $35.7 million to Matador in the fourth quarter and $136.7 million for 2025. Five Point performance incentives added $13 million for the year. Source

Gas marketing and pricing

  • Hugh Brinson gives Henry Hub access: Matador holds 500 MMBtu per day of firm transport on Energy Transfer's Hugh Brinson pipeline, giving access from Waha to Henry Hub. Each $0.50 per MMBtu change in realized gas price is about $90 million of annual revenue. Source
  • Henry Hub premium to Waha: Management said realized pricing at Henry Hub was as much as $3 per MMBtu higher than at Waha during 2025. Source
  • Gas price fell in fourth quarter: Realized gas price without derivatives was $0.91 per Mcf in the fourth quarter, against $1.95 in the third quarter and $2.72 a year earlier. Source

“The ability to achieve this 3% oil production growth profile while reducing capital expenses illustrates Matador’s successful focus on operating efficiencies and inventory strength.”

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

Costs and drilling efficiency

  • Unit operating costs improved: Operating expenses per BOE were 8% below expectations for the fourth quarter and 4% below the fourth quarter of 2024, which management attributes to efficiency focus. Source
  • Drilling cost per foot to fall: Management expects 2026 drilling and completion cost of $785 to $805 per lateral foot, a 6% reduction, driven by faster drilling and completion footage cutting cycle times about 13%. Source
  • Batch developments add efficiency: Batch developments are expected to make up about half of net lateral footage turned to sales in 2026, up from 40% in 2025. Source

2026 operating and capital plan

  • Oil output to grow about 3%: Management projects 2026 oil production of 122,000 to 124,000 barrels per day, about 3% growth, with natural gas of 525 to 545 million cubic feet per day. Source
  • Capital spending cut 11%: Management said the plan reduces total 2026 capex 11% to $1.50 billion, citing operating efficiencies and a 13% reduction in well cycle time. Source
  • Capex front-loaded into first quarter: Management expects D/C/E and midstream capex to be front-loaded, with 55 to 60% of full-year guidance spent in the first half, including about $425 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Midstream capex falls to $100-110M: Management estimates 2026 midstream capex of $100 to $110 million, including $50 to $60 million for Matador's 51% share of San Mateo and $50 to $60 million for other projects. Source
  • Longer laterals in 2026: Average lateral length is expected to rise about 10% in 2026. A 13-well batch on Eastern Antelope Ridge, including the company's first 3.4-mile laterals, is expected to turn to sales in the first half. Source

Capital, debt and shareholder returns

  • Shareholder returns held at 2025 level: The company returned $218.9 million in 2025: $163.1 million of fixed dividends and $55.8 million of repurchases. It expects a similar amount in 2026. Source
  • Debt paid down, leverage 1.1 times: The company paid down about $200 million on the RBL in 2025 and raised its dividend for the seventh time in four years. RBL liquidity was $1.8 billion at year-end. Source
  • Half of 2026 oil production hedged: About 50% of projected 2026 oil production is hedged with costless collars, with floors near $53 per barrel and ceilings near $66 per barrel. Source

Land, technology and people

  • Land additions replaced drilled inventory: The land team added 17,500 net acres in 2025, bringing the Delaware Basin position to about 212,500 net acres. Management aims to hold 10 to 15 years of inventory. Source
  • Surfactant tests improved recovery: Preliminary 2025 surfactant tests showed improved recoveries in some formations compared with control wells over 150 days of cumulative production. Source
  • Employee share purchase plan participation: Management said over 95% of employees, field and office, take part in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and management and staff continue to buy shares. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Hugh Brinson pipeline starts flowing: Energy Transfer expects gas flow on the Hugh Brinson pipeline to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with full service in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Woodford shale test: Management plans to test the Woodford shale on prospective acreage in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Eastern Antelope Ridge batch turns to sales: A 13-well batch on Eastern Antelope Ridge, including 3.4-mile laterals, is expected to turn to sales in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Midstream transaction talks with Five Point: Management looks forward to working with Five Point on potential strategic transactions, including combining wholly-owned midstream assets with San Mateo. Source
  • Dividend could rise in 2026: At current commodity prices, management expects to generate significant cash flow in 2026 and to be able to pay and potentially increase the dividend. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total production, fourth quarter 2025 Source211,290 BOE per day
Oil production, fourth quarter 2025 Source121,363 Bbl/d
Natural gas production, fourth quarter 2025 Source539.6 MMcf/d
Production, full-year 2025 Source207,070 BOE per day
Realized oil price, fourth quarter 2025 Source$58.89 per Bbl
Realized natural gas price, fourth quarter 2025 Source$0.91 per Mcf
Total proved reserves, year-end 2025 Source667,047 MBOE
Future finding and development cost per BOE Source$10.34
Standardized measure and PV-10, year-end 2025 Source$7.0 billion; PV-10 $8.2 billion
Shareholder returns, full-year 2025 Source$218.9 million
Share repurchases, full-year 2025 Source$55.8 million
Full-year 2025 D/C/E capex Source$1.53 billion

Risks management discussed

  • External: Most of the fourth quarter shut-in volumes were already in guidance. Waha gas pricing drove the shut-ins during the quarter. Source
  • External: A January winter storm caused weather-related shut-ins of about 4,000 BOE per day, 60% oil, in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Operational: Scheduled maintenance at a third-party treatment plant is expected to shut in about 2,000 BOE per day, 60% oil, in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Financial: Management cited oil price volatility as a reason for hedging about half of projected 2026 oil production. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Fourth quarter production was 2% above the midpoint of the October 2025 guidance of 206,500 BOE per day. Source
  • Ahead: 30.4 net wells were turned to sales in the fourth quarter against 27.5 expected, pulled forward from the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Met: Full-year 2025 D/C/E capex of $1.53 billion was within the expected range. Source
  • Met: The company had said it would give its customary 2026 forecast with the February 2026 earnings release, and this release does so.
  • Delayed: Volumes had been expected to hold steady into the first quarter because of well timing, and the first quarter forecast is now lower. Source
  • Ahead: Full-year 2025 net wells turned to sales were 8.1 above the initial February 2025 guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the 2026 oil production expectation is in line with the October 2025 estimate of 3% growth. 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.