# Viper Energy Raises 2026 Oil Guidance as Q3 Net Income Reaches $300 Million

By John Kim

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/47108
Published: 2026-11-03T00:55:02.000Z
Updated: 2026-11-03T00:55:02.000Z
Section: Business

> Basic and diluted GAAP earnings per share were $0.72, and average oil production reached 69,076 barrels per day.

Viper Energy lifted its 2026 average daily oil target to 67,250–67,750 barrels as it returned to profit in the third quarter and recorded $661 million in total operating income.

Basic and diluted GAAP earnings per share each came to $0.72 in the quarter through Sept. 30, compared with a loss of $0.52 per share in the same quarter of 2025. Operating income reached $661 million, versus $418 million in the prior-year quarter. Net cash from operating activities was $447 million, compared with $281 million a year earlier.

Consolidated net income, including non-controlling interests, was $300 million after a $197 million loss in the 2025 third quarter. Net income attributable to Viper totaled $140 million; the company had recorded a $77 million loss on that basis a year earlier.

Viper’s production averaged 69,076 barrels of oil per day and 141,152 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Those are separate measures: the first counts oil, while the second expresses production in oil-equivalent barrels. The company’s fourth-quarter oil target is 70,000–71,000 barrels per day. Both guidance ranges include the pending Buckhorn acquisition.

Viper Energy CEO Kaes Van’t Hof linked the higher outlook to recent acquisitions and development activity by Diamondback and third-party operators. “Reflecting this continued momentum, we are again increasing our full year 2026 production guidance,” Van’t Hof said.

Diamondback established Viper to acquire oil and gas properties, with its mineral and royalty interests concentrated mainly in West Texas’ Permian Basin. In September, Viper acquired McElroy Ranch mineral and royalty interests for about $529 million, including $49 million in deferred consideration.

The separate Buckhorn transaction remains pending. Its terms include $280 million in cash and about 1.8 million Class A shares, with closing expected in the fourth quarter subject to customary conditions.

The board declared a $0.50 base cash dividend per Class A share. Payment is scheduled for Nov. 19 to shareholders of record Nov. 12.