Riley Exploration Permian, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call
What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 raised, 1 narrowed, 11 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Production rose to 35.6 MBoe/d: Total equivalent production averaged 35.6 MBoe/d, oil 20.2 MBbls/d, against 24.4 MBoe/d a year earlier and 35.5 MBoe/d in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
- Derivative losses of $127 million: Net loss on derivatives was $127 million, including a $12 million realized settlement loss and a $115 million non-cash loss; management said the non-cash loss will be partly or fully offset by higher production revenue. Source
- Full-year production guidance raised: Full-year 2026 total production guidance is 37.5 - 39.5 MBoe/d, up from 35.0 - 37.0 MBoe/d, and oil guidance is 22.0 - 23.0 MBbls/d, up from 21.0 - 22.0. Source
- Full-year capital guidance raised: Full-year 2026 total capital expenditures guidance is $200 - $220 million, up from $190 - $210 million, with upstream at $175 - $190 million. Source
- Gas hit by Waha pricing: Realized gas prices before GP&T costs were held down by Waha pricing and wider differentials to Henry Hub, despite higher Henry Hub benchmarks; net realized gas was $(1.68) per Mcf. Source
- Operating and free cash flow: Operating cash flow was $47 million, or $55 million before working capital changes, and Total Free Cash Flow was $24 million. Source
- Debt reduced by $8 million: Total debt principal fell to $247 million, with $107 million on the Credit Facility and $140 million of Senior Notes; debt-to-Adjusted EBITDAX was 1.0x at quarter end. Source
“with production exceeding guidance and capital spending below expectations”
Bobby Riley, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net production, total equivalent Source | Full-year 2026 | 37.5 - 39.5 | Raised from 35.0 - 37.0 |
| Net production, oil Source | Full-year 2026 | 22.0 - 23.0 | Raised from 21.0 - 22.0 |
| Net production, total equivalent Source | Q2 2026 | 35.0 - 37.0 | New |
| Net production, oil Source | Q2 2026 | 20.7 - 21.3 | New |
| Net operated wells drilled Source | Full-year 2026 | 42.0 - 48.0 | Raised from 37.0 - 43.0 |
| Net operated wells drilled Source | Q2 2026 | 18.0 - 20.0 | New |
| Net operated wells completed Source | Full-year 2026 | 43.0 - 49.0 | Raised from 41.0 - 47.0 |
| Net operated wells completed Source | Q2 2026 | 16.0 - 18.0 | New |
| Net operated wells turned to sales Source | Full-year 2026 | 44.0 - 50.0 | Raised from 43.0 - 49.0 |
| Net operated wells turned to sales Source | Q2 2026 | 22.0 - 24.0 | New |
| Non-operated wells, net Source | Full-year 2026 | 2.4 - 3.0 | Raised from 1.0 - 2.0 |
| Non-operated wells, net Source | Q2 2026 | 1.4 - 1.8 | New |
| Upstream capital expenditures Source | Full-year 2026 | $175 - $190 | Raised from $165 - $180 |
| Infrastructure and other capital expenditures Source | Full-year 2026 | $25 - $30 | Kept |
| Total capital expenditures Source | Full-year 2026 | $200 - $220 | Raised from $190 - $210 |
| Upstream capital expenditures Source | Q2 2026 | $65 - $75 | New |
| Infrastructure and other capital expenditures Source | Q2 2026 | $10 - $15 | New |
| Total capital expenditures Source | Q2 2026 | $75 - $90 | New |
| Power joint venture investment Source | Full-year 2026 | $7 - $8 | Narrowed, low end up from $6 - $8 |
| Power joint venture investment Source | Q2 2026 | $2 - $3 | New |
| Total investments Source | Full-year 2026 | $207 - $228 | Raised from $196 - $218 |
| Total investments Source | Q2 2026 | $77 - $93 | New |
| Lease operating expense per Boe Source | Q2 2026 | $8.00 - $9.00 | Kept |
| Production and ad valorem taxes, % of revenue Source | Q2 2026 | 7.5% - 8.5% | Kept |
| Administrative costs per Boe Source | Q2 2026 | $2.50 - $3.00 | Kept |
What changed from last quarter
- Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 total equivalent production guidance raised to 37.5 - 39.5 MBoe/d from 35.0 - 37.0 MBoe/d. Source
- Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 total capital expenditures guidance raised to $200 - $220 million from $190 - $210 million. Source
- Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 net operated well activity guidance raised, with non-operated net wells raised to 2.4 - 3.0 from 1.0 - 2.0. Source
- New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 detailed guidance provided, with updated full-year 2026 activity guidance. Source
- Guidance kept: Second-quarter 2026 lease operating expense, production tax and administrative cost ranges match the first-quarter ranges in the prior release. Source
Production and earnings
- Production rose to 35.6 MBoe/d: Total equivalent production averaged 35.6 MBoe/d, oil 20.2 MBbls/d, against 24.4 MBoe/d a year earlier and 35.5 MBoe/d in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
- Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $70 million, or $(3.38) per diluted share, against net income of $29 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
- Derivative losses of $127 million: Net loss on derivatives was $127 million, including a $12 million realized settlement loss and a $115 million non-cash loss; management said the non-cash loss will be partly or fully offset by higher production revenue. Source
- Adjusted EBITDAX of $61 million: Adjusted EBITDAX was $61 million, against $66 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $71 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
- Sales and operating income: Oil and natural gas sales were $114 million and income from operations was $44 million, against $102 million of sales and $50 million of operating income a year earlier. Source
Guidance and activity plan
- Full-year production guidance raised: Full-year 2026 total production guidance is 37.5 - 39.5 MBoe/d, up from 35.0 - 37.0 MBoe/d, and oil guidance is 22.0 - 23.0 MBbls/d, up from 21.0 - 22.0. Source
- Full-year capital guidance raised: Full-year 2026 total capital expenditures guidance is $200 - $220 million, up from $190 - $210 million, with upstream at $175 - $190 million. Source
- Second-quarter oil range: Second-quarter oil production guidance is 20.7 - 21.3 MBbls/d, with total production guided at 35.0 - 37.0 MBoe/d. Source
- Full-year well activity raised: Full-year net operated wells guidance is 42.0 - 48.0 drilled, 43.0 - 49.0 completed and 44.0 - 50.0 turned to sales, with non-operated net wells at 2.4 - 3.0. Source
- Operating cost ranges unchanged: Second-quarter lease operating expense of $8.00 - $9.00 per Boe, production taxes of 7.5% - 8.5% of revenue and administrative costs of $2.50 - $3.00 per Boe match the prior ranges. Source
“Gas and NGL realizations were negatively impacted by regional gas egress constraints, which tempered cash flow results.”
Bobby Riley, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Realized prices and gas egress
- Oil realization above fourth quarter: Oil realized $68.89 per barrel before derivatives, against $57.18 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $70.12 in the first quarter of 2025. Source
- Gas hit by Waha pricing: Realized gas prices before GP&T costs were held down by Waha pricing and wider differentials to Henry Hub, despite higher Henry Hub benchmarks; net realized gas was $(1.68) per Mcf. Source
- NGL realizations pressured by allocation: NGL realized price was $(6.22) per barrel, as a larger share of GP&T costs was allocated to NGLs after lower realized gas revenues. Source
Operating costs per Boe
- Lease operating expense per Boe: Lease operating expense was $24 million, or $7.51 per Boe, against $7.16 per Boe in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
- Administrative and tax costs per Boe: Administrative costs were $8 million, or $2.53 per Boe, and production and ad valorem taxes were $9 million, or $2.82 per Boe. Source
- Total costs higher than prior year: Lease operating expenses were $24.1 million against $18.3 million a year earlier, and total costs and expenses were $70.2 million against $53.0 million. Source
“we remain confident in our outlook for meaningful year-over-year production growth and value creation throughout 2026.”
Bobby Riley, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Operated drilling by state
- Operated wells drilled by state: 17 gross operated wells were drilled (15.6 net), 13 in Texas and 4 in New Mexico. Source
- Texas accounted for sales turn-ins: 13 wells were completed and 8 turned to sales, all in Texas; New Mexico had no completions or turn-to-sales in the quarter. Source
- New Mexico output rose: New Mexico produced 15.1 MBoe/d, against 7.3 MBoe/d a year earlier, and Texas produced 20.5 MBoe/d, against 17.1 MBoe/d. Source
Derivative and hedge positions
- Oil hedges run into 2028: Second-quarter 2026 WTI swaps total 950,000 Bbl; WTI swap and collar volumes are listed through 2028 as of May 4, 2026. Source
- Waha basis swaps below zero: Waha basis swaps are priced at $(2.26) per MMBtu for the second and third quarters of 2026 and $(0.94) to $(0.95) per MMBtu through 2027. Source
- Interest rate position through April 2027: A $45 million long interest rate position at a 3.90% fixed rate covers May 2026 to April 2027. Source
Capital spending and cash flow
- Accrual and cash capital spending: Capital expenditures before acquisitions were $47 million accrued and $31 million in cash; the fourth quarter of 2025 had $50 million accrued and $51 million in cash. Source
- Operating and free cash flow: Operating cash flow was $47 million, or $55 million before working capital changes, and Total Free Cash Flow was $24 million. Source
- Power joint venture investment: The company invested $4 million in RPC Power, its power-focused joint venture. Source
- Current liabilities rose on derivatives: Current derivative liabilities rose to $77.9 million from less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2025, and accounts payable rose to $22.7 million from $5.1 million. Source
Debt and shareholder returns
- Debt reduced by $8 million: Total debt principal fell to $247 million, with $107 million on the Credit Facility and $140 million of Senior Notes; debt-to-Adjusted EBITDAX was 1.0x at quarter end. Source
- Dividend and share repurchases: Dividends were $0.40 per share, or $8 million, and 152 thousand shares were repurchased for $4 million at $26.54 per share. Source
- Interest expense and share count: Interest expense, net was $6 million, and weighted average basic and diluted shares were 20.9 million. Source
Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026
- Updated presentation before call: An updated company presentation will be posted on the company website before the call, covering items to be discussed. Source
Figures management reported
| Figure | Reported |
|---|---|
| Total equivalent production Source | 35.6 MBoe/d |
| Oil production Source | 20.2 MBbls/d |
| Realized oil price, before derivatives Source | $68.89 per Bbl |
| Realized natural gas price, before derivatives Source | $(1.68) per Mcf |
| Realized NGL price, before derivatives Source | $(6.22) per Bbl |
| Accrual capital expenditures before acquisitions Source | $47 million |
| Cash capital expenditures before acquisitions Source | $31 million |
| Lease operating expense per Boe Source | $7.51 per Boe |
| Administrative costs per Boe Source | $2.53 per Boe |
| Production and ad valorem taxes per Boe Source | $2.82 per Boe |
| Cash dividend per share Source | $0.40 per share |
| Shares repurchased Source | 152 thousand shares for $4 million |
Risks management discussed
- Operational: Management said regional gas egress constraints lowered gas and NGL realizations and tempered cash flow results in the quarter. Source
- Operational: Management said the average working interest on operated wells drilled may change, with effects on net production volumes and investing expenditures. Source
- External: Realized NGL prices before GP&T costs declined in the quarter, which the company attributed mainly to lower Mont Belvieu pricing. Source
Earlier plans management reported on
- Ahead: Management said production exceeded the first-quarter 2026 guidance range given in the prior release. Source
- Not stated: Management said capital spending was below expectations; the accrual total was $47 million against the prior total capital guidance of $55 - $65 million. Source
- Not stated: Management said it remains confident in production growth and value creation through 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.