National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) announced its fiscal 2026 first-quarter financial results on Wednesday, reporting a consolidated net income of $181.6 million, or $1.98 per share. This represents a significant increase from the $45.0 million, or $0.49 per share, recorded in the same period last year. On an adjusted basis, excluding non-cash impairment charges and other items impacting comparability, operating earnings rose to $187.7 million, or $2.06 per share, a 24% increase over the prior year’s adjusted results of $1.66 per share.
Segment Financial Results
The company’s performance was largely driven by the Integrated Upstream and Gathering segment, where adjusted earnings increased 45% year-over-year to $1.36 per share. This growth was supported by a 12% rise in natural gas production, which reached 109 billion cubic feet (Bcf), primarily due to new Utica shale wells in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Seneca Resources’ weighted average realized natural gas price, including the impact of hedging, was $2.89 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf), up $0.36 or 14% from the prior year.
In the Utility segment, net income rose 5% to $57.7 million. The increase was attributed to higher customer margins resulting from ongoing system modernization programs in New York and Pennsylvania. Conversely, the Pipeline and Storage segment reported GAAP earnings of $31.2 million, a decrease of $1.2 million from the prior year, primarily due to lower intercompany interest income.
Operating Costs and Capital Management
Adjusted total operating costs for the exploration and production business rose slightly to $1.27 per Mcf, compared to $1.24 per Mcf in the prior year. This $0.03 increase was driven by higher lease operating expenses (LOE), which rose to $0.15 per Mcf due to third-party gathering costs associated with new Tioga County production. General and administrative (G&A) expenses improved by $0.02 per Mcf, ending the quarter at $0.18 per Mcf.
| Financial Metric (Q1 Fiscal 2026) | Amount | YoY Change |
| Operating Revenue | $651.5 million | +18.6% |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $268.4 million | +28.7% |
| Net Production | 109 Bcf | +12.0% |
| Realized Gas Price (w/ hedges) | $2.89/Mcf | +14.2% |
To support its strategic growth, the company completed a $350 million common equity private placement during the quarter. The proceeds are designated to fund the acquisition of CenterPoint Energy’s Ohio gas utility assets. National Fuel ended the period with total debt of $2.83 billion and a debt-to-equity ratio of 91.5%.
Outlook and Strategic Development
National Fuel reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance of $7.60 to $8.10 per share, with a midpoint of $7.85. This guidance is based on an assumed average NYMEX natural gas price of $3.75 per MMBtu for the remainder of the fiscal year. The company provided price sensitivities indicating that a $1.00 change in the NYMEX price would impact annual adjusted EPS by approximately $0.95.
The company is progressing on several midstream infrastructure projects. The Shippingport Lateral project recently received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and both it and the Tioga Pathway project are scheduled for completion by late 2026. Additionally, the company added approximately 200 prospective drilling locations in the Upper Utica formation, expanding its inventory of high-return Appalachian development sites.
Industry Context
The results reflect a period of stabilizing commodity prices and increased demand for natural gas infrastructure in the Northeast. While the broader industry faces volatility in NYMEX pricing, National Fuel’s integrated structure—combining production with regulated utility and midstream assets—continues to provide a baseline of stable cash flows. The anticipated closing of the Ohio utility acquisition in late 2026 is expected to further shift the company’s earnings mix toward regulated operations.
Reasons to Pass on NFG
- High commodity price exposure: Earnings remain highly sensitive to NYMEX gas prices, with a $1.00 move impacting annual EPS by about $0.95.
- Rising upstream costs: Adjusted operating costs increased year over year, driven by higher lease operating expenses tied to new production.
- Elevated leverage: Total debt of $2.83 billion and a debt-to-equity ratio near 92% limit balance sheet flexibility.
- Equity dilution: The $350 million equity issuance to fund the Ohio utility acquisition may pressure near-term per-share returns.
- Uneven segment performance: Pipeline and Storage earnings declined, partially offsetting gains elsewhere.
- Long-dated project payoffs: Major midstream projects are not expected to contribute meaningfully until late 2026.
- Acquisition execution risk: The pending Ohio utility deal carries regulatory and integration uncertainties.
- Capital-intensive strategy: Ongoing investment needs could constrain free cash flow despite earnings growth.
