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RANGE RESOURCES CORP (RRC)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 delivered solid cash generation with cash from operations of $248M and adjusted EPS of $0.57, modestly above Wall Street consensus, while GAAP diluted EPS was $0.60 aided by a $93M mark-to-market derivative gain .
- Revenue composition remained balanced, with realized prices of $3.29/mcfe (+$0.22 vs NYMEX), production at ~2.23 Bcfe/d (69% gas), and total cash unit costs down versus last year; cash margin per mcfe was $1.36 vs $1.24 in Q3’24 but down from $1.53 in Q2 .
- Guidance tightened/improved: 2025 gas differential to NYMEX narrowed to (-$0.40)–(-$0.43), NGL differential narrowed to MB +$0.50–$0.75, production outlook edged up to ~2.23 Bcfe/d, and transportation cost guidance lowered on the high end .
- Capital allocation remained shareholder-friendly: $56M repurchases and $21M dividends in Q3; net debt at ~$1.23B with a revolver amended to 2030 increasing bank commitments to $2.0B, preserving flexibility for the 2026–2027 growth plan .
- Near-term catalysts: Q4 production step-up to ~2.3 Bcfe/d, ongoing discussions on in-basin data center/power agreements, and positive LNG/NGL export capacity trends that management sees improving realizations and supporting growth through 2027 .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Efficiency and cost discipline: Total cash unit costs declined YoY to $1.91/mcfe; DD&A remained controlled at $0.46/mcfe; interest expense per mcfe fell YoY to $0.11 .
- Pricing and differentials: Realized price after hedges at $3.29/mcfe delivered a $0.22 premium vs NYMEX; pre-hedge NGL realizations carried a premium to Mont Belvieu .
- Strategic positioning and liquidity: Share repurchases ($56M) and dividends ($21M), net debt ~$1.23B, amended revolver to 2030 with commitments raised to $2.0B; CEO highlighted “ability to generate significant free cash flow through cycles” positioning Range for demand growth .
Quote: “Range’s third quarter results continue to showcase our ability to generate significant free cash flow through cycles… well-positioned to benefit from growing local and global demand for natural gas” — CEO Dennis Degner .
What Went Wrong
- Sequential cash margin compression: Cash margin per mcfe slipped to $1.36 from $1.53 in Q2, reflecting lower sequential realized pricing and seasonal transportation effects .
- NGL/condensate pricing headwinds: Pre-hedge NGL price ($22.09/bbl) and oil/condensate ($54.25/bbl) were down vs prior year, with condensate at WTI minus $10.73 .
- Revenue versus consensus definition gap: S&P Global’s revenue actual ($0.656B*) tracked below its consensus ($0.690B*), even as company-reported GAAP revenues and other income were $0.749B; investors should note definitional differences when benchmarking .
Financial Results
Headline Financials vs Prior Periods and Consensus
S&P Global Consensus vs Actuals (Revenue/EPS/EBITDA)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Unit Cost and Margin Detail
Product Sales Mix
KPIs and Cash Metrics
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO emphasized free cash flow resilience and readiness to meet growing local/global gas demand: “We believe Range is exceedingly well-positioned… high-return, long-life asset base and low full-cycle cost structure” .
- CFO highlighted capital returns and balance sheet strength: year-to-date share repurchases/dividends while reducing net debt, enabling opportunistic investments and long-duration term deals with global counterparties .
- Marketing update underscored flexibility and premium realizations via East Coast exports to Europe and diversified transport portfolio linking key U.S./global markets .
Q&A Highlights
- Work-in-progress inventory and 2026 cadence: Management plans a linear drawdown of >400k lateral feet through 2026–2027, with completions stepping up and drilling tapering; production ramps ratably with midstream expansions (e.g., Harmon Creek 3) .
- Basis and investment grade: Basis seen as durable with potential strengthening; management noted credit rating not a constraint for long-term deals; leverage below investment-grade peers, bonds trade at IG levels .
- Curtailments/modulation: Range’s calculus differs due to 80% of gas sold out of basin and NGL uplift; strategy favors program shaping over broad shut-ins .
- Capital allocation: Within target net debt range, returns of capital (buybacks/dividends) scale with cycle; optionality for modest midstream investments/royalty buy-ins focused on per-share value .
- NGL macro outlook: Strong LPG/ethane demand and expanding export capacity support improved fundamentals; Range secured northeast terminal access for late 2026/2027 .
Estimates Context
- EPS: Adjusted EPS of $0.57 modestly beat S&P Global consensus of ~$0.555; GAAP diluted EPS was $0.60 aided by a $93M derivative gain due to commodity price decreases .
- Revenue: S&P Global “Revenue” actual ($0.656B*) tracked below its consensus ($0.690B*), while the company’s GAAP revenues and other income were $0.749B; benchmarking should account for reporting definition differences in “revenue” used by consensus providers .
- EBITDA: Actual EBITDA of ~$0.315B* exceeded consensus of ~$0.300B*, reflecting solid cash margins and cost control despite sequential pricing pressure.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Sequential profile: Expect Q4 production to step up to ~2.3 Bcfe/d as DUCs are turned to sales and midstream additions commission; monitor cash margin trajectory given stronger seasonal transport and pricing .
- Differentials: Improved 2025 guidance on gas (-$0.40 to -$0.43) and NGL (+$0.50 to +$0.75) differentials provide tailwinds to realized pricing versus benchmarks .
- Capital returns and balance sheet: Continuing buybacks/dividends alongside net debt ~$1.23B and expanded revolver commitments to $2.0B support flexibility into the 2026–2027 growth plan .
- In-basin demand optionality: Data center/power agreements (Liberty/Imperial) could crystallize new long-term demand; Range’s inventory depth and transport footprint enable surety of supply and creative pricing structures .
- LNG/NGL macro: Additional LNG FIDs and expanding ethane/LPG export capacity underpin medium-term pricing/realizations; watch export premiums and East Coast terminal access ramp .
- Valuation lens: Management frames >$2B multi-year FCF potential under conservative price scenarios and a strategy to compound per-share value by growing cash flow while shrinking share count .
- Risks to monitor: Commodity price volatility, NGL/condensate spreads, midstream commissioning timelines, and timing/terms of in-basin long-term supply agreements .