Second Quarter 2026
Filed Aug 6, 2026Cheniere Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results and Raises Full Year 2026 Financial Guidance
Second-quarter revenue increased 24%, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA increased 27%, LNG volumes loaded increased 22%, and the company raised both 2026 financial guidance ranges and tightened its production forecast range upward.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues, three months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | $5,732 million | – | 24 % |
| Net income (loss) attributable to Cheniere Energy, Inc., three months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | $3,068 million | – | 89 % |
| Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, three months ended June 30, 2026non-GAAP | $1,804 million | – | 27 % |
| Distributable Cash Flow, three months ended June 30, 2026non-GAAP | $1.17 billion | – | – |
| LNG exported, number of cargoes, three months ended June 30, 2026other | 184 | – | 19 % |
| LNG exported, volumes, three months ended June 30, 2026other | 672 TBtu | – | 22 % |
| LNG volumes loaded, three months ended June 30, 2026other | 672 TBtu | – | 22 % |
| Revenues, six months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | $11,600 million | – | 15 % |
| Net income (loss) attributable to Cheniere Energy, Inc., six months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | $(434) million | – | N/M |
| Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, six months ended June 30, 2026non-GAAP | $4,137 million | – | 26 % |
| Distributable Cash Flow, six months ended June 30, 2026non-GAAP | $2.84 billion | – | – |
| LNG exported, number of cargoes, six months ended June 30, 2026other | 371 | – | 15 % |
| LNG exported, volumes, six months ended June 30, 2026other | 1,360 TBtu | – | 17 % |
| LNG volumes loaded, six months ended June 30, 2026other | 1,360 TBtu | – | 17 % |
| Share-based compensation expenses, three months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | $37 million | – | – |
| Share-based compensation expenses, six months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | $115 million | – | – |
| Net income, twelve months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | approximately $2.9 billion | – | – |
Full Year 2026 outlook
- NoteConsolidated Adjusted EBITDA: $7.90 - $8.40 billion
- NoteDistributable Cash Flow: $5.30 - $5.80 billion
- NoteProduction forecast: 53-54 million tonnes
Capital returns
- Repurchased an aggregate of approximately 2.2 million shares of common stock for approximately $550 million during the three months ended June 30, 2026.
- Repurchased an aggregate of approximately 4.9 million shares of common stock for approximately $1.1 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2026.
- Paid quarterly dividends of $0.555 per share of common stock, totaling approximately $116 million, during the three months ended June 30, 2026.
- Paid quarterly dividends of $1.110 per share of common stock, totaling approximately $233 million, during the six months ended June 30, 2026.
- In July 2026, declared a dividend with respect to the second quarter 2026 of $0.555 per share of common stock, payable on August 18, 2026.
- Invested approximately $1.1 billion of growth capital during the three months ended June 30, 2026, with approximately $219 million funded with equity.
- Invested approximately $2.1 billion of growth capital during the six months ended June 30, 2026, with approximately $520 million funded with equity.
What drove it
- Higher total margins on LNG delivered, primarily driven by higher volumes recognized in income.
- Higher margins per MMBtu of LNG delivered during the period.
- The three-month net-income change included approximately $1.4 billion of favorable variances related to changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, predominantly related to long-term IPM agreements, before tax and non-controlling interests.
- Substantial completion of Midscale Train 6 at the CCL Stage 3 Project was achieved in June 2026.
- FERC authorized an increase in LNG production capacity of the previously-authorized CCL Stage 3 Project and CCL Midscale Trains 8 & 9 Project by approximately 5 mtpa in aggregate.
- The first phase of the SPL Expansion Project advanced under a limited notice to proceed with Bechtel.
Concerns
- Six-month net income (loss) was $(434) million, compared with net income of $1,979 million in the corresponding 2025 period.
- The six-month net-income change included approximately $3.4 billion of unfavorable variances related to changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, predominantly related to long-term IPM agreements, before tax and non-controlling interests.
- The favorable three-month net-income change was partially offset by higher net income attributable to non-controlling interests relative to the 2025 period.
- A positive Final Investment Decision for the SPL Expansion Project remains subject to necessary regulatory approvals and acceptable commercial and financing arrangements.
- The FERC and DOE applications for the SPL Expansion Project remain pending.
What to watch
- First LNG production from Midscale Train 7 of the CCL Stage 3 Project is expected imminently.
- Delivery within the revised 2026 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $7.90 - $8.40 billion.
- Delivery within the revised 2026 Distributable Cash Flow guidance range of $5.30 - $5.80 billion.
- Delivery of the tightened full-year 2026 production forecast range of 53-54 million tonnes.
- Progress toward a positive FID for Phase 1 of the SPL Expansion Project and the status of pending FERC and DOE applications.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents were $1,099 million as of June 30, 2026.
- Restricted cash and cash equivalents were $420 million as of June 30, 2026.
- Total available commitments under credit facilities were $5,956 million as of June 30, 2026.
- Total available liquidity was $7,475 million as of June 30, 2026.
- Repaid approximately $253 million of consolidated long-term indebtedness in the six months ended June 30, 2026.
- In June 2026, Cheniere Partners issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.350% Senior Notes due 2036 and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 6.050% Senior Notes due 2056.
- A portion of the proceeds was used to fully redeem $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of SPL’s 5.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2027.
Analysis
Cheniere reported stronger second-quarter operating and financial results. Revenues were $5,732 million, up 24 %, while Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $1,804 million, up 27 %. LNG export activity increased, with 184 cargoes exported and 672 TBtu of volumes loaded, each up 22 % from the corresponding 2025 period. The company attributed the EBITDA increase to higher total margins on LNG delivered, primarily from higher volumes recognized in income, as well as higher margins per MMBtu of LNG delivered.
GAAP net income attributable to Cheniere Energy, Inc. was $3,068 million in the quarter, up 89 % from $1,626 million. The quarterly net-income change included approximately $1.4 billion of favorable fair-value variances on derivative instruments, predominantly related to long-term IPM agreements, before tax and non-controlling interests. This derivative benefit makes the GAAP earnings increase materially different from the underlying operating improvement reflected in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.
Year-to-date operating activity also expanded, with six-month revenues of $11,600 million and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $4,137 million, increases of 15 % and 26 %, respectively. However, six-month GAAP net income (loss) was $(434) million versus $1,979 million in the corresponding 2025 period. Cheniere cited approximately $3.4 billion of unfavorable derivative fair-value variances, partly offset by a nonrecurring excise tax credit and lower income-tax provisions. The contrast between quarterly and year-to-date GAAP earnings highlights the effect of derivative revaluations.
Capital deployment remained substantial. Cheniere repurchased approximately 2.2 million shares for approximately $550 million during the quarter, paid approximately $116 million of dividends, and invested approximately $1.1 billion of growth capital, of which approximately $219 million was funded with equity. At June 30, 2026, total available liquidity was $7,475 million. Financing activity included new Cheniere Partners senior notes and the full redemption of SPL’s 5.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2027.
Management raised full-year 2026 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $7.90 - $8.40 billion and Distributable Cash Flow guidance to $5.30 - $5.80 billion. It also tightened the production forecast upward to 53-54 million tonnes. Operational execution included substantial completion of Midscale Train 6, with first LNG from Midscale Train 7 expected imminently. The next major growth milestone is progress toward FID for Phase 1 of the SPL Expansion Project, for which regulatory approvals and commercial and financing arrangements remain outstanding.
Management, verbatim
Our strong financial and operational results year-to-date, coupled with our constructive outlook and enhanced visibility for the remainder of the year, have enabled us to once again raise our full year 2026 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow guidance ranges.
Jack Fusco, Cheniere’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- GAAP diluted EPS and non-GAAP diluted EPS were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Gross profit, gross margin, operating income, operating margin, and operating expenses were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Adjusted Net Income reconciliation figures were referenced but not included in the supplied filing text.
- Operating cash flow and free cash flow were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Total debt or consolidated long-term indebtedness outstanding as of June 30, 2026 was not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Segment revenue was not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics were not provided.
- Previous-release outlook was not provided; therefore, no actual-versus-prior-guidance comparison is included.
- The supplied filing text is truncated and does not include the remainder of the exhibit or complete financial statements.
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.