greeksoup/ stock research

National Fuel Gas Co.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 13 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS flat: Adjusted EPS was $1.22 in the quarter, the same as the prior year. GAAP EPS was $1.02 against $1.18. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS up 9%: Full-year adjusted EPS was $7.55 against $6.91 in fiscal 2025. Full-year GAAP EPS was $7.02 against $5.68. Source
  • Quarterly production down 7%: Seneca produced 104 Bcf in the quarter, down 7.5 Bcf. New wells were more than offset by natural declines at existing wells. Source
  • Ohio acquisition closed: The CenterPoint Ohio gas utility acquisition closed on October 1, 2026. It doubles Utility rate base and adds about 335,000 customers. Source
  • IUG separation into Seneca Resources: IUG is to be separated as Seneca Resources, expected to trade on the NYSE. National Fuel will then be a fully rate-regulated gas company. Source
  • Deal costs in corporate loss: Corporate and All Other reported a $29.1 million net loss in the quarter, mainly transaction and financing costs for the Ohio acquisition, plus separation costs. Source

“Fiscal 2026 was an excellent year for National Fuel.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted earnings per share SourceFiscal 2027$6.00 to $6.40New
NYMEX natural gas price assumption SourceFiscal 2027$2.85 per MMBtuNew
Adjusted EPS sensitivity to NYMEX price SourceFiscal 2027$2.50: $5.60 to $6.00; $3.00: $6.20 to $6.60; $3.50: $6.85 to $7.25New
Consolidated effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2027~ 24.0%New
Utility capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2027$350 to $400 millionNew
Pipeline and Storage capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2027$140 to $180 millionNew
Integrated Upstream and Gathering capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2027$600 to $640 millionNew
Discretionary land spending SourceFiscal 2027$50 to $100 millionNew
IUG natural gas production SourceFiscal 2027400 to 435 BcfNew
Appalachian basin spot price SourceFiscal 2027$2.15 per MMBtuNew
IUG per-unit operating costs SourceFiscal 2027LOE $0.16 - $0.17; Gathering O&M $0.13 - $0.14; DD&A $0.84 - $0.86 per McfNew
Pipeline and Storage revenues SourceFiscal 2027$475 to $500 millionNew
Utility operating income SourceFiscal 2027$235 to $255 millionNew
Non-service pension and OPEB income SourceFiscal 2027$23 to $27 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 guidance initiated, including adjusted EPS, capital expenditure, production and segment ranges. Source
  • New: Ohio natural gas utility acquisition from CenterPoint Energy completed on October 1, 2026, doubling Utility rate base and adding about 335,000 customers. Source
  • New: Plan announced to separate the IUG business into a standalone public company named Seneca Resources. Source
  • New: Honeoye Storage Corporation acquired on October 30, 2026. Its results are not included in the Pipeline and Storage segment. Source
  • New: New York System Modernization Tracker approved, and a $10.4 million rate increase approved in Pennsylvania. Source
  • New: Tioga Pathway and Shippingport Lateral projects placed in service on November 1, 2026. Source

Quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS flat: Adjusted EPS was $1.22 in the quarter, the same as the prior year. GAAP EPS was $1.02 against $1.18. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS up 9%: Full-year adjusted EPS was $7.55 against $6.91 in fiscal 2025. Full-year GAAP EPS was $7.02 against $5.68. Source
  • Quarterly GAAP earnings lower: Fourth-quarter GAAP earnings were $97.5 million against $107.3 million, reflecting acquisition and separation costs. Source
  • Free cash flow of $199 million: Operating cash flow was $1,272 million for the twelve months, with free cash flow of $199 million over the same period. Source

Integrated Upstream and Gathering

  • Realized gas price rose 7%: Realized price after hedging and transportation was $2.80 per Mcf, up $0.19 or 7% from the prior year. Source
  • Quarterly production down 7%: Seneca produced 104 Bcf in the quarter, down 7.5 Bcf. New wells were more than offset by natural declines at existing wells. Source
  • Adjusted earnings up $8.5 million: Adjusted earnings rose $8.5 million, helped by higher realized prices, lower interest expense and lower income taxes, partly offset by lower volumes. Source
  • Proved reserves up 4%: Proved reserves reached 5,191 Bcfe, up 4%, with replacement at 150% of fiscal 2026 production. Proved developed reserves were 71% of the total. Source

“With the closing of our Ohio gas utility acquisition and our announced plan to separate our Integrated Upstream and Gathering business, we are well positioned to establish two scaled, financially sound publicly traded natural gas businesses.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer

Pipeline and Storage

  • Segment earnings down $1.7 million: Fourth-quarter earnings fell $1.7 million, as higher revenues were offset by higher O&M and DD&A expense. Source
  • Expansion projects in service: The Tioga Pathway and Shippingport Lateral projects were placed in service on November 1, 2026. Source
  • Higher O&M from fuel and materials: O&M rose $2.0 million, mainly from higher fuel and material costs. DD&A rose $1.4 million on higher average depreciable plant. Source

Utility

  • Customer margin up $6.2 million: Customer margin rose $6.2 million on usage, year two of the New York joint settlement, and Pennsylvania system improvement charge revenues. Source
  • Utility O&M higher on fuel: Higher O&M, mainly fuel costs, partly offset the margin gain. Uncollectible expense also rose, against a non-recurring benefit in the prior year. Source

“Against a strong long-term outlook for natural gas demand, we believe both businesses are exceptionally well positioned for continued success.”

David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and per-unit margins

  • Per-unit operating costs up $0.12: Total operating cost per Mcf rose $0.12 to $1.39, mainly from higher lease operating and DD&A expense per unit. Source
  • Third-party gathering raised lease costs: Lease operating expense per Mcf rose $0.03, mostly from additional third-party gathering expenses, as in earlier quarters of the year. Source
  • DD&A per unit reflects impairments: DD&A per Mcf rose to $0.81 from $0.74. Prior-year ceiling test impairments had lowered the prior-year rate. Source
  • Income taxes lower on tax losses: Income tax expense fell, mainly from higher benefits tied to corporate tax losses, part of which was allocated to IUG. Source

Demand and throughput

  • Non-affiliated firm transport up: Non-affiliated firm transportation throughput was 164,296 MMcf in the quarter, against 152,755 MMcf in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Buffalo weather warmer than normal: Buffalo degree days were 22.3% below normal in the quarter and 45.0% above the prior-year quarter. For the year, they were 2.2% below normal. Source

Capital spending

  • Fiscal 2026 capex rose 19%: Total capital expenditures were $1,091.0 million for fiscal 2026, against $918.1 million the prior year. Source
  • Pipeline capex more than doubled: Pipeline and Storage capital expenditures were $271.9 million for fiscal 2026, against $121.8 million the prior year. Source
  • Discretionary Tioga County land program: IUG started a discretionary land acquisition program in Tioga County and has added significant acreage since it began. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Debt issuance funded Ohio: Long-term debt issuance was $1,480.5 million for the year. Dividends paid were $202.8 million. Cash held in escrow was $1,440.4 million at year-end. Source
  • Common stock sale proceeds: Net proceeds from common stock sale were $338.4 million. Shares outstanding rose to 95,060,376 from 90,379,095. Source
  • Dividend raised for 56th year: The annual dividend rate was raised to $2.22 per share, the 56th consecutive annual increase. Source

Ohio acquisition and separation plan

  • Ohio acquisition closed: The CenterPoint Ohio gas utility acquisition closed on October 1, 2026. It doubles Utility rate base and adds about 335,000 customers. Source
  • IUG separation into Seneca Resources: IUG is to be separated as Seneca Resources, expected to trade on the NYSE. National Fuel will then be a fully rate-regulated gas company. Source
  • Retained stake to be disposed: National Fuel expects to keep up to 19.9% of IUG after the separation and to dispose of it in a tax-efficient manner. Source
  • Deal costs in corporate loss: Corporate and All Other reported a $29.1 million net loss in the quarter, mainly transaction and financing costs for the Ohio acquisition, plus separation costs. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Separation expected second half 2027: Separation is expected in the second half of calendar 2027 through a pro rata distribution of at least 80.1% of IUG shares. Source
  • Retained IUG stake to be disposed: National Fuel intends to dispose of its retained stake of up to 19.9% in IUG in a tax-efficient manner after the separation. Source
  • Supply Corporation rate case by year-end: Resolution of the pending Section 4 rate case at Supply Corporation is expected by the close of the calendar year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate base Sourceapproximately $5 billion after separation
Rate case Source$10.4 million Pennsylvania rate increase approved
Customer growth Sourceabout 335,000 utility customers added
Capital plan Source$1.09 billion total capital expenditures, fiscal 2026

Risks management discussed

  • External: Natural gas price volatility is cited as a reason for providing EPS sensitivities to NYMEX prices. Source
  • Operational: Natural declines at existing wells offset new production, which lowered quarterly Seneca output. Source
  • Financial: Transaction, financing and separation costs reduced Corporate and All Other results in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: A pending Section 4 rate case at Supply Corporation is still to be resolved. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The Ohio acquisition was completed on October 1, 2026, the date previously planned. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect the separation in the second half of calendar 2027. 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.