Viper Energy, Inc. Class A press release

Viper Energy, Inc., A Subsidiary Of Diamondback Energy, Inc., Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial And Operating Results; Increases Base Dividend

2026-08-03

NASDAQ - Nasdaq Stock Market · Oil · Natural Gas · Natural Gas Liquids · United States · Corporate Finance

MIDLAND, Texas, Aug. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) (“Viper,” “we,” “our” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FANG) (“Diamondback”), today announced financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

The Company today also announced that effective Q3 2026 the Board of Directors of Viper has approved a 32% increase to its base dividend, or an amount equal to $2.00 per Class A share annually. This increased base dividend, which would imply a 4.5% annualized yield at today’s stock price, is expected to be fully protected down to approximately $30 per barrel WTI and will represent approximately 50% of cash available for distribution at $70 per barrel WTI. With today’s announced increase to the base dividend and a further commitment to prioritize steady growth of the dividend, the Company additionally announced that it will be removing its quarterly commitment to return at least 75% of cash available for distribution. Increased flexibility in this revised return of capital framework is expected to allow the Company to continue to focus on opportunistic share repurchases while also supporting the further execution on accretive M&A.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Q2 2026 average production of 65,077 bo/d (134,363 boe/d) Q2 2026 lease bonus income of $15 million Q2 2026 consolidated net income (including non-controlling interest) of $331 million; net income attributable to Viper of $142 million, or $0.73 per Class A common share; consolidated adjusted net income of $345 million, or $1.78 per Class A common share Q2 2026 cash available for distribution to Viper’s Class A common shares (as defined and reconciled below) of $262 million, or $1.37 per Class A common share Declared Q2 2026 base cash dividend of $0.38 per Class A common share; implies a 3.4% annualized yield based on the July 31, 2026 Class A common share closing price of $44.61 Declared Q2 2026 variable cash dividend of $0.29 per Class A common share; total base-plus-variable dividend of $0.67 per Class A common share implies a 6.0% annualized yield based on the July 31, 2026 Class A common share closing price of $44.61 During Q2 2026, repurchased approximately 3.0 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $132 million, excluding excise tax (average price of $44.34 per share) Total Q2 2026 return of capital to Class A stockholders of $197 million, or $1.03 per Class A common share, represents 75% of cash available for distribution 691 total gross (19.8 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells, normalized to lateral length of 10,000 feet, turned to production on Viper’s Permian Basin acreage during Q2 2026

RECENT EVENTS AND FORWARD OUTLOOK

As previously announced, on July 1, 2026, completed the acquisition of all of the equity interests of Riverbend Oil & Gas IX, L.L.C., an entity owning certain mineral and royalty interests, from Riverbend Oil & Gas IX (AIV), L.L.C. and ROG IX, L.L.C. (the “Riverbend Acquisition”) On August 3, 2026, the Company’s subsidiary Viper Energy Partners LP entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain mineral and royalty interests representing approximately 933 net royalty acres from Diamondback and related subsidiaries in exchange for approximately 3.7 million units in the Company’s operating subsidiary, VNOM Holding Company LLC (“OpCo Units”) (along with an accompanying equal amount of Class B common stock of the Company); acquisition is expected to close late Q3 2026 and is subject to customary closing conditions As of July 1, 2026, giving effect to the Riverbend Acquisition, there were approximately 1,798 gross horizontal wells, normalized to lateral length of 10,000 feet, in the process of active development on Viper’s acreage in which Viper expects to own an average 2.2% net royalty interest (39.1 net 100% royalty interest wells) Giving effect to the Riverbend Acquisition, approximately 1,589 gross (32.9 net 100% royalty interest) line-of-sight wells, normalized to lateral length of 10,000 feet, on Viper’s acreage that are not currently in the process of development, but for which Viper has visibility to the potential of future development in coming quarters, based on Diamondback’s current planned drilling schedule and third-party operators’ permits Initiating average daily production guidance for Q3 2026 of 67,500 to 68,500 bo/d (133,500 to 135,500 boe/d) Increasing average daily production guidance for full year 2026 to 66,000 to 67,250 bo/d (132,500 to 135,000 boe/d) During Q3 2026 through July 31, 2026, repurchased approximately 0.7 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $29 million, excluding excise tax (average price of $42.82 per Class A Common share)

“The second quarter continued the trend of strong execution for Viper, highlighted by steady development activity from both Diamondback and our third-party operators across our high-quality asset base, as well as a continuation of our differentiated acquisition strategy. Reflecting this momentum, we are increasing our full year 2026 production guidance while initiating third quarter guidance that implies continued growth in oil production per share driven by both organic and inorganic growth,” said Kaes Van’t Hof, Chief Executive Officer of Viper.

Mr. Van’t Hof continued, “Separately, today we announced an important evolution of our return of capital strategy. Our Board approved a 32% increase to our base dividend to $2.00 per Class A share annually, a level we expect to be fully protected down to approximately $30 per barrel WTI and which represents approximately 50% of cash available for distribution at $70 per barrel WTI. With this increase, and a commitment to grow the base dividend steadily over time, we are moving away from our commitment to return at least 75% of cash available for distribution each quarter. We believe a single, durable and growing base dividend, rather than a variable payout that fluctuates with commodity prices, best showcases what differentiates Viper: an industry-leading, low-breakeven yield paired with consistent per-share growth. The flexibility created by retaining excess cash flow will allow us to continue to opportunistically repurchase shares, reduce debt and pursue a disciplined M&A strategy, all of which we expect to compound value for our stockholders over the long term.”

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Viper’s second quarter 2026 average unhedged realized prices were $98.28 per barrel of oil, $0.05 per Mcf of natural gas and $23.83 per barrel of natural gas liquids, resulting in a total equivalent realized price of $53.82/boe.

Viper’s second quarter 2026 average hedged realized prices were $96.42 per barrel of oil, $1.48 per Mcf of natural gas and $23.83 per barrel of natural gas liquids, resulting in a total equivalent realized price of $55.12/boe.

During the second quarter of 2026, the Company recorded total operating income of $677 million and consolidated net income (including non-controlling interest) of $331 million.

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had a cash balance of $77 million and total debt outstanding (excluding debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums) of $1.7 billion, resulting in net debt (as defined and reconciled below) of $1.6 billion. Viper’s outstanding long-term debt as of June 30, 2026 consisted of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of its 4.900% Senior Notes due 2030, $1.1 billion in aggregate principal amount of its 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 and $95 million of borrowings on its revolving credit facility, leaving approximately $1.9 billion available for future borrowings and approximately $2.0 billion of total liquidity.

SECOND QUARTER 2026 CASH DIVIDEND & CAPITAL RETURN PROGRAM

Viper announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) declared a base cash dividend of $0.38 per Class A common share for the second quarter of 2026, payable on August 20, 2026 to Class A common stockholders of record at the close of business on August 13, 2026.

The Board also declared a variable cash dividend of $0.29 per Class A common share for the second quarter of 2026, payable on August 20, 2026 to Class A common stockholders of record at the close of business on August 13, 2026.

During the second quarter of 2026, Viper repurchased approximately 3.0 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $132 million, excluding excise tax (average price of $44.34 per share).

In total, since the initiation of Viper’s common stock repurchase program on November 9, 2020 through July 31, 2026, the Company has repurchased approximately 24.3 million shares of common stock (including both Class A shares and Class B shares paired with OpCo Units) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $766 million, excluding excise tax (average price of $31.50 per share) and has approximately $984 million remaining on its share buyback authorization. Future cash dividends and stock repurchases are at the discretion of the Board and are subject to a number of factors discussed in Viper’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

OPERATIONS UPDATE

During the second quarter of 2026, Viper estimates that 691 gross (19.8 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells, normalized to lateral length of 10,000 feet, with an average royalty interest of 2.9% were turned to production on its acreage position. Of these 691 gross wells, Diamondback is the operator of 146 gross wells, with an average royalty interest of 7.0%, and the remaining 545 gross wells, with an average royalty interest of 1.8%, are operated by third parties.

As of July 1, 2026, after giving effect to the Riverbend Acquisition, Viper’s footprint of mineral and royalty interests was approximately 90,212 net royalty acres.

Our gross well information as of July 1, 2026, after giving effect to the Riverbend Acquisition:

| | Diamondback Operated | | Third-Party Operated | | Total | | Q2 2026 horizontal wells turned to production(1): | | | | | | | Gross wells | 146 | | 545 | | 691 | | Net 100% royalty interest wells | 10.2 | | 9.6 | | 19.8 | | Average percent net royalty interest | 7.0% | | 1.8% | | 2.9% | | | | | | | | | Horizontal producing well count(1): | | | | | | | Gross wells | 4,485 | | 21,075 | | 25,560 | | Net 100% royalty interest wells | 277.7 | | 322.9 | | 600.6 | | Average percent net royalty interest | 6.2% | | 1.5% | | 2.3% | | | | | | | | | Horizontal active development well count(1): | | | | | | | Gross wells | 333 | | 1,465 | | 1,798 | | Net 100% royalty interest wells | 21.9 | | 17.2 | | 39.1 | | Average percent net royalty interest | 6.6% | | 1.2% | | 2.2% | | | | | | | | | Line of sight wells(1): | | | | | | | Gross wells | 282 | | 1,307 | | 1,589 | | Net 100% royalty interest wells | 16.3 | | 16.6 | | 32.9 | | Average percent net royalty interest | 5.8% | | 1.3% | | 2.1% |

(1) Average lateral length normalized to 10,000 feet.

The 1,798 gross wells currently in the process of active development are those wells that have been spud and are expected to be turned to production within approximately the next six to eight months. Further in regard to the active development on Viper’s asset base, there are currently 106 gross rigs operating on Viper’s acreage, 12 of which are operated by Diamondback. The 1,589 line-of-sight wells are those that are not currently in the process of active development, but for which Viper has reason to believe that they will be turned to production within approximately the next 15 to 18 months. The expected timing of these line-of-sight wells is based primarily on permitting by third-party operators or Diamondback’s current expected completion schedule. Existing permits or active development of Viper’s royalty acreage does not ensure that those wells will be turned to production.

GUIDANCE UPDATE

Below is Viper’s guidance for the full year 2026, as well as average production guidance for Q3 2026. This guidance gives effect to the Riverbend Acquisition that closed on July 1, 2026.

| | | | | Viper Energy, Inc. | | | | | Q3 2026 Net Production - Mbo/d | 67.50 - 68.50 | | Q3 2026 Net Production - Mboe/d | 133.50 - 135.50 | | Full Year 2026 Net Production - Mbo/d | 66.00 - 67.25 | | Full Year 2026 Net Production - Mboe/d | 132.50 - 135.00 | | | | | Unit costs ($/boe) | | | Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization | $14.75 - $17.25 | | Cash G&A | $0.70 - $0.90 | | Non-Cash Share-Based Compensation | $0.10 - $0.20 | | Net Interest Expense | $1.90 - $2.40 | | | | | Production and Ad Valorem Taxes (% of Revenue) | ~7% | | Cash Tax Rate (% of Pre-Tax Income Attributable to the Company)(1) | 27% - 30% |

(1) Pre-tax income attributable to the Company is a non-GAAP measure. We are not able to forecast the most directly comparable GAAP measure – Income (loss) before income taxes – due to the high variability and difficulty in predicting certain items that affect Income (loss) before income taxes, such as future commodity prices, pace of development and production of our mineral interests, and factors impacting the Company’s ownership of the net assets of VNOM Holding Company LLC such as repurchases of our Class A common shares, Class B common shares or VNOM Holding Company LLC’s units (OpCo Units), or conversions of our Class B common shares and/or OpCo Units to Class A common shares.

CONFERENCE CALL

Viper will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss its results for the second quarter of 2026 on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Access to the live audio-only webcast, and replay which will be available following the call, may be found here. The live webcast of the earnings conference call will also be available via Viper’s website at www.viperenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site.

About Viper Energy, Inc.

Viper is a corporation formed by Diamondback to own, acquire and exploit oil and natural gas properties in North America, with a focus on owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.viperenergy.com.

Investors and others should note that Viper announces material financial and operational information to our investors using our investor relations website (https://www.viperenergy.com/investors/overview), press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. The information we post through our investor relations website may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor our investor relations website in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

About Diamondback Energy, Inc.

Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause the results to differ materially from such statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding Viper’s: future performance; business strategy; future operations; estimates and projections of operating income, losses, costs and expenses, returns, cash flow, and financial position; production levels on properties in which Viper has mineral and royalty interests, developmental activity by other operators; reserve estimates and Viper’s ability to replace or increase reserves; the anticipated benefits from the Sitio Acquisition or other strategic transactions (including the Riverbend Acquisition, 2025 Drop Down, the Non-Permian Divestiture or any other acquisitions or divestitures); and plans and objectives (including Diamondback’s plans for developing Viper’s acreage and Viper’s cash dividend policy and common stock repurchase program) are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “model,” “outlook,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions (including the negative of such terms) as they relate to Viper are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Although Viper believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, they involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, in many cases, beyond its control. Accordingly, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of Viper’s future performance and the actual outcomes could differ materially from what Viper expressed in its forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause the outcomes to differ materially include (but are not limited to) the following: changes in supply and demand levels for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids and the resulting impact on the price for those commodities; the impact of public health crises, including epidemic or pandemic diseases and any related company or government policies or actions; actions taken by the members of OPEC and its non-OPEC allies (OPEC+) affecting the production and pricing of oil, as well as other domestic and global political, economic, or diplomatic developments; changes in general economic, business or industry conditions, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, or instability in the financial sector; regional supply and demand factors, including delays, curtailment delays or interruptions of production on our mineral and royalty acreage, or governmental orders, rules or regulations that impose production limits on such acreage; federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing, including the effect of existing and future laws and governmental regulations; physical and transition risks relating to climate change and changing political and social perspectives on climate change and other environmental, social and governance factors; risks from our cash dividend policy and uncertainties over our future dividends; restrictions on the use of water, including limits on the use of produced water by our operators and a moratorium on new produced water well permits imposed by the Texas Railroad Commission in an effort to control induced seismicity in the Permian Basin; significant declines in prices for oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids, which could require recognition of significant impairment charges; changes in U.S. energy, environmental, monetary and trade policies, including with respect to tariffs or other trade barriers and any resulting trade tensions; conditions in the capital, financial and credit markets, including the availability and pricing of capital for drilling and development by our limited number of operators and our ability to replace operators in time of bankruptcy or default; changes in availability or cost of rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies and oilfield services impacting our operators; the inherent uncertainties over our estimated reserves, the development of our proved undeveloped reserves or the yield from project areas on our properties; the geographical concentration of our producing properties and reserves in the Permian Basin and in a small number of producing horizons; changes in safety, health, environmental, tax and other regulations or requirements impacting us or our operators (including those addressing air emissions, water management, or the impact of global climate change); security threats, including cybersecurity threats and disruptions to our business from breaches of Diamondback’s information technology systems, or from breaches of information technology systems of our operators or third parties with whom we transact business; lack of, or disruption in, access to adequate and reliable electrical power, internet and telecommunication infrastructure, information and computer systems, transportation, processing, storage and other facilities impacting our operators; severe weather conditions and natural disasters; geopolitics, regional conflicts, acts of war or terrorist acts and the governmental or military response thereto; changes in the financial strength of counterparties to the revolving credit facility and hedging contracts of our operating subsidiary; our substantial indebtedness and changes in our credit rating; failure to develop or acquire additional reserves and identify, complete or integrate acquisitions; our operational dependence on, and control by, Diamondback and potential conflicts of interest thereof; and other risks and factors discussed in Viper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and subsequent periodic filings with the SEC, including its Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and other filings Viper makes with the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.