Diamondback Energy Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y

Diamondback Energy, Inc. FANG reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $6.48, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.96 and more than doubled from the year-ago adjusted profit of $2.67. The outperformance was driven by production growth and a 53.1% improvement in the year-over-year realized oil prices.

This Midland, TX-based oil and gas exploration and production company’s revenues of $5.6 billion increased more than 51% from the year-ago quarter and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by about 17%, fueled primarily by higher sales of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, increased sales of purchased oil and higher revenues from other operating income.

Diamondback Energy, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Diamondback Energy, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Diamondback Energy, Inc. Quote

In the second quarter of 2026, Diamondback Energy generated free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow of $2.3 billion. Over the same period, it bought back nearly 756,385 common shares for roughly $141 million at an average price of $186.63 per share, excluding excise taxes.

In July, the board of directors increased the company's share repurchase authorization from $8 billion to $16 billion, effectively doubling the program's capacity. Following this increase, approximately $9.9 billion remains available for future share repurchases under the authorization.

FANG’s board of directors approved a base quarterly dividend of $1.10 per common share for the second quarter of 2026, payable on Aug. 20 to its stockholders of record on Aug. 13.

FANG’s Q2 Production & Realized Prices

FANG’s production of oil and natural gas averaged 1,017,659 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d), comprising 51.6% oil. The figure was up 10.6% from the year-ago quarter and beat our model estimate of 969,519.9 BOE/d. While crude and natural gas output increased 5.9% and 16.5% year over year, respectively, natural gas liquids volumes climbed 15.7%.

The average realized oil price during the quarter was $96.82 per barrel, 53.1% higher than the year-ago realization of $63.23. The figure also beat our estimate of $66.12 per barrel. Meanwhile, the average realized natural gas price decreased to a negative $2.15 per thousand cubic feet from 88 cents in the prior year. The figure was also below our model estimate of 60 cents. Overall, the upstream oil and gas company fetched $51.68 per barrel compared with $39.61 a year ago.

FANG’s Costs & Financial Position

Diamondback Energy’s second-quarter cash operating cost was $10.96 per BOE compared with $10.10 in the prior-year quarter and our estimate of $12.56. The increase in costs compared with the year-ago period reflected a rise in lease operating expenses to $5.96 per BOE from $5.26 in the second quarter of 2025 and an increase in Production and ad valorem taxes to $3.26 per BOE from $2.56 in the prior-year quarter.

However, FANG’s gathering, processing and transportation expenses decreased 29.5% year over year to $1.22 per BOE. Cash G&A expenses also fell in the second quarter of 2026 to 52 cents per BOE from 55 cents in the corresponding period of 2025.

Diamondback Energy logged $996 million in capital expenditure — spending $842 million on operated drilling and completion additions to oil and natural gas properties, and $154 million on non-operated additions. The company booked $2.3 billion in adjusted free cash flow in the second quarter.

As of June 30, the Permian-focused operator had approximately $462 million in cash and cash equivalents and $11.1 billion in long-term debt, representing a debt-to-capitalization of 20.1%.

FANG’s Q3 & 2026 Guidance

Diamondback Energy updated its 2026 guidance by raising its full-year oil production outlook to more than 522 MBO/d, up from the previous guidance of more than 520 MBO/d, and increasing its total production forecast to over 1,000 MBOE/d from more than 972 MBOE/d. The company maintained its full-year cash capital expenditure guidance at approximately $3.9 billion.

For the third quarter of 2026, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company expects oil production to range between 517 MBO/d and 527 MBO/d, with total combined production projected at 995-1,015 MBOE/d. Third-quarter cash capital expenditures are expected to be between $950 million and $1.05 billion.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Important Energy Earnings at a Glance

While we have discussed FANG’s second-quarter results in detail, let us take a look at three other key reports in the energy space.

Expand Energy Corporation EXE reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $1.33, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22. The company’s bottom line increased from the year-ago adjusted profit of $1.10 per share, fueled by strong production and lower operating expenses.

Expand Energy’s ‘natural gas, oil and NGL’ revenues of $1.8 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2 billion. The top line was also below the year-ago figure of $2 billion.

As of June 30, 2026, the company had $663 million in cash and cash equivalents. Expand Energy had a long-term debt of $3.7 billion, reflecting a debt-to-capitalization of 16%.

NOV Inc. NOV reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 31 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents. The bottom line also increased 6.9% from the year-ago quarter’s 29 cents, driven by outperformance of the Energy Equipment segment.

The oil and gas equipment and services company’s total revenues of $2.1 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $39 million. However, NOV’s revenues fell 2.5% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $2.2 billion due to lower year-over-year revenues from the Energy Products and Services segment.

As of June 30, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.2 billion and long-term debt of $1.7 billion with a debt-to-capitalization of 21.3%.

Core Laboratories Inc. CLB reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 11 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 8 cents, driven by outperformance of the Production Enhancement segment. However, the bottom line decreased from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure of 19 cents due to the underperformance of the Reservoir Description segment and increased costs and expenses.

This oilfield service provider reported second-quarter operating revenues of $124.6 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $128 million and decreasing from the earlier-year quarter’s reported figure of $130.1 million. This can be attributed to military conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine region, which disrupted energy infrastructure, delaying projects, disrupting crude oil trade and reducing demand for the company's international laboratory services.

As of June 30, 2026, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $22.7 million and long-term debt of $113.9 million. CLB’s debt-to-capitalization was about 29%.

7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days

Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."

Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.9% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention. 

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research