Range Resources Corp

U.S. natural gas futures gained 2.9% for the week, settling at $2.912 per MMBtu, supported by unusually warm September weather, strong power-sector demand, solid LNG demand and lower Canadian imports. The latest EIA report showed U.S. utilities added 44 Bcf of natural gas to storage for the week ended Sept. 11, below the 49 Bcf analysts expected and well below the five-year average injection of 74 Bcf, leaving inventories at 3,298 Bcf, 118 Bcf above the five-year average but 122 Bcf below the year-ago level. The surplus over the five-year average narrowed from 148 Bcf the previous week, while dry gas production slipped 1% and Canadian imports fell 13%. Record U.S. production and expectations for cooler weather limited the rally. Against this backdrop, Zacks highlighted three natural gas-focused stocks it rates Zacks Rank #3 (Hold): The Williams Companies, Range Resources and Expand Energy, with consensus 2026 earnings per share estimates implying year-over-year growth of 21.4%, 27% and 42.8%, respectively.

Range Resources reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 79 cents per share, up 19.7% from 66 cents a year ago and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents by 41.1%. Quarterly revenues of $795.3 million increased 8.5% from $732.9 million a year ago and topped the consensus estimate of $720 million by 10.5%. Production averaged 2,296.4 million cubic feet equivalent per day, up 4.5% from the prior-year quarter, driven by higher output and improved price realization. The company repurchased $78 million of shares and paid $24 million in dividends during the quarter, while net debt fell 28% to $880.8 million at June 30, 2026. Range Resources maintained its 2026 production outlook of 2.35-2.40 Bcfe per day and capital budget of $650-$700 million.

EQT reported second-quarter revenues of $1.68 billion, up 5.2% year on year but 3.3% below analysts' expectations, in a mixed quarter that included an EBITDA beat and a significant EPS miss. Among the six upstream natural gas E&P stocks tracked, BKV was the best performer with revenues of $465.5 million, up 44.6% year on year and 27.4% above consensus, while Antero Resources was the weakest with revenues of $1.48 billion, up 22.7% but 3% below estimates. CNX Resources posted revenues of $461.2 million, down 3.7% year on year and 3.6% below expectations, and Range Resources reported revenues of $736.7 million, up 5.4% and 1.8% above consensus. As a group, the six companies beat revenue estimates by 1.1%, and their shares have risen 9% on average since reporting.

Range Resources said its second-quarter operations kept it on track with its multi-year growth plan, with record drilling and completion efficiency helping offset costs. Production averaged 2.3 billion cubic feet equivalent per day, and management still expects 2.5 Bcfe per day by year-end. The company repurchased $105 million of stock, paid $47 million in dividends, and reduced debt by $337 million in the first half. Management also raised its pricing outlook for NGLs and natural gas, citing strong export demand and better market fundamentals. The company said export growth and new infrastructure could support further growth beyond 2027 if customer demand materializes.

Chronometer Partners Chief Investment Officer Matthew Smith argues that surging power demand from artificial intelligence will turn natural gas into the most important fuel in the United States, creating a looming supply crunch and investment opportunity. Smith projects U.S. natural gas exports will climb from 15 billion cubic feet per day to 35 billion cubic feet per day by the end of 2030, while a daily deficit of 5 billion cubic feet could emerge before AI demand fully hits. He recommends natural gas producers Expand Energy and Range Resources for their ability to quickly ramp production, as well as nuclear stock Cameco and solar names XPLR Infrastructure and Clearway Energy as beneficiaries of the broader energy squeeze. Natural gas currently accounts for over 40% of U.S. power generation, and Smith sees structural tightness materializing by 2027 to 2028.

Range Resources shares climbed 2.7% to $37.35 after U.S. natural gas futures jumped 3.15% on forecasts of a heatwave and strong demand. Rising temperatures across the U.S. increased demand for gas-fired electricity generation for cooling, while high LNG export numbers and rising European gas prices added support. The move directly benefits producers like Range Resources whose revenue is tied to the commodity's market price. The stock remains 21.6% below its 52-week high of $47.65 from March 2026.

Range Resources Corporation has published its 2025-2026 Corporate Sustainability Report, highlighting its commitment to sustainable development of Appalachian natural gas and NGL resources. The report details the company's maintenance of Net Zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions through direct reductions and verified carbon offsets, a 24% reduction in methane emissions intensity since 2023, and an 'A' grade MiQ certification for all production. Safety metrics include a 0.16 employee Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred rate and a 0.49 Total Recordable Incident Rate, while community impact figures show over $32 million paid in impact fees in 2025 and more than $5 billion to date in royalty, lease payments, and charitable contributions benefiting Pennsylvania communities. The report also notes an 'AA' MSCI ESG Rating and inclusion on Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies for the fifth consecutive year.