greeksoup/ stock research

Talos Energy Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss included impairment charge: The company reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $202.6 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, including $170.4 million of non-cash ceiling test impairment; adjusted net loss was $76.5 million. Source
  • Full-year production averaged 94.6 MBoe/d: Fourth-quarter production was 89.2 MBoe/d, 73% oil; full-year production was 94.6 MBoe/d, 70% oil. Third-quarter production in the prior release was 95.2 MBoe/d. Source
  • Genovesa well shut in for valve repair: A safety valve failure forced a temporary shut-in of Genovesa in the fourth quarter, reducing production by about 3 Mboe/d; a planned workover precedes the return to production. Source
  • Lease operating expense rose per Boe: Lease operating expense was $18.07 per Boe in the fourth quarter, up from $15.27 in the third quarter, and $15.83 per Boe for 2025. Source
  • 2026 production guided at 85 to 90 MBoe/d: Full-year 2026 production is guided at 85 to 90 MBoe/d, of which 62 to 66 MBo/d is oil; management said it prioritizes high-margin oil production. Source
  • Capital spending and P&A ranges set: Capital expenditure is guided at $500 to $550 million and P&A at $100 to $130 million; about 40% of capex is non-operated and about 10% goes to exploration. Source
  • Liquidity of $965.4 million at year-end: Cash was $362.8 million at December 31, 2025, giving liquidity of $965.4 million with the $700.0 million borrowing base undrawn and $97.4 million of letters of credit outstanding. Source
  • New pure-play offshore strategy launched: The enhanced strategy, introduced in June, rests on continuous improvement, growing production and profitability, and a long-lived scalable portfolio, supported by disciplined capital allocation. Source

“2025 marked the start of our transformation - building the foundation for the future,”

Paul Goodfellow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Talos

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Production SourceFY 202685.0 to 90.0 MBoe/d; 62.0 to 66.0 MBo/dNew
Production SourceQ1 202684 to 88 MBoe/d; 60 to 64 MBo/dNew
Capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$500 to $550 millionNew
P&A expenditures SourceFY 2026$100 to $130 millionNew
Cash operating expenses and workovers SourceFY 2026$560 to $590 millionNew
General and administrative expense SourceFY 2026$130 to $140 millionNew
Interest expense SourceFY 2026$155 to $165 millionNew
Non-operated share of capital expenditure SourceFY 2026about 40%New
Exploration share of capital expenditure SourceFY 2026about 10%New
Free cash flow enhancements (Optimal Performance Plan) Source2026$100 millionKept
Share repurchases Sourceongoing capital allocationup to 50% of annual free cash flowKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 operational and financial guidance was issued with this release; the prior release gave guidance for full-year 2025 only. Source
  • New: Management said it developed and launched a new strategy to be a leading pure-play offshore E&P; the prior release did not describe it. Source
  • New: Harbour Energy was named operator of the Zama project in December 2025, replacing the prior arrangement described in the prior release. Source
  • New: The credit agreement was amended in January 2026, keeping the borrowing base and extending maturity to January 30, 2030. Source
  • New: Talos was named apparent high bidder on 11 leases in the December 2025 Gulf of America lease sale, for about $15 million. Source
  • New: Production from the Genovesa well was shut in during the fourth quarter after a safety valve failure. Source
  • New: The non-operated Manta Ray well was drilled in late 2025 and found hydrocarbons that were judged non-commercial. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Net loss included impairment charge: The company reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $202.6 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, including $170.4 million of non-cash ceiling test impairment; adjusted net loss was $76.5 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow and EBITDA reported: Net cash from operating activities was $201.8 million in the quarter and $935.8 million for 2025; Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Talos was $240.1 million in the quarter and $1,198.6 million for the year. Source
  • Full-year production averaged 94.6 MBoe/d: Fourth-quarter production was 89.2 MBoe/d, 73% oil; full-year production was 94.6 MBoe/d, 70% oil. Third-quarter production in the prior release was 95.2 MBoe/d. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow for the year: Adjusted Free Cash Flow attributable to Talos was $21.3 million in the quarter and $417.7 million for 2025, measured before working capital changes. Source

Segments and regions

  • Operated deepwater carried most volume: Operated deepwater produced 80.9 MBoe/d in the fourth quarter, against 8.3 MBoe/d from shelf and Gulf Coast assets; full-year deepwater output was 85.1 MBoe/d. Source
  • Deepwater oil share higher than shelf: Oil was 75% of deepwater production in the fourth quarter and 52% of shelf and Gulf Coast production; full-year deepwater oil share was 72%. Source
  • Zama operatorship moved to Harbour: Investment in Mexico was $2.6 million in the quarter and $4.6 million for 2025; Harbour Energy took over as Zama operator, with Talos keeping the right to appoint key project personnel. Source

“We generated approximately $420 million in free cash flow, enabling us to return $120 million of capital to shareholders while strengthening our balance sheet.”

Paul Goodfellow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Talos

Operations and projects

  • Tarantula throughput reached 38 Mboe/d: Gross processing capacity at the Talos-owned Tarantula facility was expanded to 35 Mboe/d in mid-2025, and debottlenecking has lifted throughput to about 38 Mboe/d. Source
  • Genovesa well shut in for valve repair: A safety valve failure forced a temporary shut-in of Genovesa in the fourth quarter, reducing production by about 3 Mboe/d; a planned workover precedes the return to production. Source
  • Cardona drilled under budget and early: The Cardona well was drilled and completed in late 2025 under budget and ahead of schedule; production began in early 2026, flowing to the Talos-owned Pompano facility. Source
  • Daenerys discovery moves to appraisal: The August 2025 Daenerys oil discovery is temporarily suspended; an appraisal well is planned later in the second quarter of 2026 to define the resource. Source
  • CPN drilled early, production later: The CPN well was drilled in the first quarter of 2026 under budget and ahead of schedule; first production is expected in the second half of 2026. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Lease operating expense rose per Boe: Lease operating expense was $18.07 per Boe in the fourth quarter, up from $15.27 in the third quarter, and $15.83 per Boe for 2025. Source
  • Adjusted G&A per Boe reported: Adjusted G&A, excluding one-time transaction costs and non-cash equity compensation, was $33.3 million or $4.06 per Boe in the quarter, and $134.0 million or $3.88 per Boe for the year. Source
  • Realized oil price lower than third quarter: Realized oil price was $58.00 per Bbl in the fourth quarter, against $65.32 in the third quarter; full-year oil averaged $64.84 per Bbl, excluding hedges. Source
  • Hedges added to Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Talos was $240.1 million including hedges and $213.7 million excluding hedges in the quarter; full-year figures were $1,198.6 million and $1,117.1 million. Source
  • First-quarter 2026 WTI hedges in place: Contracted first-quarter 2026 WTI swaps cover 15,000 Bbl/d at $66.03, and collars cover 14,311 Bbl/d with a $59.19 floor and $68.78 ceiling; gas swaps cover 40,000 MMBtu/d at $4.13. Source

“Our accomplishments in 2025 underscore the momentum we are building and reinforce our confidence in the path ahead.”

Paul Goodfellow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Talos

Reserves and impairment

  • Proved reserves at year-end 2025: Proved reserves were 174.7 MMBoe at December 31, 2025, 75% oil, with 78% in proved developed categories. Source
  • Probable reserves and value disclosed: Probable reserves were 102.5 MMBoe, with a PV-10 of about $2.3 billion; the company cautions these estimates carry more uncertainty than proved reserves. Source
  • Impairment tied to lower oil prices: The ceiling test uses trailing twelve-month commodity prices each quarter; full-year impairment was $454.5 million, and the charges do not affect cash flows. Source

2026 guidance and plans

  • 2026 production guided at 85 to 90 MBoe/d: Full-year 2026 production is guided at 85 to 90 MBoe/d, of which 62 to 66 MBo/d is oil; management said it prioritizes high-margin oil production. Source
  • First-quarter 2026 production estimate: First-quarter 2026 production is estimated at 84 to 88 MBoe/d, including 60 to 64 MBo/d of oil. Source
  • Capital spending and P&A ranges set: Capital expenditure is guided at $500 to $550 million and P&A at $100 to $130 million; about 40% of capex is non-operated and about 10% goes to exploration. Source
  • Cash costs, G&A and interest guided: Cash operating expenses and workovers are guided at $560 to $590 million, G&A at $130 to $140 million and interest expense at $155 to $165 million. Source
  • Free cash flow enhancement target: The Optimal Performance Plan target for 2026 is $100 million of free cash flow enhancements, after $72 million realized in 2025 against a $25 million goal. Source

Capital, liquidity and debt

  • Fourth-quarter capital spending $150.4 million: Capital expenditure excluding plugging and abandonment was $150.4 million in the quarter and $498.6 million for 2025; U.S. drilling and completions was $123.7 million of the quarter total. Source
  • Liquidity of $965.4 million at year-end: Cash was $362.8 million at December 31, 2025, giving liquidity of $965.4 million with the $700.0 million borrowing base undrawn and $97.4 million of letters of credit outstanding. Source
  • Credit facility extended to 2030: The credit agreement was amended in January 2026, keeping the $700 million borrowing base and extending maturity to January 30, 2030. Source
  • Net debt at 0.7x LTM Adjusted EBITDA: Total debt was $1,250.0 million and net debt $887.2 million at year-end, equal to 0.7 times LTM Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Talos; 0.8 times if the finance lease is included. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of 1.5 million shares: Repurchases in the quarter totaled $16.4 million at an average price of $11.04 per share; about $81 million of authorization remained at December 31, 2025. Source
  • 2025 buybacks about 29% of free cash flow: Full-year repurchases of $119.1 million equaled about 29% of annual free cash flow and reduced the share count by about 7%. Source
  • Cumulative return of 44% of cash flow: Since the current return of capital framework was announced, the company has returned about 44% of free cash flow to shareholders. Source

Strategy, cost program and people

  • New pure-play offshore strategy launched: The enhanced strategy, introduced in June, rests on continuous improvement, growing production and profitability, and a long-lived scalable portfolio, supported by disciplined capital allocation. Source
  • Leadership team strengthened after strategy: Management said it strengthened the leadership team after announcing the strategy and remains focused on execution. Source
  • Zero serious injuries or fatalities: The company reported zero serious injuries or fatalities during 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 February 2026

  • Genovesa return to production: Production from Genovesa is expected to resume in the third quarter of 2026 after the planned workover. Source
  • Daenerys appraisal well drilling: The appraisal well at Daenerys is planned for later in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • CPN first production: First production from the CPN well is expected in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Zama engineering before investment decision: Work at Zama in 2026 centers on engineering and design, with a final investment decision to follow. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Oil production (MBo/d) Source64.9 in Q4 2025; 65.9 for FY 2025
Total production (MBoe/d) Source89.2 in Q4 2025; 94.6 for FY 2025
Natural gas production (MMcf/d) Source103.2 in Q4 2025; 126.4 for FY 2025
NGL production (MBbl/d) Source7.1 in Q4 2025; 7.6 for FY 2025
Realized oil price ($/Bbl, excluding hedges) Source$58.00 in Q4 2025; $64.84 for FY 2025
Realized natural gas price ($/Mcf, excluding hedges) Source$3.79 in Q4 2025; $3.67 for FY 2025
Realized NGL price ($/Bbl, excluding hedges) Source$15.35 in Q4 2025; $18.05 for FY 2025
Realized price per Boe ($/Boe, excluding hedges) Source$47.82 in Q4 2025; $51.55 for FY 2025
Proved reserves (MMBoe) Source174.7 at December 31, 2025
Proved reserves PV-10 Sourceapproximately $3.2 billion
Probable reserves (MMBoe) Source102.5 at December 31, 2025
Capital expenditures excluding P&A ($ million) Source$150.4 in Q4 2025; $498.6 for FY 2025
Lease operating expense per Boe ($/Boe) Source$18.07 in Q4 2025; $15.83 for FY 2025
Adjusted G&A per Boe ($/Boe) Source$4.06 in Q4 2025; $3.88 for FY 2025
Share repurchases ($ million) Source$16.4 in Q4 2025 (1.5 million shares); $119.1 for FY 2025 (12.6 million shares)
Adjusted free cash flow ($ million) Source$21.3 in Q4 2025; $417.7 for FY 2025

Risks management discussed

  • External: Ceiling test impairments depend on trailing twelve-month commodity prices, so lower prices affect reported asset values each quarter. Source
  • Financial: A non-cash impairment of $170.4 million was recorded in the fourth quarter because of lower average oil prices. Source
  • Operational: The Genovesa shut-in removed about 3 Mboe/d from fourth-quarter production while a safety valve issue was resolved. Source
  • Operational: Production guidance allows for unplanned downtime from unforeseen risks and weather-related disruptions, beyond the planned downtime already included. Source
  • Operational: The non-operated Manta Ray exploration well found hydrocarbons but was judged non-commercial. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company reported $72 million of free cash flow enhancements in 2025, above the $25 million year-end goal. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the company is well-positioned to achieve the 2026 target of $100 million. Source
  • Ahead: The Cardona well was drilled and completed under budget and ahead of schedule. Source
  • Ahead: The CPN well was delivered under budget and ahead of schedule, with first production expected in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Not stated: The appraisal well, first described for the second quarter of 2026, is now described as planned later in that quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects to continue allocating up to half of annual free cash flow to share repurchases. 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.