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National Fuel GAS Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 5 lowered, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose 13% to $2.71: Adjusted EPS was $2.71 against $2.39 a year earlier. GAAP EPS was $2.59 against $2.37. Six-month adjusted EPS was $4.77 against $4.06. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 EPS guidance lowered: The fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS range is now $7.45 to $7.75, midpoint $7.60, down from $7.60 to $8.10. The company ties the change mainly to natural gas price assumptions and lower production. Source
  • Upstream and Gathering adjusted EPS up 21%: Integrated Upstream and Gathering adjusted EPS was $1.67, with adjusted earnings of $152.0 million, up $25.9 million, mainly on higher realized natural gas prices. Source
  • Per-unit operating costs rose $0.14: Adjusted total operating costs were $1.35 per Mcf against $1.21, with higher per-unit lease operating expense and depreciation. Source
  • Equity sale funded debt reduction: Net proceeds from the common stock sale were $338.4 million for six months, and long-term debt was reduced by $300.0 million. Source
  • Ohio acquisition costs split across lines: For six months, part of the Ohio acquisition costs was recognized in O&M expense, and the remaining $5.7 million was recognized in interest expense. Source

“National Fuel had a solid second quarter, with adjusted EPS increasing 13% over the prior year.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel Gas Company

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$7.45 to $7.75 (midpoint $7.60)Lowered from $7.60 to $8.10
NYMEX natural gas price assumption Sourceremaining six months of fiscal 2026$3.00 per MMBtuLowered from $3.75 per MMBtu (remaining nine months)
Appalachian basin spot price assumption Sourceremaining six months of fiscal 2026$2.20 per MMBtuLowered from $2.85 per MMBtu
Integrated Upstream and Gathering production Sourcefiscal 2026425 to 440 BcfLowered from 440 to 455 Bcf
Lease operating expense and upstream G&A per Mcf Sourcefiscal 2026LOE $0.16 - $0.17; upstream G&A ~$0.18Lowered from LOE $0.17 - $0.18; upstream G&A ~$0.18
Gathering operation and maintenance expense per Mcf Sourcefiscal 2026~$0.12Raised from ~$0.11
Depreciation, depletion and amortization per Mcf Sourcefiscal 2026$0.76 - $0.81Kept
Pipeline and Storage revenues Sourcefiscal 2026$420 - $435 millionRaised from $415 - $430 million
Utility customer margin Sourcefiscal 2026$470 - $490 millionKept
Utility O&M expense and non-service pension and OPEB income Sourcefiscal 2026O&M $250 - $260 million; pension and OPEB income $23 - $27 millionKept
Consolidated effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026~25.5%Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026Consolidated $955 - $1,065 million; Upstream $560 - $610 million; Pipeline and Storage $210 - $250 million; Utility $185 - $205 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS range moved to $7.45 to $7.75 from $7.60 to $8.10. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 production range moved to 425 to 440 Bcf from 440 to 455 Bcf. Source
  • Guidance lowered: NYMEX assumption for the remaining six months set at $3.00 per MMBtu, from $3.75 for the remaining nine months. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Lease operating expense per Mcf range moved to $0.16 to $0.17 from $0.17 to $0.18. Source
  • Guidance raised: Pipeline and Storage revenue range moved to $420 to $435 million from $415 to $430 million. Source
  • New: Supply Corporation signed a precedent agreement for 94,000 dekatherms per day of incremental capacity on its Line N System Upgrade Project, with completion targeted for late 2028. Source
  • Guidance kept: Consolidated capital expenditure guidance remains $955 to $1,065 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose 13% to $2.71: Adjusted EPS was $2.71 against $2.39 a year earlier. GAAP EPS was $2.59 against $2.37. Six-month adjusted EPS was $4.77 against $4.06. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 EPS guidance lowered: The fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS range is now $7.45 to $7.75, midpoint $7.60, down from $7.60 to $8.10. The company ties the change mainly to natural gas price assumptions and lower production. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow increased: Net cash from operating activities was $657 million for six months, and free cash flow was $160 million, $111 million above the prior year. Source
  • Prior-year impairment shaped GAAP comparison: Six-month GAAP EPS was $4.58 against $2.86, as the prior-year period included a $141.8 million impairment of assets. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $469.0 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $469.0 million against $428.5 million a year earlier. Integrated Upstream and Gathering contributed $302.4 million of the quarter total. Source

Segment results

  • Upstream and Gathering adjusted EPS up 21%: Integrated Upstream and Gathering adjusted EPS was $1.67, with adjusted earnings of $152.0 million, up $25.9 million, mainly on higher realized natural gas prices. Source
  • Seneca output down 3% in quarter: Seneca produced 102.0 Bcf, down 3.5 Bcf. Six-month output was 211.2 Bcf against 203.2 Bcf a year earlier. Source
  • Realized gas price rose 17%: Seneca's realized price after hedging and transportation was $3.45 per Mcf, up $0.51 on higher NYMEX prices. Source
  • Pipeline and Storage earnings flat: Pipeline and Storage GAAP earnings were $31.6 million, down $0.1 million. Higher revenue was offset by higher expenses, mainly depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA was $72.0 million. Source
  • Utility net income up 3%: Utility net income was $65.3 million, up $1.8 million, mainly on $9.1 million higher customer margin, partly offset by higher O&M and depreciation. Source
  • Corporate loss tied to Ohio deal: Corporate and All Other reported a $1.3 million net loss, mainly from transaction and financing costs for the pending Ohio gas utility acquisition. Source

“Looking forward, we’ve taken meaningful steps to position National Fuel for the next phase of our long-term growth strategy.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel Gas Company

Demand, volumes and weather

  • Quarter colder than normal: Buffalo degree days were 3,282 against 3,226 normal and 3,116 a year earlier. Erie was 1.9% colder than its normal degree days. Source
  • Residential sales volumes increased: Utility residential sales were 32,934 MMcf for the quarter, up from 32,111 MMcf. Six-month residential sales rose to 54,775 MMcf. Source
  • Pipeline throughput up 12,345 MMcf: Pipeline and Storage throughput was 247,529 MMcf, with non-affiliated firm transportation providing most of the increase. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Per-unit operating costs rose $0.14: Adjusted total operating costs were $1.35 per Mcf against $1.21, with higher per-unit lease operating expense and depreciation. Source
  • Third-party gathering lifted lease costs: Lease operating expense was $0.17 per Mcf against $0.12, mainly from third-party gathering on new wells and winter weather costs. Source
  • Depreciation rate up on prior impairments: Depreciation per Mcf was $0.79 against $0.72, because fiscal 2025 ceiling test impairments had lowered the prior-year rate. Source
  • Usage and weather trimmed utility margin: The earnings bridge shows usage and weather reducing utility margin by $1.2 million, while new New York rates added $3.1 million. Source

“With these positive catalysts across our operations, including line of sight to earnings growth at our regulated businesses and increasing free cash flow generation at our non-regulated businesses, National Fuel is well positioned to deliver long-term value to shareholders.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel Gas Company

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Capital spending rose to $498 million: Six-month capital expenditures were $498.3 million against $434.3 million, with net cash used in investing activities of $497.7 million. Source
  • Equity sale funded debt reduction: Net proceeds from the common stock sale were $338.4 million for six months, and long-term debt was reduced by $300.0 million. Source
  • Dividends rose, no buybacks this year: Dividends paid were $99.2 million for six months, against $93.5 million. No shares were repurchased under the plan, against $50.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Commercial paper and current debt: Commercial paper and notes payable fell to $41.3 million from $150.2 million at September 30, 2025. $300.0 million of long-term debt is now current. Source

Strategy, projects and acquisition

  • Ohio acquisition costs split across lines: For six months, part of the Ohio acquisition costs was recognized in O&M expense, and the remaining $5.7 million was recognized in interest expense. Source
  • Tioga and Shippingport construction started: Construction has commenced on the Tioga Pathway and Shippingport Lateral expansion projects. Source
  • Appalachian inventory supports development: Management cites decades of high-quality Appalachian inventory and ongoing well design testing, with further benefits expected in the future. Source

Operations, workforce and leadership

  • Winter Storm Fern delayed completions: Weather around Winter Storm Fern delayed flowback and completion timing, which reduced the fiscal 2026 production range. Source
  • Gen 4 and Upper Utica tests performed as expected: Tests of a new Gen 4 Lower Utica well design and a new Upper Utica well performed as expected on a six-well Tioga County pad. Source
  • Employee costs rose on new contracts: The Utility O&M increase reflected employee-related costs, largely from new collective bargaining agreements. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Ohio acquisition closing expected: The CenterPoint Ohio gas utility acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of calendar 2026 and is not expected to affect fiscal 2026 guidance. Source
  • Expansion projects in service late 2026: Management expects its two major expansion projects to be in service late this calendar year. Source
  • Financing and acquisition costs excluded: Fiscal 2026 guidance excludes expected financing and acquisition-related costs for the six months ending September 30, 2026. Source
  • Investment adjustments expected by September: The company expects to record certain unrealized gain or loss adjustments on investments during the six months to September 30, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases SourceYear two of the New York three-year rate agreement
Capital plan SourceUtility capital expenditures $185 - $205 million; consolidated $955 - $1,065 million
Load growth SourceUtility throughput 64,322 MMcf in the quarter, up from 62,919 MMcf; 109,571 MMcf for six months, up from 101,455 MMcf

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Older-generation Lower Utica wells underperformed projections on a six-well Tioga County pad, reducing fiscal 2026 production. Source
  • External: Fiscal 2026 guidance does not include any price-related curtailments for the rest of the fiscal year. Source
  • External: Higher oil and diesel prices tied to the Iranian conflict, and more land activity, could push capital spending toward the top of the guided range. Source
  • Financial: Utility uncollectible expense increased, and depreciation rose on a larger depreciable plant base. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Ohio acquisition is on track to close in the calendar fourth quarter. Source
  • On track: The two expansion projects remain on track for a late calendar 2026 in-service date. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the other fiscal 2026 guidance assumptions remain largely unchanged. 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.