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National Fuel GAS Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 4 lowered, 3 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • GAAP and adjusted EPS both lower: GAAP earnings were $138.6 million, or $1.45 diluted EPS, against $1.64 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $1.54 against $1.64. Adjusted EBITDA was $335.0 million against $346.7 million. Source
  • Upstream adjusted earnings down $4.5 million: Segment adjusted earnings were $112.2 million, down $4.5 million, as higher realized prices and lower interest expense were more than offset by lower volumes and higher operating expenses. Source
  • Production down 7% on natural declines: Seneca produced 104.3 Bcf, down 7.3 Bcf or 7%, as new wells turned in line were more than offset by natural declines from existing wells. Source
  • Utility earnings up on customer margin: Utility GAAP earnings rose $0.7 million to $5.7 million. Customer margin rose $6.0 million from year two of the New York joint settlement and Distribution System Improvement Charge revenue in Pennsylvania. Source
  • Upstream unit costs rose: Adjusted total operating costs were $1.32 per Mcf against $1.18, with lease operating expense at $0.15 against $0.11 and DD&A at $0.80 against $0.71. Source
  • Quarter capex up on pipeline projects: Quarter capital expenditures were $288.9 million against $222.9 million. Pipeline and Storage capex was $91.6 million against $22.7 million. Source
  • Operating cash and free cash flow higher: Nine-month operating cash flow was $1.035 billion. Free cash flow, as the company defines it, was $280 million against $244 million a year earlier. Source
  • Ohio acquisition set for October 1: The CenterPoint Ohio gas utility acquisition is expected to close on October 1 of this year, after regulatory approval was received in the quarter. Source

“Whether it is expanding our pipelines to serve new data center or power generation demand in the region, or producing gas supply to meet growing demand in Appalachia”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$7.40 to $7.60Lowered from $7.45 to $7.75
Consolidated effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026~25.5%Kept
Integrated Upstream and Gathering production Sourcefiscal 2026420 to 430 BcfLowered from 425 to 440 Bcf
Integrated Upstream and Gathering capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$580 to $605 millionRaised from $560 to $610 million
Pipeline and Storage capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$235 to $265 millionRaised from $210 to $250 million
Consolidated capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$1,000 to $1,075 millionRaised from $955 to $1,065 million
Utility capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$185 to $205 millionKept
Discretionary land acquisition spending Sourcefiscal 2026$20 to $40 millionNew
Discretionary land capital Sourcenext two years$100 to $200 millionNew
Long-term EPS growth Sourcefiscal 2026 through fiscal 20297% to 10% per year, on average
Free cash flow Sourcenext three years$1.0 to $1.5 billionNew
NYMEX natural gas price assumption Sourceremaining three months of fiscal 2026$3.00 per MMBtuKept
Appalachian basin spot price Sourceremaining three months of fiscal 2026$2.15 per MMBtuLowered from $2.20 per MMBtu for remaining six months
Lease operating expense per Mcf Sourcefiscal 2026$0.15 to $0.16Lowered from $0.16 to $0.17
Depreciation, depletion and amortization per Mcf Sourcefiscal 2026$0.77 to $0.80
Pipeline and Storage revenues Sourcefiscal 2026$420 to $435 millionKept
Utility customer margin Sourcefiscal 2026$470 to $490 millionKept
Utility O&M expense Sourcefiscal 2026$250 to $260 millionKept
Non-service pension and OPEB income Sourcefiscal 2026$23 to $27 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance range revised down, to $7.40 to $7.60 from $7.45 to $7.75. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Upstream production guidance for fiscal 2026 reduced to 420 to 430 Bcf from 425 to 440 Bcf. Source
  • Guidance raised: Pipeline and Storage capex range raised to $235 to $265 million from $210 to $250 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Upstream capex range set at $580 to $605 million, from $560 to $610 million, with the midpoint increased. Source
  • Guidance raised: Consolidated capex range raised to $1,000 to $1,075 million from $955 to $1,065 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Appalachian spot price assumption for remaining three months set at $2.15 from $2.20. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Lease operating expense per Mcf assumption lowered to $0.15 to $0.16 from $0.16 to $0.17. Source
  • New: New discretionary land acquisition spending program in Tioga County, outside capex guidance. Source
  • New guidance: Free cash flow of $1.0 to $1.5 billion over three years first given. Source
  • New: Updated long-term EPS growth range of 7% to 10% per year, fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2029. Source
  • Guidance kept: Consolidated effective tax rate assumption kept at about 25.5%. Source
  • New: Line N System Upgrade Project expanded to 294,000 dekatherms per day, with a 20-year precedent agreement for 200,000 dekatherms per day, supporting coal-to-gas conversion at Shippingport. Source
  • New: Financing for the Ohio acquisition completed and final regulatory approval received in the quarter. Source
  • New: Board approved a 4% dividend increase to an annual rate of $2.22 per share. Source

Quarter results and EPS

  • GAAP and adjusted EPS both lower: GAAP earnings were $138.6 million, or $1.45 diluted EPS, against $1.64 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $1.54 against $1.64. Adjusted EBITDA was $335.0 million against $346.7 million. Source
  • Nine-month GAAP EPS higher: Nine-month GAAP diluted EPS was $6.01 against $4.51. Net income available for common stock was $567.9 million against $411.2 million. Source
  • Ohio deal costs excluded from adjusted EPS: Adjusted EPS excludes Ohio acquisition costs of $6.2 million pre-tax in the quarter, or $0.07 per share, together with equity issuance and debt financing effects. Source
  • Nine-month financing costs excluded from guidance: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance excludes after-tax financing and acquisition costs, which reduced nine-month earnings by $0.30 per share. Source

Upstream and Gathering segment

  • Upstream adjusted earnings down $4.5 million: Segment adjusted earnings were $112.2 million, down $4.5 million, as higher realized prices and lower interest expense were more than offset by lower volumes and higher operating expenses. Source
  • Realized gas price up 4%: Seneca's weighted average realized price after hedging and transportation was $2.81 per Mcf, up $0.10 or 4%, as hedging gains and tighter basis more than offset lower NYMEX prices. Source
  • Production down 7% on natural declines: Seneca produced 104.3 Bcf, down 7.3 Bcf or 7%, as new wells turned in line were more than offset by natural declines from existing wells. Source
  • Segment adjusted EBITDA lower: Upstream and Gathering adjusted EBITDA was $248.5 million against $258.4 million a year earlier. Source

“In addition, our pending Ohio gas utility acquisition, once completed, will significantly increase rate base for our regulated businesses and provides an additional avenue for meaningful regulated earnings growth.”

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

Pipeline, Storage and Utility segments

  • Pipeline and Storage earnings flat: Pipeline and Storage GAAP earnings were $28.7 million, in line with $28.9 million last year, as revenue rose $1.0 million on new long-term contracts while O&M rose $1.2 million. Source
  • Utility earnings up on customer margin: Utility GAAP earnings rose $0.7 million to $5.7 million. Customer margin rose $6.0 million from year two of the New York joint settlement and Distribution System Improvement Charge revenue in Pennsylvania. Source

Corporate and All Other

  • Corporate loss tied to Ohio deal: Corporate and All Other net loss was $7.7 million, largely from transaction and financing costs for the pending Ohio acquisition. Source
  • Corporate adjusted loss widened: Corporate and All Other adjusted net loss was $5.6 million, against $1.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt redemption loss excluded: Premiums of $0.4 million on early redemption were excluded from adjusted EPS. The after-tax loss on the redemption of $300 million of notes maturing October 2026 was $0.3 million. Source

“National Fuel is expected to deliver approximately 7% to 10% average annual EPS growth through 2029.”

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

Unit costs and operating expenses

  • Upstream unit costs rose: Adjusted total operating costs were $1.32 per Mcf against $1.18, with lease operating expense at $0.15 against $0.11 and DD&A at $0.80 against $0.71. Source
  • Lease operating expense up on gathering: Per unit lease operating expense rose mainly from additional third-party gathering expenses, consistent with earlier quarters this fiscal year. Source
  • DD&A comparison affected by prior impairments: Per unit DD&A rose partly because fiscal 2025 ceiling test impairments had lowered the prior-year per unit rate. Source
  • Utility O&M higher on labor and uncollectibles: Utility O&M rose $4.6 million, driven by employee costs from new collective bargaining agreements and higher uncollectible expense. Source

Demand, weather and volumes

  • Quarter warmer than normal: Buffalo degree days were 797 in the quarter, 5.5 percent warmer than normal and 3.4 percent warmer than last year. Source
  • Pipeline throughput up on non-affiliated firm: Pipeline throughput was 180,283 MMcf in the quarter, up 1,101 MMcf. Non-affiliated firm transportation rose 3,272 MMcf, and nine-month throughput reached 641,910 MMcf. Source
  • Residential sales lower in quarter: Residential sales fell 898 MMcf to 9,253 MMcf in the quarter, while nine-month residential sales rose 3,291 MMcf to 64,029 MMcf. Source

Capital spending

  • Quarter capex up on pipeline projects: Quarter capital expenditures were $288.9 million against $222.9 million. Pipeline and Storage capex was $91.6 million against $22.7 million. Source
  • Nine-month capex $744.5 million: Nine-month capital expenditures totaled $744.5 million against $596.0 million. Integrated Upstream and Gathering capex was $453.9 million. Source
  • Pipeline projects moving faster: Management said several modernization and expansion projects are proceeding faster than previously expected, which drove the Pipeline and Storage capex increase. Source

Cash flow, debt and financing

  • Operating cash and free cash flow higher: Nine-month operating cash flow was $1.035 billion. Free cash flow, as the company defines it, was $280 million against $244 million a year earlier. Source
  • Notes issued to fund Ohio acquisition: In June 2026 the company issued $1.5 billion of three-, five- and ten-year notes in three equal tranches, to fund part of the CenterPoint acquisition and refinance $300 million of October 2026 notes. Source
  • Equity sale and debt reduction in nine months: Nine-month net proceeds from common stock sale were $338.4 million. Long-term debt reduction was $601.2 million, and net long-term debt issuance was $1.48 billion. Source
  • Cash balance rose sharply: Cash and temporary cash investments were $1.235 billion at June 30, 2026, against $43.2 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Ohio acquisition and long-term plan

  • Ohio acquisition set for October 1: The CenterPoint Ohio gas utility acquisition is expected to close on October 1 of this year, after regulatory approval was received in the quarter. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance after closing: Detailed fiscal 2027 guidance will be provided after the Ohio acquisition closes. Source
  • Free cash flow to reduce debt: Projected free cash flow is to reduce outstanding debt, strengthen the investment grade balance sheet, and support investments and shareholder returns beyond the 7% to 10% target. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Ohio acquisition closing October 1: The CenterPoint Ohio gas utility acquisition is expected to close on October 1 of this year. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance after closing: Detailed fiscal 2027 guidance to be provided after the Ohio acquisition closes. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
EPS growth target Source7% to 10% per year, on average, fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2029
Rate base growth SourceExpected to increase significantly from the pending Ohio acquisition; no figure given
Rate cases SourceYear two of three-year joint settlement in New York
Capital plan SourceConsolidated capital expenditures $1,000 to $1,075 million, fiscal 2026
Load growth SourceNine-month retail sales 75,008 MMcf against 71,329 MMcf

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Lower production guidance reflects appraisal activity and well interactions from completion design testing. Management said this affects near-term output, not long-term growth. Source
  • External: Guidance does not include any price-related curtailments for the rest of fiscal 2026. Source
  • External: Upstream capex increase attributed to higher oil and diesel prices and schedule changes. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Closing timing for the Ohio acquisition is unchanged from the earlier plan. Source
  • Ahead: Several modernization and expansion projects are proceeding faster than previously anticipated. 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.