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Murphy OIL Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 3 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose on higher prices: Net income attributable to Murphy was $232.2 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, against $22.3 million a year earlier. Management attributed the increase to stronger commodity prices and continued operational outperformance. Source
  • Output at upper end of guidance: Total net production excluding NCI was 168,995 BOEPD, against 174,236 BOEPD in the first quarter. The company cited Tupper Montney well performance as the main driver. Source
  • Realized oil prices rose year on year: US onshore oil realized $99.55 per barrel against $64.00, US offshore $99.36 against $64.48, and Canada offshore $103.88 against $64.76. Onshore gas realizations were lower in the US and Canada. Source
  • Lease operating costs fell: Lease operating expense was $8.83 per BOE excluding NCI, against $11.80 a year earlier. Total lease operating expenses were $143.7 million, against $215.6 million. Source
  • Full-year capital program raised: The full-year capital program was expanded to pursue appraisal and development work, with the midpoint raised to $1.55 billion. Second-quarter capital expenditure attributable to Murphy was $476.0 million. Source
  • Bubale-1X oil discovery: The Bubale-1X well in Block CI-709 offshore Côte d'Ivoire encountered 100 feet of net pay across two reservoirs. Source
  • Dividends paid, no buybacks: Murphy paid $50 million in quarterly dividends and did not repurchase shares in the quarter. $550 million remains under the repurchase authorization; 143.4 million shares were outstanding at June 30. Source

“Murphy enters the second half of 2026 with a growing exploration pipeline and multiple pathways to long-term shareholder value creation.”

Eric M. Hambly, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total net production, excl. NCI Sourcethird quarter 2026171,000 to 179,000 BOEPDNew
Capital expenditures, excl. NCI Sourcethird quarter 2026$380 - $460 millionNew
Exploration expense Sourcethird quarter 2026$135 millionNew
Total net production, excl. NCI Sourcefull year 2026167,000 to 175,000 BOEPDKept
Capital expenditures, excl. NCI Sourcefull year 2026$1,500 to $1,600 millionRaised from $1,200 to $1,300 million
Exploration expense Sourcefull year 2026$300 million
Onshore wells online Sourcefull year 202610 non-operated Eagle Ford Shale wells (gross)Raised from 6 non-operated Eagle Ford Shale wells
Chinook #8 gross initial production rate Sourcefourth quarter 2026approximately 15 MBOEPDKept
Lac Da Vang first oil Sourcefourth quarter 2026fourth quarter 2026Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year capital expenditure guidance was raised; the midpoint moved from $1.25 billion to $1.55 billion to fund high-impact appraisal and development work. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 guidance was given for production, capital expenditure and exploration expense, which were not in the prior release's full-year figures. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 production guidance excluding noncontrolling interest was kept at 167,000 to 175,000 BOEPD. Source
  • New: Bubale-1X exploration well in Block CI-709 offshore Côte d'Ivoire announced an oil discovery with 100 feet of net pay. Source
  • Ended: Hai Su Vang appraisal program in Vietnam concluded, with the final well expensed as a dry hole. Source
  • New: Pipelines at the Lac Da Vang project were installed and the FSO was launched. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose on higher prices: Net income attributable to Murphy was $232.2 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, against $22.3 million a year earlier. Management attributed the increase to stronger commodity prices and continued operational outperformance. Source
  • Adjusted results and free cash flow: Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $225.8 million, or $1.55 per diluted share. Free cash flow was $110.0 million, against $17.8 million a year earlier; adjusted EBITDAX was $632.0 million. Source
  • Revenue from production rose: Revenue from production was $926.3 million for the quarter, against $683.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source

Production and realized prices

  • Output at upper end of guidance: Total net production excluding NCI was 168,995 BOEPD, against 174,236 BOEPD in the first quarter. The company cited Tupper Montney well performance as the main driver. Source
  • Onshore and offshore volumes: Onshore produced about 103,800 BOEPD, 38 percent liquids. Offshore excluding NCI produced about 65,000 BOEPD, 88 percent liquids. Source
  • Realized oil prices rose year on year: US onshore oil realized $99.55 per barrel against $64.00, US offshore $99.36 against $64.48, and Canada offshore $103.88 against $64.76. Onshore gas realizations were lower in the US and Canada. Source

“Bubale-1X has broadened our opportunity set, Hai Su Vang has progressed from appraisal to development planning, and Lac Da Vang is nearing first oil.”

Eric M. Hambly, President and Chief Executive Officer

Segments, regions and wells

  • Gulf of America drilling completed: Gulf of America produced 57,100 BOEPD excluding NCI. Drilling on Chinook #8 finished and completion work has started. Source
  • Eagle Ford and Kaybob wells online: The Eagle Ford program brought six wells online and Kaybob Duvernay brought four. Eagle Ford produced 39,100 BOEPD and Kaybob Duvernay 6,600 BOEPD in the quarter. Source
  • Lac Da Vang FSO launched: Pipelines were installed and the FSO launched at Lac Da Vang in Vietnam. After quarter end, topsides were installed and the FSO was mobilized to its final location. Source

Costs, margins and cash flow

  • Lease operating costs fell: Lease operating expense was $8.83 per BOE excluding NCI, against $11.80 a year earlier. Total lease operating expenses were $143.7 million, against $215.6 million. Source
  • Exploration expense rose on dry hole: Exploration expenses, including undeveloped lease amortization, were $39.3 million, against $10.4 million, reflecting the Hai Su Vang-4X well expensed as a dry hole. Source
  • Depreciation rose per barrel: DD&A was $16.20 per BOE excluding NCI, against $14.28 a year earlier. Severance and ad valorem taxes were $0.96 per BOE, against $0.62. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by continuing operations was $655.9 million, which includes a $67.5 million working capital inflow. Operating cash flow before working capital adjustments was $588.4 million. Source

“The breadth of our portfolio creates optionality, allowing us to prioritize the highest-value opportunities and maximize shareholder returns,”

Eric M. Hambly, President and Chief Executive Officer

Capital spending and program

  • Full-year capital program raised: The full-year capital program was expanded to pursue appraisal and development work, with the midpoint raised to $1.55 billion. Second-quarter capital expenditure attributable to Murphy was $476.0 million. Source
  • Other exploration spending rose: Capital expenditure in the Other exploration and production category was $152.6 million, against $26.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capex split by country: United States exploration and production capital expenditure was $276.2 million, against $178.4 million, and Canada was $64.3 million, against $45.7 million. Source

Exploration and project pipeline

  • Bubale-1X oil discovery: The Bubale-1X well in Block CI-709 offshore Côte d'Ivoire encountered 100 feet of net pay across two reservoirs. Source
  • Hai Su Vang moves to development planning: Management said the Hai Su Vang project has moved from appraisal to development planning following the concluded appraisal program. Source
  • Exploration wells spud after quarter: Two exploration wells were spud after quarter end: the Bubale West-1X appraisal well in Block CI-103 and the Lac Da Trang North-1X exploration well in Vietnam. Source

Shareholder returns and balance sheet

  • Dividends paid, no buybacks: Murphy paid $50 million in quarterly dividends and did not repurchase shares in the quarter. $550 million remains under the repurchase authorization; 143.4 million shares were outstanding at June 30. Source
  • Liquidity and debt position: Liquidity was about $2.48 billion, including the undrawn $2.00 billion credit facility and about $480 million of cash inclusive of NCI. Total debt of $1.55 billion is fixed-rate notes. Source
  • Debt maturity and coupon: The fixed-rate notes have a weighted average maturity of 8.7 years, against 8.9 years at March 31, and a weighted average coupon of 6.3 percent, against 6.2 percent. Source
  • Canada gas forward sales set: Fixed-price forward sales cover 88 MMCF/d of Canadian gas at C$2.81 for July to September 2026, and 59 MMCF/d at C$3.00 for October to December 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Lac Da Vang first oil targeted: First oil is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026; the FSO was moved to its final location after quarter end. Source
  • Catarina and Tilden wells follow: Eight operated Catarina wells and six non-operated Tilden wells are coming online after quarter end. Source
  • Tupper Montney pad online: The eight-well Tupper Montney pad came online after quarter end, in line with the 3Q 2026 well plan. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total net production, excl. NCI (BOEPD) Source168,995
Oil production, excl. NCI (BOPD) Source85,265
Realized oil price, US onshore ($/bbl) Source99.55
Realized gas price, US onshore ($/Mcf) Source2.41
Capital expenditures attributable to Murphy ($ million) Source476.0
Lease operating expense, excl. NCI ($/BOE) Source8.83
Shareholder returns in quarter ($ million) Source50 dividends; 0 repurchases

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Appraisal wells can be expensed as dry holes; the Hai Su Vang-4X well was expensed in the second quarter. Source
  • Financial: Exploration expense guidance includes assumed dry hole expense in both halves of 2026, which affects reported earnings. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the onshore program was executed as planned in the quarter. Source
  • Met: Production of 169,000 BOEPD was reported at the upper end of the second quarter guidance range. Source
  • On track: Management said the Lac Da Vang project remains on track for first oil in the fourth quarter of 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.