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LC

LandBridge Co LLC (LB)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Revenue grew 78% YoY and 7% QoQ to $50.83M with Adjusted EBITDA up 79% YoY to $44.85M and margins holding ~88%; diversified fee-based revenues and rising produced-water activity were key drivers .
  • Versus S&P Global consensus, revenue modestly beat, while EPS missed and GAAP EBITDA trailed consensus; EPS was pressured by $11.2M non‑cash share-based comp, and consensus appears to compare GAAP EBITDA vs company’s Adjusted EBITDA . Q3 revenue actual $50.83M vs $50.26M estimate*, EPS $0.237 vs $0.507 estimate*, EBITDA $33.47M vs $45.32M estimate* .
  • FY25 outlook narrowed/tightened to $165–$175M Adjusted EBITDA (from $160–$180M in Q2), effectively raising the low end and lowering the high end; Q3 dividend maintained at $0.10/share .
  • Strategic milestones: ~37,500-acre acquisition (1918 Ranch & Royalty) expanding pore space and alternative energy optionality; sale of a 3,000-acre solar project (upfront + contingent milestones); long-term lease with an ONEOK subsidiary for a gas processing facility; liquidity strengthened to $108.3M and net leverage improved to 2.1x .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well
    • Sustained high margins: Adjusted EBITDA margin 88% with broad-based contribution; revenue +7% QoQ, Adjusted EBITDA +6% QoQ .
    • Mix resilience and volume uptick: Fee-based Surface Use Royalties & Revenue +2% QoQ; oil & gas royalties +22% QoQ as net royalty production rose from 814 boe/d to 912 boe/d .
    • Strategic portfolio actions: 37,500-acre 1918 acquisition (pore space + alternative energy siting), 3,000-acre solar project sale (upfront and milestone economics), and a long-term ONEOK gas processing lease adding upfront and recurring revenue avenues .
    • Management quote: “We control over 300,000 highly contiguous acres… WaterBridge… continues to expand its footprint on our land, reinforcing mutual growth” .
  • What Went Wrong
    • EPS miss vs Street: Primary EPS $0.237 vs $0.507 consensus*, reflecting $11.2M non-cash share-based comp impacting reported earnings .
    • EBITDA vs consensus: GAAP EBITDA of $33.47M came in below consensus $45.32M*, though company’s Adjusted EBITDA was $44.85M (non-GAAP) with 88% margin .
    • Cash generation decelerated sequentially: Operating cash flow fell to $34.9M (from $37.3M) and FCF to $33.7M (from $36.1M), though both up sharply YoY; capex remained low at $1.2M .

Financial Results

Financial summary (oldest → newest):

MetricQ3 2024Q2 2025Q3 2025
Revenue ($M)$28.49 $47.50 $50.83
Net Income ($M, consolidated)$(2.76) $18.48 $20.29
Net Income Margin (%)(10%) 39% 40%
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$25.01 $42.45 $44.85
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (%)88% 89% 88%
Cash from Operations ($M)$7.45 $37.33 $34.91
Free Cash Flow ($M)$7.15 $36.09 $33.73

Actual vs S&P Global consensus (Street) – focus quarters:

MetricQ2 2025 ActualQ2 2025 ConsensusQ3 2025 ActualQ3 2025 Consensus
Revenue ($M)$47.50 $49.33*$50.83 $50.26*
Primary EPS ($)$0.232*$0.376*$0.237*$0.507*
EBITDA ($M, GAAP)$31.05 $43.37*$33.47 $45.32*

Segment breakdown (revenue):

Segment ($M)Q3 2024Q2 2025Q3 2025
Surface Use Royalties & Revenue$16.5 $34.2 $35.0
Resource Sales & Royalties$9.1 $10.6 $10.8
Oil & Gas Royalties$2.9 $2.7 $3.3
Other$— $— $1.7
Total Revenue$28.49 $47.50 $50.83

KPIs and balance/liquidity:

KPIQ3 2024Q2 2025Q3 2025
Net Royalty Production (boe/d)814 912
Total Liquidity ($M)$95.3 $108.3
Cash & Equivalents ($M)$20.3 $28.3
Revolver Availability ($M)$75.0 $80.0
Borrowings Outstanding ($M)$374.3 $369.3
Net Leverage Ratio (x)2.4x 2.1x
Dividend ($/share)$0.10 $0.10

Note: Asterisks (*) denote values retrieved from S&P Global.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)FY 2025$160–$180 (Q2 guide) $165–$175 Tightened (raised low end, lowered high end)
Dividend ($/share)Quarterly$0.10 (Q2) $0.10 (Q3) Maintained
Net leverage target (x)Ongoing2.0–2.5x target 2.0–2.5x target Maintained

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ1 2025 (Prior-2)Q2 2025 (Prior-1)Q3 2025 (Current)Trend
Produced water/pore space strategyEmphasis on contiguous pore space; Speedway pipeline open season; Wolf Bone Ranch MVC underpinning New Devon MVC for 300 kbpd pore space (from 2027); state-line pore space constraints recognized Continued pore space expansion via 1918 acquisition; WaterBridge Kraken ramp; oil & gas royalties +22% QoQ Strengthening
Data center/power initiativesData center option signed Nov-2024; power demand discussions ramping IPP option for CCGT plant; partnership to accelerate power development “Package” solution: land + power partners + water; engaged with blue-chip counterparties Advancing
Regulatory (Texas RRC)Company supportive; aligns with distributed injection strategy; pore space not commodity Reinforced thesis with Delaware Basin disposal capacity shortfall slide Supportive tailwind
Revenue mix durability92% non-oil & gas royalties; commodity-insulated model Fee-based >90% of mix; Surface Use surged on easements Fee-based growth persisted; surface revenues +2% QoQ Durable
M&A and land strategyFocus on accretive land M&A Evaluating acquisitions; guidance adjusted for timing of solar monetization Closed 1918 Ranch & Royalty (~37,500 acres) with 2026 EBITDA potential Active

Management Commentary

  • CEO: “We control over 300,000 highly contiguous acres… WaterBridge… continues to expand its footprint on our land, reinforcing mutual growth.”
  • CFO: “Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $44.9 million… with a margin of 88%… net leverage ratio was 2.1x at the end of the third quarter compared to 2.4x last quarter.”
  • CFO on 1918 acquisition: “Conservatively expecting $20 million of EBITDA… next year [2026].”
  • CFO on ONEOK lease structure: “Usually upfront payments for long-term lease, with additional annual payments; significant recurring revenue from associated infrastructure (pipelines, electrical, etc.).”

Q&A Highlights

  • 1918 acquisition economics and timeline: ~$20M EBITDA in 2026 (conservative, run-rate based), with 900 kbpd incremental pore space capacity enabling mid-$50M EBITDA potential over 3–4 years as commercialization progresses .
  • Data center/power posture: “Package solution” (land + power partnerships + water + fiber locations) differentiates LB; multiple processes “fairly far along” with blue-chip counterparties .
  • Gas processing lease (ONEOK subsidiary): upfront + annual payments; recurring revenue from broader infrastructure buildout (pipelines, power interconnects) .
  • Pore space scarcity narrative: Management illustrated a forecasted 9 MMBbl/d disposal capacity shortfall in the Delaware Basin by 2035, supporting long-term pricing/volume tailwinds for LB’s pore space .
  • 2026 setup: Expect step-up from 1918 and line-of-sight water volumes (e.g., WaterBridge developments) with surface-use royalties and other surface revenues as primary growth drivers .

Estimates Context

  • Revenue: Q3 actual $50.83M beat $50.26M consensus by ~$0.57M (~1.1%)* .
  • EPS: Primary EPS $0.237 missed $0.507 consensus*, impacted by $11.2M non-cash share-based comp and incentive units (not dilutive to public ownership) .
  • EBITDA (GAAP): $33.47M below $45.32M consensus*, while company-reported Adjusted EBITDA was $44.85M with 88% margin (non-GAAP) .
  • Looking ahead: Q4 2025 Street sees revenue ~$51.80M and EPS ~$0.432*, implying modest sequential growth from Q3; management tightened FY25 Adjusted EBITDA range to $165–$175M .

Note: Asterisks (*) denote values retrieved from S&P Global.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Core thesis intact: high-margin, asset-light, fee-based model continues to compound; Q3 Adjusted EBITDA margin ~88% on 78% YoY revenue growth .
  • Consensus framing matters: Revenue beat, but EPS and GAAP EBITDA missed—non-cash comp and GAAP vs Adjusted EBITDA definition drove optics; Adjusted EBITDA tracked strong at $44.85M .
  • 2026 acceleration levers: 1918 Ranch (~37,500 acres) with ~$20M EBITDA in 2026 and multi-year pore-space monetization runway (mid‑$50M potential over time) .
  • Structural tailwind: Delaware Basin disposal capacity constraints and Texas RRC emphasis on responsible pore-space management favor LB’s contiguous acreage and distributed approach .
  • Multiple optionality vectors: ONEOK processing lease, solar project sale (upfront + milestones), continued WaterBridge buildout (e.g., Kraken, Speedway), and maturing power/data center opportunities .
  • Balance sheet flexibility: Liquidity up to $108.3M, net leverage down to 2.1x; dividend maintained at $0.10/share .
  • Near-term catalysts: Additional commercial announcements (data center/power), pore-space agreements, and execution against tightened FY25 Adjusted EBITDA range could drive estimate revisions and sentiment .

Additional Materials Reviewed in Q3 Window

  • Q3 2025 press release and 8‑K exhibit (full financials, non‑GAAP reconciliations, dividend, liquidity, outlook) .
  • Q3 2025 earnings call transcript (prepared remarks and Q&A) .
  • Subsequent 8‑K: announced intent to offer $500M senior notes and new $275M revolver; disclosed pro forma DSCR of 5.0x “as further adjusted” (context for capital structure evolution) .

S&P Global disclaimer: All values marked with an asterisk (*) are retrieved from S&P Global consensus/actuals.