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National Fuel GAS Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new, 11 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose 58% in quarter: Fourth quarter adjusted EPS was $1.22, against $0.77 a year earlier. GAAP EPS was $1.18, compared with a net loss of $1.84 per share. Source
  • Fiscal year adjusted EPS reached $6.91: Fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS was $6.91, up from $5.01. GAAP EPS was $5.68, compared with $0.84 in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Segment adjusted earnings rose $43.6 million: Seneca and Gathering adjusted earnings were $106.9 million, up $43.6 million, mainly from higher production, higher realized prices, and lower per unit operating expenses. Segment adjusted EBITDA was $241.1 million. Source
  • Production rose 21% on Tioga County pads: Seneca produced 112 Bcf in the quarter, up 20 Bcf. Management said two Utica pads turned in line in Tioga County were the main drivers. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $1.10 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.10 billion for the fiscal year, compared with $1.07 billion. Net cash used in investing activities was $891.7 million. Source
  • Expansion projects progressing as planned: Management said the Tioga Pathway and Shippingport Lateral projects are progressing as planned. It is seeing more interest in further capacity additions on its FERC-regulated system. Source
  • Tioga County transport agreement signed: Management said a precedent agreement for new firm transportation from Tioga County to premium markets has an expected in-service date of late 2028. Source

“Driven by great execution across our businesses, adjusted earnings per share increased by 58% compared to the prior year.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$7.60 - $8.10New
NYMEX natural gas price assumption Sourcefiscal 2026$3.75 per MMBtuNew
Adjusted EPS sensitivity at NYMEX $3.00 Sourcefiscal 2026$6.55 - $7.05Raised from $6.35 - $6.85
Adjusted EPS sensitivity at NYMEX $4.00 Sourcefiscal 2026$8.00 - $8.50Kept
Appalachian basin spot price assumption Sourcefiscal 2026$2.85 per MMBtuNew
Consolidated effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026~25.5%Kept
Consolidated capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$955 - $1,065 millionKept
Integrated Upstream and Gathering capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$560 - $610 millionKept
Pipeline and Storage capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$210 - $250 millionKept
Utility capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$185 - $205 millionKept
Seneca production Sourcefiscal 2026440 to 455 BcfKept
Lease operating expense per Mcf Sourcefiscal 2026$0.17 - $0.18 per Mcf
Depreciation, depletion and amortization per Mcf Sourcefiscal 2026$0.76 - $0.81 per Mcf
Pipeline and Storage segment revenues Sourcefiscal 2026$415 - $430 millionKept
Utility customer margin Sourcefiscal 2026$470 - $490 millionKept
Utility O&M expense Sourcefiscal 2026$250 - $260 millionKept
Utility non-service pension and OPEB income Sourcefiscal 2026$23 - $27 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The adjusted EPS range at a $3.00 NYMEX assumption moved from $6.35 - $6.85 to $6.55 - $7.05. The $4.00 range is unchanged at $8.00 - $8.50. Source
  • New guidance: A formal fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS range of $7.60 - $8.10 replaces the N/A shown for consolidated adjusted EPS in the prior guidance summary. Source
  • Guidance kept: Other major assumptions in the updated range are consistent with the preliminary guidance given last quarter. Source
  • New: Exploration and Production and Gathering were combined into one reporting segment, Integrated Upstream and Gathering. Prior periods were restated. Source
  • New: Announced the acquisition of CenterPoint Energy's Ohio natural gas utility for $2.62 billion. Source
  • New: Supply Corporation filed a FERC application for the Shippingport Lateral Project. Source
  • Ended: The Northern Access project is no longer expected to proceed to construction, according to the company's determination. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose 58% in quarter: Fourth quarter adjusted EPS was $1.22, against $0.77 a year earlier. GAAP EPS was $1.18, compared with a net loss of $1.84 per share. Source
  • Fiscal year adjusted EPS reached $6.91: Fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS was $6.91, up from $5.01. GAAP EPS was $5.68, compared with $0.84 in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Regulated segments added $2.24 per share: The Utility and Pipeline & Storage segments together contributed $2.24 adjusted EPS, up 21%, which management attributed largely to rate settlements. Source

Integrated Upstream and Gathering

  • Segment adjusted earnings rose $43.6 million: Seneca and Gathering adjusted earnings were $106.9 million, up $43.6 million, mainly from higher production, higher realized prices, and lower per unit operating expenses. Segment adjusted EBITDA was $241.1 million. Source
  • Production rose 21% on Tioga County pads: Seneca produced 112 Bcf in the quarter, up 20 Bcf. Management said two Utica pads turned in line in Tioga County were the main drivers. Source
  • Cash operating cost per Mcf fell $0.04: Total cash operating costs were $0.53 per Mcf in the quarter. LOE fell $0.05 per Mcf, mainly on lower repairs and maintenance. DD&A was $0.74 per Mcf. Source
  • Proved reserves rose 5%: Total proved reserves at September 30, 2025 were 4,981 Bcfe, up 229 Bcfe or 5% from a year earlier. Source

“In addition to our long-standing modernization program, which we expect will continue to drive rate base growth, we see new capacity additions enhancing our growth outlook.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer

Pipeline and Storage segment

  • Quarter earnings up on prior-year impairment: Pipeline and Storage GAAP earnings were $27.9 million, up $33.8 million, because the prior-year quarter included an impairment. Adjusted earnings were flat. Source
  • Fiscal year earnings rose $41.3 million: Fiscal 2025 Pipeline and Storage earnings were $121.0 million, up from $79.7 million. Diluted EPS for the segment was $1.33. Source
  • Segment adjusted EBITDA roughly flat: Pipeline and Storage adjusted EBITDA was $62.6 million in the quarter, $0.1 million above the prior year. Fiscal year adjusted EBITDA was $270.8 million. Source

Utility segment

  • Utility GAAP loss widened $1.0 million: Utility GAAP loss was $17.8 million, $1.0 million wider than a year earlier. Higher O&M and a higher income tax expense more than offset higher customer margin. Source
  • Utility adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Utility adjusted EBITDA was $2.0 million in the quarter, compared with a loss of $0.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Customer margin rose $5.3 million: Customer margin, operating revenue less purchased gas, rose $5.3 million. Management cited the New York rate settlement increase as the main reason. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Realized gas price rose $0.21 per Mcf: Seneca's realized price after hedging and transportation was $2.61 per Mcf, up $0.21. Management attributed this to higher NYMEX and higher local spot prices in Pennsylvania. Source
  • Gathering O&M per Mcf rose $0.02: Gathering O&M expense rose $4.4 million to $15.0 million, or $0.13 per Mcf, from $0.11 per Mcf a year earlier. Source
  • Corporate loss rose on deal fees: The Corporate and All Other net loss was $6.3 million, $3.3 million larger than a year earlier. Management said professional fees for the Ohio acquisition were a main cause. Source
  • Utility O&M rose $3.8 million: Utility O&M rose on higher personnel costs, partly offset by lower uncollectible expenses under a tracker. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Fiscal year capital spending down $23.9 million: Total fiscal 2025 capital expenditures were $918.1 million, compared with $942.0 million. Integrated Upstream and Gathering spending fell $40.2 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $1.10 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.10 billion for the fiscal year, compared with $1.07 billion. Net cash used in investing activities was $891.7 million. Source
  • Long-term debt reduced and reissued: The company reduced long-term debt by $1.00 billion and received $988.7 million from new long-term debt issuance in the fiscal year. Source
  • Dividend raised, buybacks made: Dividends paid were $188.4 million and share repurchases were $54.4 million in the fiscal year. The annual dividend rate is $2.14 per share. Source

Strategy and expansion projects

  • Expansion projects progressing as planned: Management said the Tioga Pathway and Shippingport Lateral projects are progressing as planned. It is seeing more interest in further capacity additions on its FERC-regulated system. Source
  • Upper Utica inventory expanded: About 220 locations for a new horizon in the upper Utica were added, raising EDA inventory by 50%. Source
  • Tioga County transport agreement signed: Management said a precedent agreement for new firm transportation from Tioga County to premium markets has an expected in-service date of late 2028. Source

Demand, volumes and weather

  • Utility throughput up 963 MMcf: Utility throughput was 14,508 MMcf in the quarter, up 963 MMcf from 13,545. Fiscal year throughput was 141,718 MMcf, up 13,230 MMcf. Source
  • Buffalo weather warmer than normal: Buffalo had 60 degree days in the quarter, against a normal 112 and 34 a year earlier. The table shows 46.4% warmer than normal. Source
  • Pipeline throughput up 26.9 Bcf for year: Pipeline and storage throughput was 168,821 MMcf in the quarter, up 2,000 MMcf. Fiscal year throughput was 786,131 MMcf, up 26,933 MMcf. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2025

  • Ohio acquisition expected to close: The Ohio utility acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of calendar 2026. It is not expected to affect fiscal 2026 guidance. Source
  • Shippingport Lateral targeted in-service: The Shippingport Lateral is targeted for in-service in late calendar 2026 and would provide firm capacity to a data center site. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases SourceNew York rate case settlement effective October 1, 2024
Rate base growth5% to 7% average annual projection (prior release)
Rate base growth SourceOhio acquisition expected to double Utility segment rate base
Capital plan SourceConsolidated fiscal 2026 capital expenditures $955 - $1,065 million
EPS growth target Source$7.60 - $8.10 fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS
EPS growth targetAbout 20% growth at NYMEX $4.00 (preliminary)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management flagged volatility in NYMEX natural gas prices and gave sensitivities of adjusted EPS guidance to NYMEX price levels. Source
  • Financial: Management noted that the prior-year quarter included a pre-tax ceiling test write-down of $272.4 million on Seneca's reserves under full cost accounting. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Tioga Pathway Project, approved by FERC, remains on track for a late calendar 2026 in-service date. Source
  • On track: Management said both expansion projects continue to progress as planned. 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.