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Viper Energy, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss driven by impairment: Consolidated net loss was $197 million, or $77 million attributable to Viper ($0.52 per share). The company reported a non-cash impairment of $360 million tied to the 2025 Drop Down. Source
  • Pro forma cash for distribution $165 million: Pro forma cash available for distribution to Class A shares was $165 million, or $0.97 per share, including $18 million of Sitio cash flow received from July 1 to August 18. Source
  • 739 gross wells turned to production: Including Sitio assets, 739 gross wells (15.2 net 100% royalty) were turned to production in the quarter, averaging a 10,947-foot lateral and a 2.1% royalty interest. Source
  • Development wells and timing: 1,947 gross wells are in active development, expected online in about six to eight months; 1,664 line-of-sight wells are expected in roughly 15 to 18 months. Source
  • Net debt reached $2.2 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $443 million and total debt was $2.6 billion at quarter end, leaving net debt of $2.2 billion as defined by the company. Source
  • Share repurchases paced at $38.42: The company repurchased 2.4 million Class A shares in the quarter at an average of $38.42, excluding excise tax, under its buyback program. Source

“During the third quarter, Viper continued to execute on our growth strategy, bolstered by the closing of the Sitio Acquisition and continued organic growth.”

Kaes Van’t Hof, Chief Executive Officer of Viper

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net production SourceQ4 202565,000 to 67,000 bo/d (124,000 to 128,000 boe/d)New
Net production SourceFY 202548.75 - 49.00 Mbo/d; 92.75 - 93.50 Mboe/d
Net production from non-Permian assets SourceFY 20264,500 to 5,000 bo/d (9,000 to 10,000 boe/d)New
Depletion (unit cost) SourceFY 2025$16.75 - $17.25 per boe
Cash G&A (unit cost) SourceFY 2025$0.80 - $1.00 per boe
Non-cash share-based compensation (unit cost) SourceFY 2025$0.10 - $0.20 per boe
Net interest expense (unit cost) SourceFY 2025$2.50 - $3.00 per boe
Production and ad valorem taxes SourceFY 2025~7% of revenue
Cash tax rate SourceFY 202521% - 23%
Cash taxes attributable to the company SourceQ4 2025$13 - $18 million
Net debt target Sourcenot stated$1.5 billion
Capital returned to stockholders Sourceafter the Non-Permian Divestiture closesnearly 100% of cash available for distribution

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Q4 2025 average daily production guidance was initiated in this release. Source
  • New: Agreement signed to sell the non-Permian assets for $670 million to an affiliate of GRP Energy Capital and Warwick Capital Partners. Source
  • New: Sitio Acquisition closed on August 19, 2025, in an all-equity transaction valued at about $4.0 billion. Source
  • Ended: The $380 million 5.375% senior notes due 2027 were redeemed in full on November 1, 2025, at 100% of principal. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net loss driven by impairment: Consolidated net loss was $197 million, or $77 million attributable to Viper ($0.52 per share). The company reported a non-cash impairment of $360 million tied to the 2025 Drop Down. Source
  • Adjusted net income reached $156 million: Consolidated adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, was $156 million, or $1.04 per Class A share, excluding the impairment, debt extinguishment loss and transaction expenses. Source
  • Pro forma cash for distribution $165 million: Pro forma cash available for distribution to Class A shares was $165 million, or $0.97 per share, including $18 million of Sitio cash flow received from July 1 to August 18. Source
  • Q4 oil guidance implies per-share growth: Management said Q4 2025 oil guidance implies about 20% higher oil production per share than Q4 2024. Source
  • Oil volumes above prior periods: Average daily oil volume in the operating data was higher than in the second quarter of 2025 and in the third quarter of 2024. Source

Operations and well activity

  • 739 gross wells turned to production: Including Sitio assets, 739 gross wells (15.2 net 100% royalty) were turned to production in the quarter, averaging a 10,947-foot lateral and a 2.1% royalty interest. Source
  • Third-party operators ran most wells: Diamondback operated 124 of the 739 wells, at a 5.6% average royalty; the other 615 were operated by third parties at 1.3%. Source
  • 104 rigs on Viper acreage: 104 gross rigs were operating on Viper's acreage, nine of them operated by Diamondback. Source
  • Development wells and timing: 1,947 gross wells are in active development, expected online in about six to eight months; 1,664 line-of-sight wells are expected in roughly 15 to 18 months. Source
  • Net royalty acreage footprint: Mineral and royalty footprint stood at about 95,846 net royalty acres at the quarter end. Source

“we felt it appropriate to lean into our return of capital commitment and return 85% of pro forma cash available for distribution in the third quarter to stockholders”

Kaes Van’t Hof, Chief Executive Officer of Viper

Prices and hedging

  • Hedges run through 2027: Derivatives in place include WTI deferred premium puts through Q2 2026, Henry Hub costless collars through Q4 2026, and Waha basis swaps through FY 2027. Source
  • Hedged gas realization above unhedged: Hedged natural gas realization ran above the unhedged rate because of cash settlements on matured derivative contracts. Source
  • Realized prices net of deducts: Realized prices are net of all deducts for gathering, transportation and processing, as the company defines them in the operating data. Source

Costs and margins

  • Depletion rose year over year: Depletion expense was $182 million in the quarter, against $55 million a year earlier; nine-month depletion was $373 million. Source
  • Interest and debt extinguishment costs: Net interest expense was $32 million, and the company recorded a $32 million loss on early extinguishment of debt in the quarter. Source
  • Production taxes higher than prior year: Production and ad valorem taxes were $27 million, against $15 million in the third quarter of 2024. Source
  • Negative effective cash tax rate: The effective cash tax rate attributable to Viper was (10.7)% on a pre-tax loss, with current income taxes payable of $11 million. Source

“We expect to continue to allocate the majority of our cash available for distribution to our base plus variable dividend but feel compelled to buy back shares in today's market given the current market dislocation.”

Kaes Van’t Hof, Chief Executive Officer of Viper

Debt and liquidity

  • Net debt reached $2.2 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $443 million and total debt was $2.6 billion at quarter end, leaving net debt of $2.2 billion as defined by the company. Source
  • Debt mix and available capacity: Debt includes $1.1 billion of 5.700% notes due 2035, $500 million of 4.900% notes due 2030, a $500 million term loan and $160 million on the revolver; liquidity is about $1.4 billion. Source
  • Restricted cash set aside for 2027 notes: Restricted cash of $390 million was deposited in July 2025 to redeem the 2027 senior notes. Source

Returns to shareholders

  • Dividend yields at quarter-end price: The base dividend implies a 3.5% annualized yield, and the base plus variable dividend a 6.2% yield, both on the October 31, 2025 closing price of $37.56. Source
  • Share repurchases paced at $38.42: The company repurchased 2.4 million Class A shares in the quarter at an average of $38.42, excluding excise tax, under its buyback program. Source
  • Buybacks continued into Q4: About 860 thousand Class A shares were bought in Q4 through October 31, 2025, at an average of $37.34, excluding excise tax. Source
  • Cumulative buybacks and authorization: Since November 2020 through October 31, 2025, about 16.9 million shares were repurchased for roughly $448 million, leaving about $302 million on the authorization. Source

Strategy and asset footprint

  • 2025 Drop Down recorded at historical cost: Properties from the 2025 Drop Down were recorded at Diamondback's historical carrying value, which is the basis of the impairment. Source
  • Focus on oil-weighted Permian interests: The company describes its focus as owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian Basin. Source
  • Share count split between classes: At September 30, 2025, there were 191.1 million Class B shares and 169.3 million Class A shares outstanding. Source

Non-GAAP measures and ownership split

  • Adjusted EBITDA split with NCI: Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $393 million, of which $212 million was attributable to non-controlling interest and $181 million to Viper. Source
  • Adjusted net income attributable to Viper: Adjusted net income attributable to Viper was $60 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, with $96 million attributed to non-controlling interests. Source
  • Pre-tax loss attributable to Viper: Pre-tax income attributable to Viper was a loss of $103 million, which provides the basis for income taxes payable by Viper. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2025

  • Non-Permian divestiture expected to close: The divestiture is expected to close in Q1 2026, with an effective date of September 1, 2025. Source
  • Dividend payment and record dates: Base and variable dividends are payable November 20, 2025, to holders of record at the close of business November 13, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Oil production, average daily (bo/d) Source56,087
Combined production, average daily (boe/d) Source108,859
Oil realized price, unhedged ($/Bbl) Source$64.34
Oil realized price, hedged ($/Bbl) Source$63.76
Natural gas realized price, unhedged ($/Mcf) Source$1.02
Natural gas realized price, hedged ($/Mcf) Source$1.77
NGL realized price ($/Bbl) Source$19.07
Combined realized price, unhedged ($/boe) Source$39.24
Combined realized price, hedged ($/boe) Source$40.04
Production and ad valorem taxes ($/boe) Source$2.70
Cash operating expense, total ($/boe) Source$3.50
Depletion ($/boe) Source$18.17
Share repurchases, Q3 2025 Source$90 million (2.4 million shares)
Return of capital to Class A stockholders, Q3 2025 Source$140 million, 85% of pro forma cash available for distribution
Declared base dividend per Class A share, Q3 2025 Source$0.33
Declared variable dividend per Class A share, Q3 2025 Source$0.25

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Permits or active development do not ensure that wells on royalty acreage will be turned to production. Source
  • Operational: Timing of line-of-sight wells depends mainly on third-party operator permitting and Diamondback's completion schedule. Source
  • Financial: A non-cash impairment of $360 million reduced reported earnings for the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The Sitio Acquisition closed on August 19, 2025, as previously announced. Source
  • Not stated: Dividend policy requires at least 75% of cash available for distribution, less base dividends and buybacks, to be paid as variable dividends. 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.