Permian Resources Beats Q2 Earnings on Strong Price Realizations

On Aug. 5, 2026, the Midland, TX-based exploration and production company declared a quarterly base dividend of 16 cents per Class A common share, translating to an annualized dividend of 64 cents. The payout is scheduled for Sept. 30 for its shareholders on record as of Sept. 16.

PR’s Q2 Production Details

Permian Resources reported total average production of 376.4 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d), comprising 53% oil and 76% liquids, in the second quarter, down from 385.1 MBoe/d in the year-ago period. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 395,272 Boe/d.

Crude oil production averaged 198.1 thousand barrels per day (MBbls/d), up from 176.5 MBbls/d in the prior-year quarter. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 194.8 MBbls/d. Oil production increased, driven primarily by successful ground-game initiatives, which boosted the average working interest in second-quarter completions by 7% above the company’s initial expectations. Production also benefited from a more than 50% quarter-over-quarter increase in high-return workover projects.

NGL production came in at 86.2 MBbls/d, down 11.9% year over year. It also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.2%. Meanwhile, natural gas production totaled 552.9 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d), down 16.8% year over year, and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.1%.

PR’s Price Realizations

Permian Resources’ average realized oil price was $97.81 per barrel in the second quarter, compared with $62.71 in the year-ago quarter. Moreover, the figure beat the consensus mark of $94 per barrel.

The realized NGL price was $23.28 per barrel, up from $17.75 a year ago, and beat the consensus mark of $22.16 per barrel. The company’s realized natural gas price was negative $2.40 per Mcf, in contrast to a positive 50 cents in the prior-year quarter. The consensus mark for the same was pegged at a negative of $2.41 per Mcf. Including hedges and purchased gas sales, the realized natural gas price was 38 cents per Mcf, compared with 76 cents a year ago.

PR’s Costs & Expenses

Total operating expenses in the quarter rose to $929.9 million from $900.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Lease operating expenses totaled $189.9 million, up from $187.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Severance and ad valorem taxes rose to $143.7 million from $94.9 million a year earlier and the Exploration and other expenses also rose to $9.8 million from $5.1 million in the year-ago quarter. On a per-unit basis, Lease operating expenses increased to $5.55 per Boe from $5.36 a year ago.

PR’s Financial Position

PR generated $1.5 billion of net cash provided by operating activities in the second quarter, compared with $1 billion in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating cash flow totaled $1.3 billion, while adjusted free cash flow came in at $750.7 million.

Cash capital expenditures were $521.4 million, up from the prior-year period’s capital expenditures of $505 million. The company’s capital-efficient operating model supported strong free cash flow generation despite continued investment in development and bolt-on acquisitions.

As of June 30, 2026, PR had $131.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. The company had a long-term debt of approximately $3 billion, reflecting a debt-to-capitalization of 20%.

PR’s 2026 Guidance

Permian Resources has raised its 2026 oil production target to 199 MBbls/d, up 10 MBbls/d from its initial February guidance. The increase reflects higher working interest from successful ground-game activities, greater workover activity and production from the Ward County bolt-on acquisition.

The company expects average working interest to exceed 80% for the full year, while second-half oil production is projected to exceed 200 MBbls/d. To support the higher production outlook, Permian Resources increased its 2026 cash capital expenditure guidance to $1.9-$2 billion, including about $25 million related to the Ward County acquisition. The revised full-year plan calls for total production of 400,000-430,000 Boe/d, oil production of 197,000-201,000 Bbls/d and approximately 250 gross operated TILs, with average lateral lengths of about 11,000 feet. Controllable cash costs are expected at $7.15-$8.15 per Boe, including lease operating expenses of about $5.45, gathering, processing and transportation costs of approximately $1.40, and cash G&A of around 80 cents per Boe.

Overall, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s updated plan reflects higher production and capital spending while maintaining a focus on capital efficiency and operational growth. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Important Earnings at a Glance

While we have discussed PR’s second-quarter results in detail, let us take a look at three other key reports in this space.

Expand Energy Corporation EXE reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $1.33, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22. The company’s bottom line increased from the year-ago adjusted profit of $1.10 per share, fueled by strong production and lower operating expenses.

Expand Energy’s ‘natural gas, oil and NGL’ revenues of $1.8 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2 billion. The top line was also below the year-ago figure of $2 billion.

As of June 30, 2026, the company had $663 million in cash and cash equivalents. Expand Energy had a long-term debt of $3.7 billion, reflecting a debt-to-capitalization of 16%.

NOV Inc. NOV reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 31 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents. The bottom line also increased 6.9% from the year-ago quarter’s 29 cents, driven by outperformance of the Energy Equipment segment.

The oil and gas equipment and services company’s total revenues of $2.1 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $39 million. However, NOV’s revenues fell 2.5% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $2.2 billion due to lower year-over-year revenues from the Energy Products and Services segment.

As of June 30, 2026, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.2 billion and long-term debt of $1.7 billion with a debt-to-capitalization of 21.3%.

The Williams Companies, Inc. WMB reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of 50 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents. However, the bottom line increased from the year-ago period’s level of 46 cents, driven by better-than-expected performance of its Transmission, Power & Gulf, Northeast G&P and West segments.

The Tulsa, OK-based oil and gas storage and transportation company’s revenues of $3 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $2 million. The figure increased by 9.8% from the year-ago quarter’s reported revenues. This can be attributed to higher service revenues and increased product sales.

As of June 30, 2026, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $203 million and long-term debt of $28.1 billion, with a debt-to-capitalization of 64.7%.

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