Chord Energy (US:CHRD)2025-11-05 17:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Chord Energy reported adjusted free cash flow of approximately $230 million for Q3 2025, returning 69% of this to shareholders [5][9] - Free cash flow per share has grown over 20% since February, and pro forma free cash flow per share is up more than 35% since the Enerplus transaction [9][10] - The company has reduced diluted shares outstanding by approximately 11% since the combination with Enerplus [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Chord has raised oil volume guidance for the second time in 2025, expecting four-mile wells to constitute up to 40% of the operated program in 2026 [6][7] - The company has drilled 11 alternate-shaped wells year to date, with costs trending below initial estimates [7][31] - Chord has achieved $120 million in improvement in free cash flow generation from controllable items, including higher production and lower operating expenses [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The XTO transaction closed on October 31, adding 4,000 barrels of oil per day to fourth quarter production [10][40] - The company expects to maintain oil volumes of approximately 157,000-161,000 barrels per day in 2026, with a total CapEx of roughly $1.4 billion [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Chord aims to enhance capital efficiency and has made significant progress in its four-mile well program, which is expected to improve production and reduce costs [6][10] - The company is focused on maintaining a low-cost inventory depth through technology adoption and opportunistic M&A [11][14] - Chord's strategy includes a commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement in operations [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate commodity volatility and maintain operational flexibility [12] - The company is optimistic about the integration of high-quality assets from the XTO acquisition, which aligns with its long-term strategic objectives [10][11] - Management highlighted the importance of improving production uptime and artificial lift optimization as key areas for future growth [32][100] Other Important Information - Chord has published its 2024 sustainability report, reflecting its commitment to responsible energy production [12][13] - The company has identified expected savings of $30 million-$50 million annually from marketing cost structure improvements [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expected benefits from the four-mile wells in terms of capital efficiency? - Management anticipates seeing significant benefits from four-mile wells towards the end of 2026 and into 2027, particularly in terms of lower decline rates [17][18] Question: How will the marketing and midstream agreements impact natural gas and NGL differentials? - Management noted that approximately $20 million was impacted in 2025, with expectations of $40 million in benefits spread across gas and NGL in the following year [20][21] Question: Can you provide insights on the cost and execution differences between alternate-shaped wells and traditional wells? - Management indicated that alternate-shaped wells are only slightly more expensive than traditional wells, with strong execution and cost savings observed [30][31] Question: What is the company's approach to dividend growth and capital allocation? - Management emphasized a commitment to a competitive base dividend while considering share repurchases and potential variable dividends based on capital allocation decisions [89][90]