SM Q4 Earnings Top Estimates on Lower Expenses, Revenues Fall Y/Y

Core Insights - SM Energy reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 83 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents, but down from $1.91 in the same quarter last year [1][10] - Total quarterly revenues were $705 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $766 million and declining from $852 million year-over-year [1][10] Operational Performance - Production volume for the fourth quarter was 206.9 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d), a 1% decrease from 208 MBoe/d year-over-year, and below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 209 MBoe/d [3][10] - Oil production increased approximately 1% year-over-year to 108.4 thousand barrels per day (MBbls/d), but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 111 MBbls/d [4] - Natural gas production was 428.3 million cubic feet per day, up 1% year-over-year, while natural gas liquids production decreased 10% year-over-year to 27.1 MBbls/d [4] Realized Prices - The average realized price per Boe was $36.92, down from $43.68 in the year-ago quarter [5] - Average realized oil price decreased 16% to $58.17 per barrel, while natural gas prices fell 17% to $1.81 per thousand cubic feet, and natural gas liquids prices declined 16% to $20.67 per barrel [5] Costs & Expenses - Unit lease operating expenses rose 4% year-over-year to $5.55 per Boe, while general and administrative expenses decreased 4% to $2.10 per Boe [6] - Total operating expenses for the quarter decreased to $523 million from $565 million in the previous year [7][10] Capital Expenditures - Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter totaled $216 million, with adjusted free cash flow amounting to $198 million [8][10] Balance Sheet - As of December 31, 2025, SM Energy had cash and cash equivalents of $368 million and a net debt of $2.4 billion [11] Guidance - For Q1 2026, total production is expected to be between 30.5-32.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), with oil accounting for approximately 52% [12] - Full-year 2026 net production volume is projected to be in the range of 146-153 MMBoe, with about 54% from oil, and capital expenditures forecasted between $2.65-$2.85 billion [12]