third quarter 2026
Filed Nov 2, 2026Diamondback Energy, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2026 Financial and Operating Results; Increases Base Dividend
Third-quarter net income attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc. was $1,603 million, net cash provided by operating activities was $2,599 million, and Free Cash Flow was $2,148 million. The Company increased its annual base dividend by 7.3% to $4.72 per share, repurchased approximately $251 million of common stock, and raised full-year oil and total production guidance.
Key metrics
shortened, hover for the filing’s print| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 total revenuesGAAP | $5.43B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid salesGAAP | $4.85B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 sales of purchased oilGAAP | $536M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 other operating incomeGAAP | $41M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 lease operating expensesGAAP | $568M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 production and ad valorem taxesGAAP | $287M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 gathering, processing and transportationGAAP | $126M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 purchased oil expenseGAAP | $540M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretionGAAP | $1.32B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 general and administrative expensesGAAP | $83M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 other operating expenses, netGAAP | $7M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 total costs and expensesGAAP | $2.93B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 income from operationsGAAP | $2.5B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 interest expense, netGAAP | −$55M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 gain (loss) on derivative instruments, netGAAP | −$182M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 income before income taxesGAAP | $2.27B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 provision for income taxesGAAP | $501M | – | – |
| Q3 2026 net incomeGAAP | $1.77B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 net income attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc.GAAP | $1.60B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 diluted earnings per common share attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc.GAAP | $ 5.69 | – | – |
| Q3 2026 adjusted net income attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc.non-GAAP | $1.65B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 adjusted net income per common share - dilutednon-GAAP | $ 5.86 | – | – |
| Q3 2026 consolidated Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $3.75B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc.non-GAAP | $3.39B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 net cash provided by operating activitiesGAAP | $2.60B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 operating cash flow before working capital changesnon-GAAP | $3.17B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 total Cash CAPEXother | $1.03B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 Free Cash Flownon-GAAP | $2.15B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 Adjusted Free Cash Flownon-GAAP | $2.15B | – | – |
| Q3 2026 daily oil volumesother | 524,946 BO/d | – | – |
| Q3 2026 daily combined volumesother | 1,033,967 BOE/d | – | – |
| Q3 2026 combined volumesother | 95,125 MBOE | – | – |
| Q3 2026 oil priceother | $ 87.30 per Bbl | – | – |
| Q3 2026 natural gas priceother | $ 1.12 per Mcf | – | – |
| Q3 2026 natural gas liquids priceother | $ 20.02 per Bbl | – | – |
| Q3 2026 combined priceother | $ 51.03 per BOE | – | – |
| Q3 2026 combined price, hedgedother | $ 50.01 per BOE | – | – |
| Q3 2026 total operating expense - cashother | $ 10.91 per BOE | – | – |
| Q3 2026 lease operating expenses per BOEother | $ 5.97 per BOE | – | – |
| Q3 2026 depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion per BOEother | $ 13.88 per BOE | – | – |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2026 total revenuesGAAP | $15.23B | – | – |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2026 net income attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc.GAAP | $3.51B | – | – |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2026 diluted earnings per common shareGAAP | $ 12.41 | – | – |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2026 net cash provided by operating activitiesGAAP | $8.02B | – | – |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2026 total Cash CAPEXother | $2.96B | – | – |
| Nine months ended September 30, 2026 Free Cash Flownon-GAAP | $6.18B | – | – |
Amounts quoted below without a unit are in millions, as in the filing’s tables. Per-share figures are as printed.
2026 and Q4 2026 outlook
- Tax rateCorporate tax rate (% of pre-tax income) 23%; Cash tax rate (% of pre-tax income) 19% - 22%; Q4 2026 Cash taxes $500 - $560 million
- Note2026 Net production - MBOE/d: ~1,015 (from 1,000+)
- Note2026 Oil production - MBO/d: ~524 (from 522+)
- NoteQ4 2026 Oil production - MBO/d (total - MBOE/d): 518 - 528 (1,025 - 1,045)
- NoteLease operating expenses, including workovers: $5.95 - $6.20 per BOE (from $5.90 - $6.40)
- NoteCash G&A: $0.55 - $0.65 per BOE
- NoteNon-cash equity-based compensation: $0.20 - $0.30 per BOE
- NoteDD&A: $13.50 - $14.50 per BOE
- NoteInterest expense (net of interest income): $0.50 - $0.70 per BOE
- NoteGathering, processing and transportation: $1.30 - $1.50 per BOE (from $1.40 - $1.60)
- NoteProduction and ad valorem taxes (% of revenue): ~6.5% (from ~7%)
- NoteOperated drilling and completion: $3,350 - $3,400 million (from ~$3,310 million)
- Note2026 Total capital expenditures: $3,950 - $4,000 million (from ~$3,900 million)
- NoteQ4 2026 Capital expenditures: $1,000 - $1,050 million
- NoteAverage lateral length: ~12,900'
- NoteNet lateral footage completed: 6,200' - 6,600' (from 6,100' - 6,500')
Capital returns
- The Board approved a 7.3% increase to the base cash dividend, raising it to $1.18 per common share for the third quarter of 2026.
- The annual base dividend was increased to $4.72 per share, an 18% year over year increase.
- The dividend is payable on November 19, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 12, 2026.
- During Q3 2026, Diamondback repurchased 1,348,209 shares of common stock for approximately $251 million at a weighted average price of $185.94 per share, excluding excise tax.
- Q4 2026 to date, Diamondback repurchased 390 thousand shares for $73 million at a weighted average repurchase price of $186.69.
- Cumulative shares repurchased were 44,183 thousand, cumulative total repurchase cost was $6,348 million, and cumulative weighted average repurchase price was $143.66.
- Q3 2026 total return of capital was $582 million.
What drove it
- Daily oil volumes were 524,946 BO/d and daily combined volumes were 1,033,967 BOE/d in Q3 2026.
- Q3 2026 oil price was $ 87.30 per Bbl, natural gas price was $ 1.12 per Mcf, natural gas liquids price was $ 20.02 per Bbl, and combined price was $ 51.03 per BOE.
- Q3 2026 production was 48,295 MBbls of oil, 135,002 MMcf of natural gas, and 24,330 MBbls of natural gas liquids.
- The Company drilled 105 gross and 100 net wells and completed 135 gross and 133 net wells during Q3 2026.
- Diamondback acquired a 7.5% equity interest in the Solitude Pipeline System, a Permian-to-Katy natural gas pipeline.
Concerns
- Q3 2026 gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net was $ (182) million, compared with $ 120 million in Q3 2025.
- Lease operating expenses were $ 5.97 per BOE in Q3 2026, compared with $ 5.65 per BOE in Q3 2025.
- Production and ad valorem taxes were $ 3.02 per BOE in Q3 2026, compared with $ 2.44 per BOE in Q3 2025.
- Nine-month impairment of oil and natural gas properties was $ 1,400 million.
- Consolidated total debt was $ 13,375 million at September 30, 2026.
What to watch
- Delivery against Q4 2026 oil production guidance of 518 - 528 MBO/d and total production guidance of 1,025 - 1,045 MBOE/d.
- Delivery against Q4 2026 capital expenditure guidance of $1,000 - $1,050 million.
- Execution against 2026 oil production guidance of ~524 MBO/d and total production guidance of ~1,015 MBOE/d.
- Realized oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices, including the effect of outstanding derivative contracts.
- Future opportunistic share repurchases, which the Company expects to fund with cash on hand, free cash flow and potential asset sale proceeds.
- The Company's debt reduction activity following the October 1 redemption of the 2026 Senior Notes.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents were $ 558 million at September 30, 2026.
- Standalone cash was $ 548 million, remaining availability under the credit facility was $ 3,000 million, and total standalone liquidity was $ 3,548 million.
- Consolidated total debt was $ 13,375 million and consolidated total net debt was $ 12,817 million at September 30, 2026.
- Total debt was $ 13,375 million at September 30, 2026, compared with $ 16,432 million at September 30, 2025.
- Net debt was $ 12,817 million at September 30, 2026, compared with $ 15,893 million at September 30, 2025.
- Total assets were $ 72,110 million and total liabilities were $ 26,977 million at September 30, 2026.
- Net cash used in investing activities was $ (2,310) million in Q3 2026, including $ (1,026) million of additions to oil and natural gas properties and $ (1,157) million of property acquisitions.
- Net cash used in financing activities was $ (193) million in Q3 2026.
- On October 1, 2026, the Company redeemed all $698 million in aggregate principal amount of its 2026 Senior Notes at par.
- During Q3 2026, the Company repurchased $106 million in aggregate principal amount of 2054 and 2064 Senior Notes at a weighted average price of 94.9% of par, or $103 million including accrued interest.
Analysis
Diamondback reported Q3 2026 total revenues of $ 5,431 million, including $ 4,854 million of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid sales, compared with $ 3,924 million and $ 3,447 million, respectively, in Q3 2025. Income from operations was $ 2,500 million, net income attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc. was $ 1,603 million, and diluted earnings per common share were $ 5.69. Adjusted net income attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc. was $ 1,649 million, or $ 5.86 per diluted share.
Production remained high, with daily oil volumes of 524,946 BO/d and daily combined volumes of 1,033,967 BOE/d. Oil volumes were close to the 525,176 BO/d reported for June 30, 2026, while daily combined volumes were above the 1,017,659 BOE/d reported for June 30, 2026. Realized oil pricing was $ 87.30 per Bbl, below $ 96.82 per Bbl in the prior quarter but above $ 64.60 per Bbl in Q3 2025. The combined price was $ 51.03 per BOE, while the hedged combined price was $ 50.01 per BOE.
Cash generation was substantial. Net cash provided by operating activities was $ 2,599 million and operating cash flow before working capital changes was $ 3,174 million. Total Cash CAPEX was $ 1,026 million, producing Free Cash Flow of $ 2,148 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $ 2,150 million. The Company also reported $ 3,752 million of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA. Q3 total operating expense, cash was $ 10.91 per BOE, compared with $ 10.96 per BOE in the prior quarter and $ 10.05 per BOE in Q3 2025.
Capital allocation combined shareholder returns with debt reduction. Diamondback increased its quarterly base dividend to $1.18 per common share and repurchased 1,348,209 shares for approximately $251 million. Consolidated total debt was $ 13,375 million and consolidated total net debt was $ 12,817 million at September 30, 2026. Subsequent to quarter-end, the Company redeemed all $698 million aggregate principal amount of its 2026 Senior Notes at par and reported additional common-share and senior-note repurchases.
The updated outlook raises 2026 net production guidance to ~1,015 MBOE/d from 1,000+ and oil production guidance to ~524 MBO/d from 522+. The Company set Q4 oil production guidance at 518 - 528 MBO/d, with total production of 1,025 - 1,045 MBOE/d, and guided Q4 capital expenditures to $1,000 - $1,050 million. Full-year 2026 total capital expenditure guidance increased to $3,950 - $4,000 million from ~$3,900 million. The release also lowered production and ad valorem tax guidance to ~6.5% of revenue from ~7% and narrowed gathering, processing and transportation guidance to $1.30 - $1.50 per BOE from $1.40 - $1.60 per BOE.
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-quarter total revenue was not reported.
- Prior-quarter GAAP operating income was not reported.
- Prior-quarter GAAP net income attributable to Diamondback Energy, Inc. was not reported.
- Prior-quarter GAAP diluted earnings per common share was not reported.
- Prior-year and prior-quarter adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share were not reported.
- Prior-year and prior-quarter Adjusted EBITDA were not reported.
- Prior-year Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow were not reported.
- Gross profit and gross margin were not reported.
- Formal revenue guidance was not reported.
- A previous-release outlook section was not provided for comparison with actual results.
- Named executive commentary and attributable executive quotes were not provided.
Written by an AI language model from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure is checked against the filing text, and a metric the filing does not print, or whose value, prior period and change do not add up, is dropped from the metrics. The model can still misread a table, in the metrics or in the text, so check a number in the filing before you rely on it. Consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.