Chord Energy (CHRD) Q4 2025 Earnings Transcript
The Motley Fool
by newsfeedback@fool.com (Motley Fool Transcribing)February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Chord Energy (CHRD) reported a strong Q4 2025 performance, driven by operational excellence and cost control measures. The company exceeded oil production targets by over 1,000 barrels per day and finished the year below its capital expenditure plan by approximately $60 million, highlighting disciplined financial management. These factors contributed to a $160 million increase in free cash flow for 2025, reflecting Chord’s ability to optimize costs across key areas such as lease operating expenses, production taxes, and general administrative expenses. The company has returned over $6.7 billion to shareholders since 2021 through dividends and share repurchases, surpassing its current market capitalization.
Chord Energy’s strategic focus on long laterals—extended-length horizontal wellbores—has significantly improved efficiency. By converting 80% of its inventory to these longer wells, the company reduced its weighted average breakeven costs by more than 10%. This shift has allowed Chord to maintain a competitive edge in capital efficiency, with finding and development (F&D) costs declining by 22% over several years. CEO Danny Brown emphasized that this operational pivot, combined with strong cost controls, positioned the company for sustained growth without compromising profitability.
Looking ahead, Chord Energy’s 2026 production outlook remains stable at a target of 157,000 to 161,000 barrels per day, aligning with its "low to no oil growth" strategy. The company plans to allocate $1.4 billion in capital toward this goal while maintaining its focus on optimizing cash flow. Free cash flow guidance for 2026 is projected at approximately $700 million, based on oil and natural gas price benchmarks of $64 per barrel and $3.75 per MMBtu, respectively.
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Originally published on The Motley Fool on 2/26/2026