Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues for the third quarter amounted to $4.6 billion, a 12% decrease year-on-year, reflecting a 13% decline in Brent prices [3][4] - Adjusted EBITDA reached approximately $1.4 billion, showing a sequential increase of over 20% while remaining flat compared to the previous year [3][4] - Free cash flow was negative at $759 million, primarily due to the acquisition of shale assets and the impact of the mature field exit strategy [8][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shale production increased by 35% year-on-year, reaching 170,000 barrels per day, with preliminary figures indicating a further 12% increase in October [4][14] - Total hydrocarbon production averaged 523,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down 4% sequentially and 6% year-on-year [11] - Downstream segment achieved the highest processing level since 2009 at 326,000 barrels per day, a 9% increase year-on-year [7][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Crude oil realization price averaged $60 per barrel, flat sequentially but down 12% year-on-year [12] - Natural gas prices increased by 6% quarter-over-quarter to an average of $4.3 per MBTU [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to focus on operational efficiency and the development of unconventional resources, with 70% of CapEx directed towards shale activities [5][18] - YPF aims to become a 100% pure shale player with a competitive lifting cost structure of around $5 per BOE in the near future [18] - The Argentina LNG project is progressing, with a Technical FID signed for a fully integrated LNG project expandable to 18 million tons per year [9][27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining profitability despite international price contractions, driven by an improved production mix and operational efficiencies [3][4] - The company anticipates a clean year in 2026, with improved visibility on results and shareholder value creation [72][74] Other Important Information - Net debt increased to $9.6 billion, with a net leverage ratio of 2.1x, but pro forma adjustments would show a lower ratio [8][29] - The company successfully issued $500 million in international bonds at an 8.25% yield, the lowest interest rate for an international bond in recent years [9][33] Q&A Session Summary Question: Production growth outlook for 2026 and 2027 - Management expects production to average around 215,000 barrels per day in 2026 and 290,000 barrels per day in 2027 [38] Question: Development of the Refinor asset and refining portfolio - Refinor provides logistical advantages, and management is focused on maximizing shareholder value through strategic decisions [39] Question: Future M&A activities and capital allocation - The company will remain active in portfolio management but does not foresee major acquisitions in the near term [43] Question: Working capital losses and future expectations - Negative working capital was driven by seasonality and longer collection days, with normalization expected in the coming quarters [53] Question: Lifting costs trajectory and leverage comfort level - Management is working to reduce unit costs and aims to maintain leverage at comfortable levels, with a reduction expected in 2026 [59] Question: Update on downstream pricing and divestment of MetroGAS - The company is implementing a dynamic pricing model and is in the process of negotiating divestments from conventional assets [61][65]