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Talos Energy 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: 2 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Oil production at high-end, total exceeded: Q1 2026 production reached 63.8 MBo/d oil and 88.8 MBoe/d total, with oil at high-end and equivalent production exceeding first quarter guidance ranges. Source
  • Cardona started early, performing well: Cardona well commenced production in early Q1 2026, ahead of schedule and at high-end of performance expectations. Source
  • Monument drilling operations commenced: Monument drilling operations underway with continuous drilling and completion activities planned throughout 2026, targeting first production of 20 - 30 MBoe/d gross by late 2026. Source
  • Daenerys appraisal well planned Q2: Daenerys appraisal well drilling expected to commence late Q2 2026 to further define the discovered oil-bearing resource. Source
  • Strong adjusted free cash flow: Generated Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $113.2 million in Q1 2026, a substantial increase from Q4 2025's $21.3 million, enabling shareholder returns. Source
  • Liquidity strengthened to $989 million: Cash position $386.4 million with undrawn credit facility, providing total liquidity of approximately $989 million at quarter end. Source
  • Net leverage improved to 0.8x: Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA decreased to 0.8x as of March 31, 2026, from 0.7x at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Share repurchases accelerated in Q1: Repurchased 2.7 million shares for $38.2 million, representing 34% of Adjusted Free Cash Flow. Source
  • Repurchase authorization increased to $200M: Board of Directors approved increase in share repurchase authorization to $200 million. Source

“Amid significant macro volatility, Talos remains firmly focused on executing the 2026 plan that we outlined earlier this year, anchored by our disciplined capital allocation framework”

Paul Goodfellow, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Oil production Sourcesecond quarter 202663 to 67 MBo/dNew
Total production Sourcesecond quarter 202688 to 92 MBoe/dNew
Oil production Sourcefull year 202662 to 66 MBo/dKept
Total production Sourcefull year 202685 to 90 MBoe/dKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$500 to $550 millionKept
Plugging and abandonment Sourcefull year 2026$100 to $130 millionKept
Cash operating expenses and workovers Sourcefull year 2026$560 to $590 millionKept
General and administrative Sourcefull year 2026$130 to $140 millionKept
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$155 to $165 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second quarter 2026 production guidance provided, ranging 63 - 67 MBo/d oil and 88 - 92 MBoe/d total. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full year 2026 production and capital expenditure guidance reiterated midpoints. Source
  • New: Board approved increase in share repurchase authorization to $200 million from ~$81 million remaining. Source
  • New: Cardona well initiated production early in first quarter, ahead of schedule and exceeding expectations. Source
  • New: Monument drilling operations commenced with first oil on track for late 2026. Source
  • New: Daenerys appraisal well drilling planned to commence late Q2 2026. Source
  • New: Zama transaction closed March 25, 2026, selling 30.1% interest for $50 million upfront and $83 million contingent. Source
  • New: Gulf of America leases awarded; company won all 11 leases from December 2025 sale. Source

Production and Operational Execution

  • Oil production at high-end, total exceeded: Q1 2026 production reached 63.8 MBo/d oil and 88.8 MBoe/d total, with oil at high-end and equivalent production exceeding first quarter guidance ranges. Source
  • Realized oil prices rose significantly: Average realized oil price $71.08/Bbl in Q1 2026, up 22.5% from $58.00/Bbl in Q4 2025. Source

Development Project Delivery

  • Cardona started early, performing well: Cardona well commenced production in early Q1 2026, ahead of schedule and at high-end of performance expectations. Source
  • CPN completed ahead of schedule: CPN well drilling and well completion operations finished in Q1 2026, under budget and ahead of schedule, with first production expected Q3 2026. Source
  • Monument drilling operations commenced: Monument drilling operations underway with continuous drilling and completion activities planned throughout 2026, targeting first production of 20 - 30 MBoe/d gross by late 2026. Source

“We delivered strong first quarter results underpinned by comprehensive execution across the business - oil production at the high-end and total equivalent production exceeding guidance, efficient drilling and completion performance, strong free cash generation”

Paul Goodfellow, President and Chief Executive Officer

Exploration and Appraisal Opportunities

  • Daenerys appraisal well planned Q2: Daenerys appraisal well drilling expected to commence late Q2 2026 to further define the discovered oil-bearing resource. Source
  • Gulf of America leases awarded: Company successfully awarded all 11 leases from December 2025 Gulf of America sale for approximately $15 million, adding eight new development and exploration prospects. Source

Financial Results and Cash Flow

  • Strong adjusted free cash flow: Generated Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $113.2 million in Q1 2026, a substantial increase from Q4 2025's $21.3 million, enabling shareholder returns. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased substantially: Adjusted EBITDA reached $293.4 million in Q1 2026, up 22% from Q4 2025's $240.1 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $174 million: Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $174.0 million in Q1 2026. Source

“This level of execution from our D&C program combined with the impressive operational excellence of our deepwater facilities creates strong momentum as we move through the year”

Paul Goodfellow, President and Chief Executive Officer

Operating Costs and Unit Economics

  • Lease operating expenses improved per unit: Total lease operating expenses $129.0 million or $16.14 per Boe in Q1 2026, down from $18.07 per Boe in Q4 2025, reflecting cost efficiency. Source
  • G&A expenses controlled at low level: Adjusted general and administrative expenses $34.0 million or $4.25 per Boe in Q1 2026. Source

Balance Sheet Strength and Leverage

  • Liquidity strengthened to $989 million: Cash position $386.4 million with undrawn credit facility, providing total liquidity of approximately $989 million at quarter end. Source
  • Net leverage improved to 0.8x: Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA decreased to 0.8x as of March 31, 2026, from 0.7x at December 31, 2025. Source

Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns

  • Share repurchases accelerated in Q1: Repurchased 2.7 million shares for $38.2 million, representing 34% of Adjusted Free Cash Flow. Source
  • Repurchase authorization increased to $200M: Board of Directors approved increase in share repurchase authorization to $200 million. Source
  • Cumulative buybacks and share reduction: Since announcing return of capital framework in Q2 2025, executed $135 million in share repurchases, reducing outstanding share count by approximately 7%. Source

Strategic Execution and Disciplined Framework

  • Optimal Performance Plan on track: Achieved greater than 40% of the $100 million Optimal Performance Plan target in 2026, on track to fully achieve goal by year-end. Source
  • Focus on disciplined capital allocation: Management emphasizing disciplined capital allocation framework amid macro volatility while executing 2026 plan. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Daenerys appraisal well drilling: Daenerys appraisal well drilling operations expected to commence late Q2 2026 to further define the discovered oil-bearing resource. Source
  • CPN production startup expected: CPN well expected to commence first production in Q3 2026 following successful drilling and completion in Q1. Source
  • Monument production on track: Monument well development ongoing with continuous drilling and completion activities planned throughout 2026, targeting first oil between 20 - 30 MBoe/d gross by late 2026. Source
  • Genovesa well return to production: Genovesa well expected to return to production Q3 2026 following planned workover to repair surface-controlled subsurface safety valve failure.

In management's words

“Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, we are excited to return to Daenerys and drill an appraisal well in the second quarter to further inform our understanding of the discovered resource”

Paul Goodfellow, President and Chief Executive Officer

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Oil production Source63.8 MBo/d
Total production Source88.8 MBoe/d
Oil realized price Source$71.08 per barrel
Natural gas realized price Source$5.46 per Mcf
Lease operating expense per unit Source$16.14 per Boe
Capital expenditures Source$118.9 million in Q1 2026
Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA Source0.8x
Share repurchases Source2.7 million shares for $38.2 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Commodity price decline resulted in $145 million non-cash ceiling test impairment in Q1 2026 on oil and gas assets. Source
  • Operational: Equipment failure in prior quarter: Genovesa well surface-controlled subsurface safety valve failure shut in production for 3 MBoe/d until Q3 2026 repair.

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management reiterated full year 2026 production guidance of 62 - 66 MBo/d and 85 - 90 MBoe/d, and capex guidance of $500 - 550 million. Source
  • On track: Achieved greater than 40% of the target in Q1 2026 and on track to fully achieve the goal by year-end. Source
  • Ahead: Cardona began production early in Q1 2026, ahead of schedule and at high-end of performance expectations. Source
  • Ahead: CPN well successfully completed in Q1 2026 under budget and ahead of schedule. Source
  • On track: Monument drilling operations commenced on schedule with first oil remaining on track for late 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.