Riley Exploration Permian Inc is engaged in the business of exploration for and production of oil and natural gas... Show more
Riley Exploration Permian operates oil and natural gas assets in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, and its quarterly results serve as a direct read on commodity prices, well productivity, and capital discipline. The third quarter of 2026 is particularly significant because the company has been scaling output following its Silverback acquisition while contending with volatile crude prices and a heavy hedging program. Investors watch this report closely to gauge whether production growth is translating into sustainable free cash flow, whether derivative positions are distorting reported earnings, and how management is balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns such as dividends. The results offer a snapshot of both operational momentum and the financial noise created by hedging.
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, Riley Exploration Permian reported oil and natural gas sales of $201.2 million, an 88.3% increase from $106.9 million in the same period a year earlier. Revenue exceeded consensus estimates. On a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, the company posted a net loss of $2.4 million, or a loss of $0.11 per diluted share, versus net income of $16.3 million a year ago. The swing primarily reflected a $100 million net derivative loss, including roughly $28 million of realized settlement losses and $72 million of unrealized losses tied to crude-oil-linked contracts.
On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income was about $56 million, or $2.66 per diluted share, beating the consensus estimate of $1.97. Adjusted EBITDAX — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and exploration expenses — rose to $117 million from $80.1 million in the prior quarter. Operating cash flow increased 75% sequentially to $111 million, and total free cash flow came in near $42 million. Oil production reached 25,400 barrels per day, up 20% from the second quarter, with total equivalent output of 42,000 BOE per day. Total debt declined 10% from the prior quarter to $245 million.
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The initial market response to the report was muted to slightly negative. Shares edged lower by roughly 1.5% immediately after the release, reflecting a mixed interpretation of results. While revenue, production, and adjusted earnings all came in above expectations, the headline GAAP loss — driven by a large derivative mark-to-market swing — appeared to temper investor enthusiasm. Sentiment heading into the print had been supported by strong production guidance and a recent dividend increase, but the reminder of how sharply hedging can distort reported profitability introduced caution. Investors continue to focus on underlying operational performance and free cash flow rather than the accounting impact of the derivative book.
Following the third quarter report, investors should focus on whether the company's production trajectory remains intact into the fourth quarter and beyond. Management has signaled continued growth, and sustained oil output near current levels would support both cash flow and debt reduction. Watch for updates on realized prices and the performance of the hedging portfolio, since derivative settlements and unrealized mark-to-market swings can continue to widen the gap between GAAP and adjusted results.
Midstream conditions in New Mexico also remain a key variable. Earlier in 2026, an outage at a third-party gas processing facility temporarily constrained volumes, and the ramp-up of new pipeline capacity is expected to ease those constraints. Progress on that infrastructure could improve natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) pricing and reduce the negative revenue impact seen in prior quarters.
Capital allocation is another important theme. The company raised its full-year capital expenditure guidance and increased its dividend to $0.42 per share, signaling confidence in cash generation. Monitoring whether spending stays within guidance and whether free cash flow continues to fund both dividends and debt reduction will be central to the investment case. Commodity price trends, particularly West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, will remain the primary external driver of results.
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Industry OilGasProduction