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Matador Resources Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Production above guidance midpoint: Average total production was 207,594 BOE per day, 2% above the midpoint of the 203,000 BOE per day guidance and 5% above first-quarter 2025 production. Source
  • Midstream earnings and EBITDA: Combined San Mateo and wholly-owned midstream assets recorded $52.7 million of quarterly net income and $82.2 million of Adjusted EBITDA, down from $85.6 million in Q4 2025. Source
  • Gas price fell on Waha pricing: Realized gas without hedges averaged $0.64 per Mcf, down 30% from Q4 2025 and 82% from Q1 2025. Management expects Hugh Brinson access to largely address the Waha exposure. Source
  • Operating cost per BOE near top: Operating expenses were $31.05 per BOE in the text and $31.06 in the table, at the high end of the $30.00 to $31.00 per BOE guidance range. Source
  • Q1 capital spend in range: Total Q1 CapEx was $428.1 million, of which D/C/E was $417.6 million, within the $415 to $435 million range set in February. Source
  • RBL balance cut sharply: The CEO said over $350 million was paid down on the RBL since year-end. Credit Agreement borrowings were $185.0 million at March 31, 2026, versus $398.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Over 800 locations added since 2023: Since January 2023 Matador added over 800 net engineered drilling locations, which the CEO said adds seven to eight years of inventory. Source

“Matador is pleased to report a strong start to 2026.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Oil production Sourcefull-year 2026123,000 to 125,000Raised from 122,000 to 124,000
Total oil equivalent production Sourcefull-year 2026210,500 to 216,000Raised from 209,500 to 215,000
Natural gas production Sourcefull-year 2026525.0 to 545.0Kept
Total operating expenses per BOE Sourcefull-year 2026$31.00 to $33.00Raised from $30.00 to $31.00
Current income taxes (% of pretax income) Sourcefull-year 20260% to 1%Raised from 0% to 0.5%
D/C/E CapEx Sourcefull-year 2026$1.35 to $1.44 billionKept
Midstream CapEx Sourcefull-year 2026$100 to $110 millionKept
Total CapEx Sourcefull-year 2026$1.45 to $1.55 billionKept
Adjusted free cash flow Sourcefull-year 2026$1.1 to $1.2 billionNew
Drilling and completion cost per completed lateral foot Sourcefull-year 2026$785 to $805Kept
Net lateral footage turned to sales Sourcefull-year 2026~1.25 million net lateral feetKept
Total BOE production Sourcesecond quarter 2026206,000 to 212,000Lowered
Oil production Sourcesecond quarter 2026123,000 to 125,000New
Natural gas production Sourcesecond quarter 2026498.0 to 522.0New
D/C/E and midstream CapEx Sourcesecond quarter 2026$430 to $460 millionNew
Total CapEx Sourcefirst half 2026$858 to $888 millionNew
Net operated horizontal wells turned to sales Sourcesecond quarter 202623 to 28New
Natural gas revenue sensitivity Sourceannual, after Hugh Brinson access$90 million per $0.50 per MMBtuKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year oil and total BOE production ranges raised, effective May 6, 2026. Source
  • Guidance raised: Total operating expenses per BOE range raised to $31.00 to $33.00 from $30.00 to $31.00. Source
  • Guidance raised: Current income tax range, as a percent of pretax income, raised to 0% to 1% from 0% to 0.5%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Natural gas production, D/C/E, midstream and total CapEx ranges, and the drilling and completion cost range were reaffirmed. Source
  • New guidance: Adjusted free cash flow estimate for full-year 2026 given; the February release contained no figure for it. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter production and capital estimates given; the February release gave first-quarter estimates only. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Second-quarter total production forecast revised lower, citing Waha-related shut-ins and third-party plant maintenance. Source
  • New: Construction began on a new San Mateo water recycling facility during the quarter. Source
  • New: The first Woodford exploratory well finished drilling in the quarter; the release gives no test results. Source

Production and quarterly results

  • Production above guidance midpoint: Average total production was 207,594 BOE per day, 2% above the midpoint of the 203,000 BOE per day guidance and 5% above first-quarter 2025 production. Source
  • Oil output rose year over year: Oil averaged 120,277 Bbl per day, 58% of total volumes; natural gas averaged 523.9 MMcf per day, up 4% year over year. Total production rose 5%. Source
  • New wells outperformed early forecasts: Wells turned to sales in Q1 produced about 2,600 barrels of oil per day above initial expectations. Deferred third-party plant maintenance also supported first-quarter volumes. Source
  • Storm and Waha shut-ins reduced volumes: About 4,000 BOE per day was shut in by Winter Storm Fern and about 3,000 BOE per day by elective shut-ins tied to Waha pricing. Output still exceeded the upper end of guidance. Source
  • More wells turned to sales: The company turned 36 net operated wells to sales in Q1 against 34 expected; the extra two were pulled forward from the second quarter and came on late in March. Source

Midstream and San Mateo

  • San Mateo gathering volumes fell: San Mateo natural gas gathering averaged 530 MMcf per day, down 5% from Q4 2025 but up 13% from Q1 2025. Oil gathering fell 16% sequentially to 45,700 Bbl per day. Source
  • Midstream earnings and EBITDA: Combined San Mateo and wholly-owned midstream assets recorded $52.7 million of quarterly net income and $82.2 million of Adjusted EBITDA, down from $85.6 million in Q4 2025. Source
  • Plant volumes held up in storm: During Winter Storm Fern, San Mateo natural gas plant processing volumes were up to 20% above other Delaware Basin processors, measured against pre-storm volumes. Source
  • Produced water supplies recycling: Treated produced water from Matador and San Mateo assets made up over 30% of recycled water used in Q1. San Mateo continues to invest in recycling infrastructure for completion sales. Source

“Consequently, these first quarter results, combined with continued coordination between Matador and San Mateo’s upstream and midstream businesses, all provide an improved outlook for full-year 2026.”

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

Commodity prices and gas marketing

  • Oil price rose on the quarter: Realized oil without hedges averaged $72.83 per Bbl, up 24% from Q4 2025 and 1% from Q1 2025. Source
  • Gas price fell on Waha pricing: Realized gas without hedges averaged $0.64 per Mcf, down 30% from Q4 2025 and 82% from Q1 2025. Management expects Hugh Brinson access to largely address the Waha exposure. Source
  • Purchased gas sales set a record: Net sales of purchased natural gas reached $38.4 million, a company quarterly record, up from $36.0 million in Q4 2025. Management said the two quarters added about $75 million of cash flow. Source
  • Hedge losses reduced oil realization: Realized derivative losses of $14.5 million lowered realized oil to $68.04 per Bbl. Gas with realized derivatives was $1.44 per Mcf. Source

Operating costs and margins

  • Operating cost per BOE near top: Operating expenses were $31.05 per BOE in the text and $31.06 in the table, at the high end of the $30.00 to $31.00 per BOE guidance range. Source
  • Taxes other than income rose: Taxes other than income were $3.79 per BOE, against $3.18 in Q4 2025, reflecting higher oil prices since the February report. Source
  • Lease, transport and DD&A better: Lease operating, transportation and processing, and DD&A came in better than expected per unit. Lease operating expense was $5.76 per BOE. Source
  • G&A rose on cash-settled awards: G&A was $2.09 per BOE, mainly from cash-settled stock awards remeasured each quarter as the share price rose from $42.44 to $63.18. Source
  • Electric fleets offset diesel costs: Electric and hybrid fracturing fleets cut completion diesel use by over 90%. Management said fuel inflation would otherwise add $30 to $50 per completed lateral foot. Source

“Most notably, our guidance remains intact despite inflationary pressures in oilfield services and market volatility following geopolitical events related to the war in Iran.”

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

Capital spending and well costs

  • Q1 capital spend in range: Total Q1 CapEx was $428.1 million, of which D/C/E was $417.6 million, within the $415 to $435 million range set in February. Source
  • Multi-well completions cut cost: Simul-frac and trimul-frac completions, faster drilling and AI integration were cited as cost reductions that help hold full-year well cost guidance. Source
  • Produced gas replaces trucked CNG: Using field-produced natural gas for completions cut capital per well by $90,000 to $100,000 under current conditions, versus truck-delivered compressed natural gas. Source
  • First-half spend weighted: First-half spend is weighted to large-batch and longer-lateral completions, as flagged in the February earnings report. Source

Balance sheet, cash and shareholder returns

  • RBL balance cut sharply: The CEO said over $350 million was paid down on the RBL since year-end. Credit Agreement borrowings were $185.0 million at March 31, 2026, versus $398.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Liquidity set to reach $2.2 billion: Liquidity is expected to rise to $2.2 billion on full RBL repayment, based on a $2.25 billion elected commitment, with borrowing base capacity of up to $3.25 billion. Source
  • Notes cut interest by $4.3 million: The 2034-maturity senior unsecured notes issue was timed opportunistically and saves $4.3 million of interest a year, according to the CEO. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $113.3 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $113.3 million for Q1 2026, against $69.0 million in Q4 2025 and $141.9 million in Q1 2025. Source
  • San Mateo distributions to Matador: San Mateo distributed $31.6 million to Matador in Q1 2026, down from $35.7 million in Q4 2025. Source
  • Dividend increases listed among uses: Management listed possible fixed dividend increases, land acquisitions and midstream deals as uses of liquidity. Q1 dividends paid were $46.8 million. Source

Strategy, land and reserves

  • Hugh Brinson firm transport secured: Matador secured 500,000 MMBtu per day of firm transport on Energy Transfer’s Hugh Brinson pipeline at zero capital expense. Source
  • Over 800 locations added since 2023: Since January 2023 Matador added over 800 net engineered drilling locations, which the CEO said adds seven to eight years of inventory. Source
  • Finding cost per BOE declined: Future finding and development cost for proved undeveloped reserves fell to $10.34 per BOE from $10.98, per the audited reserve report. Source
  • Peer well productivity comparison: Per Enverus data cited by management, Matador's 12-month cumulative normalized oil volumes rose about 8% in 2024 versus 2021, against an average peer decline of about 9%. Source
  • February priorities progress: Management said Matador made significant progress on its February priorities, which included capital efficiency, RBL reduction, inventory expansion and midstream value. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • RBL to be fully repaid in May: Management expects full repayment of all RBL borrowings later in May 2026. Source
  • Hugh Brinson start timing: Energy Transfer expects gas flow in Q3 or Q4 2026 and full service by year-end 2026. The February release had said flow would begin in Q3 2026 and full service in Q4 2026. Source
  • First 3.4-mile laterals in Q2: Q2 turn-to-sales includes Matador’s first 3.4-mile laterals, part of a 13-well batch on Eastern Antelope Ridge acreage. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Production volumes Source207,594 BOE/d total; 120,277 Bbl/d oil; 523.9 MMcf/d natural gas
Realized oil price Source$72.83 per Bbl without realized derivatives
Realized natural gas price Source$0.64 per Mcf without realized derivatives
Proved reserves Source667.0 million BOE at December 31, 2025, up 9%
Capital expenditure SourceD/C/E $417.6 million in Q1 2026
Operating expenses per BOE Source$31.06 total in the table; $31.05 in the text
Shareholder returns SourceDividends paid $46.8 million; share repurchases $0.7 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management expects elective shut-ins in Q2 tied to Waha pricing; Henry Hub access via Hugh Brinson is expected to reduce this exposure. Source
  • External: Geopolitical events related to the war in Iran drove immediate increases in diesel and related costs, alongside oilfield services inflation. Source
  • Operational: Scheduled third-party treatment plant maintenance, deferred from Q1 into Q2, is expected to reduce Q2 volumes by about 2,000 BOE per day. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said two additional Matador upstream net wells were brought to sales, outperforming the February guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Q1 production exceeded the upper end of the production guidance given earlier. Source
  • Met: Management said Q1 capital spending finished in line with previous guidance estimates. Source
  • Not stated: Management said guidance remains intact despite cost inflation and market volatility; no status word is given. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred back to the strategic priorities set out in the February release and said progress was made on them. 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.