Northern Oil and Gas(US:NOG) ZACKS·2026-02-27 14:05Core Insights - Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NOG) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of 83 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 71 cents, driven by strong production that surpassed expectations by 4.2% [1][11] - Despite the earnings beat, the bottom line declined from the previous year's adjusted profit of $1.40 due to lower commodity prices and a significant increase in operating expenses by 68.4% [1][8] Financial Performance - NOG's oil and gas sales for the quarter were $447.7 million, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $511 million and down from $515 million year-over-year [2] - Total operating expenses rose to $644 million from $382.3 million in the prior year, primarily due to increased production and administrative costs [8] - The company reported free cash flow of $43.2 million for the quarter and had $14.3 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2025 [12] Production and Sales - Fourth-quarter production increased by 6% year-over-year to 140,064 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d), exceeding internal estimates [5][11] - Oil volume decreased by 5% year-over-year to 74,703 Boe/d, while natural gas production increased by 24% to 392,163 thousand cubic feet per day [6] - The average sales price for crude oil was $59.09 per barrel, a 17% decrease from the previous year's $65.40, but above expectations [6] Shareholder Returns - The board declared a cash dividend of 45 cents per share, to be distributed on April 30, 2026, to shareholders on record as of March 30, 2026 [3] - In 2025, NOG returned over $230.4 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, including $173.4 million in dividends and $57 million in buybacks [4][11] Capital Expenditures and Guidance - Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter were $270.2 million, with $192.5 million allocated to drilling and completion activities [9] - For 2026, NOG projects production levels between 139,000-143,000 Boe/d under low activity and 144,000-148,000 Boe/d under high activity scenarios [13] - Estimated capital expenditures for 2026 range from $850 million to $900 million in a low-activity case, potentially rising to $1-$1.1 billion in a high-activity scenario [14]