Second Quarter 2026
Filed Aug 5, 2026SM Energy Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results Raises second-half production outlook and maintains full-year capital guidance Delivers record operating cash flow, reduces debt, and returns capital to stockholders
SM reported record operating cash flow of $1.1 billion, adjusted free cash flow of $467 million, raised second-half production expectations, maintained full-year capital guidance, progressed 95% of targeted merger synergies, reduced debt, and returned $137 million to stockholders.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net income per diluted shareGAAP | $4.46 per diluted share | – | – |
| Adjusted net income per diluted sharenon-GAAP | $2.19 per diluted share | – | – |
| Operating cash flowGAAP | $1.1 billion | – | – |
| Operating cash flow before net change in working capital, including certain long-term itemsnon-GAAP | $1.2 billion | – | – |
| Capital expendituresother | $754 million | – | – |
| Capital expenditures before changes in accrualsnon-GAAP | $717 million | – | – |
| Adjusted free cash flownon-GAAP | $467 million | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDAXnon-GAAP | $1.4 billion | – | – |
| Realized sales price before the effect of net derivative settlements, oilother | $96.85 per Bbl | 31% | 31% |
| Realized sales price before the effect of net derivative settlements, gasother | $0.17 per Mcf | (90)% | (90)% |
| Realized sales price before the effect of net derivative settlements, NGLsother | $24.69 per Bbl | 14% | 14% |
| Realized sales price before the effect of net derivative settlements, equivalentother | $53.86 per Boe | 22% | 22% |
| Realized sales price including the effect of net derivative settlements, oilother | $80.62 per Bbl | 16% | 16% |
| Realized sales price including the effect of net derivative settlements, gasother | $1.54 per Mcf | (32)% | (32)% |
| Realized sales price including the effect of net derivative settlements, NGLsother | $24.83 per Bbl | 14% | 14% |
| Realized sales price including the effect of net derivative settlements, equivalentother | $48.36 per Boe | 12% | 12% |
| Net production volumes, oilother | 20.9 MMBbl | 22% | 22% |
| Net production volumes, gasother | 86.8 Bcf | 20% | 20% |
| Net production volumes, NGLsother | 4.6 MMBbl | 10% | 10% |
| Net production volumes, equivalentother | 40.0 MMBoe | 20% | 20% |
| Average net daily production, oilother | 229.8 MBbl per day | 21% | 21% |
| Average net daily production, gasother | 953.7 MMcf per day | 19% | 19% |
| Average net daily production, NGLsother | 51.0 MBbl per day | 9% | 9% |
| Average net daily production, equivalentother | 439.7 MBoe per day | 18% | 18% |
| Lease operating expenseother | $6.71 per Boe | 7% | 7% |
| Transportation costsother | $3.57 per Boe | (2)% | (2)% |
| Production taxesother | $3.25 per Boe | 34% | 34% |
| Ad valorem tax expenseother | $0.37 per Boe | (21)% | (21)% |
| General and administrativeother | $1.98 per Boe | (62)% | (62)% |
3Q 2026 and Full Year 2026 outlook
- Note3Q 2026 Total Production (MMBoe): 39.5 – 40.5
- NoteFull Year 2026 Total Production (MMBoe): 152.5 – 154.5
- Note3Q 2026 Total Production (MBoe/d): 430 – 440
- NoteFull Year 2026 Total Production (MBoe/d): 418 – 423
- Note3Q 2026 Oil Production (MBbl/d): 230 – 240
- NoteFull Year 2026 Oil Production (MBbl/d): 223 – 225
- Note3Q 2026 Capital Expenditures: $740 – $790
- NoteFull Year 2026 Capital Expenditures: $2,650 – $2,850
- NoteFull Year 2026 DC&E: $2,300 – $2,500
- NoteFull Year 2026 Facility, Land, and Other: ~$280
- NoteFull Year 2026 One-Time Capital Costs: ~$70
- NoteFull Year 2026 Net Wells Drilled: ~245
- NoteFull Year 2026 Net Wells Turned-In-Line: ~295
- NoteFull Year 2026 Avg. Well Cost ($/lateral ft): ~$710
- NoteFull Year 2026 Lease Operating Expense: $6.50 – $6.80
- NoteFull Year 2026 Transportation: $3.60 – $3.75
- NoteFull Year 2026 Production Taxes: ~6% of oil, gas and NGL revenue
- NoteFull Year 2026 Ad Valorem Taxes: ~$0.50
- NoteFull Year 2026 DD&A: $14.00 – $15.00
- NoteFull Year 2026 Recurring G&A: $230 – $250
- NoteFull Year 2026 One-Time Integration & Transaction — Cash: ~$160
- NoteFull Year 2026 One-Time Integration & Transaction — Non-Cash: ~$20
- NoteFull Year 2026 Exploration Expense: ~$100
- NoteFull Year 2026 Cash Taxes at $75–$80/Bbl (WTI): $20 – $30
- NoteFull Year 2026 Cash Taxes at $80–$85/Bbl (WTI): $30 – $50
Capital returns
- Returned $137 million of capital to stockholders, or approximately 30% of adjusted free cash flow, through $84 million in share repurchases (2.6 million shares) and SM’s $0.22 per share quarterly dividend.
- Closed the $950 million sale of certain South Texas assets on April 30, 2026.
- Net proceeds of approximately $900 million were used to redeem all $819 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.75% and 5.0% Senior Notes due 2026.
- Subsequent to quarter-end, issued a notice of full redemption of all remaining $417 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.625% Senior Notes due 2027 at par using cash on hand.
What drove it
- Average net daily production totaled approximately 440 MBoe/d, including approximately 230 MBbl/d of oil.
- Second-quarter volumes include approximately 12 MBoe/d from recently divested South Texas assets, representing one month of production before the April 30, 2026 sale.
- Realized sales price before the effect of net derivative settlements was $53.86 per Boe.
- Other operating income included an approximate $70 million severance tax refund.
- Progressed Merger-related synergies, with 95% of the target, or $355 million, actioned to date.
Concerns
- Gas realized sales price before the effect of net derivative settlements was $0.17 per Mcf, with a reported change of (90)% from both March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2025.
- Year-to-date transaction and integration costs were $172 million compared to full-year guidance of $180 million.
- Production guidance includes the conversion of certain acquired volumes to two-stream reporting and four months of production from certain South Texas assets divested on April 30, 2026.
- Lease operating expense was $6.71 per Boe, with reported increases of 7% versus both comparison periods.
What to watch
- Full run-rate synergies are expected to be actioned by year-end 2026.
- Second-half 2026 production outlook was increased to 435–440 MBoe/d, including approximately 238 MBbl/d of oil.
- Full-year production guidance was narrowed to 418–423 MBoe/d, including 223–225 MBbl/d of oil.
- Full-year 2026 capital guidance was maintained at $2.65–$2.85 billion.
- Full-year recurring G&A guidance was lowered by $50 million at the midpoint.
- The planned redemption of the remaining $417 million aggregate principal amount of 2027 Senior Notes using cash on hand.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Generated operating cash flow of $1.1 billion.
- Generated operating cash flow of $1.2 billion before net change in working capital, including certain long-term items.
- Generated adjusted free cash flow of $467 million after $42 million of one-time integration, transaction, and capital costs.
- The South Texas Divestiture contributed to a $1.1 billion sequential reduction in net debt.
- Recognized an estimated $262 million gain on the South Texas Divestiture.
Analysis
SM's second-quarter release emphasizes cash generation and portfolio scale following the Civitas merger. The company reported operating cash flow of $1.1 billion, adjusted free cash flow of $467 million after $42 million of one-time integration, transaction, and capital costs, and adjusted EBITDAX of $1.4 billion. Production was approximately 440 MBoe/d, including approximately 230 MBbl/d of oil, while the reported equivalent realized sales price before hedges was $53.86 per Boe.
Reported production increased across oil, gas, NGLs, and equivalent volumes versus both the first quarter and the prior-year quarter. Average equivalent daily production was 439.7 MBoe per day, with reported increases of 18% versus March 31, 2026 and 18% versus June 30, 2025. The release identifies approximately 12 MBoe/d of second-quarter volumes from South Texas assets that were sold on April 30, 2026. Pricing was mixed by commodity: oil and NGL realized prices before derivative settlements increased, while the gas realized price was $0.17 per Mcf and carried a reported decline of (90)% versus each comparison period.
Cost and merger execution remain material factors. Lease operating expense was $6.71 per Boe, while transportation costs were $3.57 per Boe. The company said it had actioned 95% of its target merger-related synergies, or $355 million, and reduced full-year recurring G&A guidance by $50 million at the midpoint. Year-to-date transaction and integration costs were $172 million against full-year guidance of $180 million, and the company said the substantial majority of one-time costs have now been incurred.
Capital allocation focused on debt retirement and stockholder returns. SM returned $137 million, including $84 million of share repurchases for 2.6 million shares and its $0.22 per share quarterly dividend. The $950 million South Texas Divestiture generated net proceeds of approximately $900 million that were used to redeem $819 million aggregate principal amount of 2026 Senior Notes, contributing to a $1.1 billion sequential reduction in net debt. Subsequent to quarter-end, SM issued a full-redemption notice for the remaining $417 million aggregate principal amount of 2027 Senior Notes.
The outlook raises the operating target while preserving capital discipline. SM increased second-half production expectations to 435–440 MBoe/d, including approximately 238 MBbl/d of oil, from 430 MBoe/d, and narrowed full-year production guidance to 418–423 MBoe/d, including 223–225 MBbl/d of oil. Full-year capital guidance remains $2.65–$2.85 billion. Investors should monitor delivery of the raised production outlook, completion of the expected synergy actions by year-end 2026, the remaining integration spending, and the effect of asset sales and debt redemptions on cash balances and net debt.
Management, verbatim
Our team delivered strong results in the second quarter, generating significant free cash flow on the strength of our scaled portfolio.
Beth McDonald, President and CEO
In our first full quarter as a combined company, we moved with urgency, actioning 95% of our targeted run-rate synergies, while further strengthening our balance sheet and returning $137 million to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Beth McDonald, President and CEO
With strong performance year-to-date, we today raised second-half 2026 production expectations, reaffirmed full-year capital expectations and reduced our full-year G&A guidance.
Beth McDonald, President and CEO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Total revenue and revenue comparisons were not included in the provided filing text.
- Gross profit, gross margin, operating income, and operating margin were not included in the provided filing text.
- Total net income, net income comparisons, and GAAP EPS comparisons were not included in the provided filing text.
- Adjusted net income and adjusted EPS comparisons were not included in the provided filing text.
- Cash balance, total debt balance, and net debt balance at June 30, 2026 were not included in the provided filing text.
- Free cash flow on a GAAP basis was not included in the provided filing text.
- Segment revenue and segment operating results were not included in the provided filing text.
- Prior outlook section was not provided, so comparisons against prior guidance are unavailable.
- The financial highlights table in the provided text is truncated after the general and administrative line; additional financial statement and operating metrics, if any, are not available from the provided text.
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.