Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

INCOME TAXES

v3.26.1
INCOME TAXES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
INCOME TAXES  
INCOME TAXES

NOTE 11 INCOME TAXES

As described in Note 1 Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, effective for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company adopted ASU 2023-09 and applied the disclosure requirements on a prospective basis. In accordance with prospective application, the Company did not recast prior period disclosures.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Components of income tax expense (benefit) were as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

Current

$

253

$

92

$

(140)

Deferred

 

50,674

 

(10,077)

 

18,485

Total income tax expense (benefit)

$

50,927

$

(9,985)

$

18,345

Reconciliation

The reconciliation of income taxes computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21% to these effective tax rates is as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 

2025

Income tax benefit at the federal statutory rate

  ​ ​ ​

$

(20,818)

  ​ ​ ​

21.0

%

State and local income tax, net of federal income tax effect (1)

1,537

(1.6)

Changes in valuation allowance

68,046

(68.6)

Nontaxable or nondeductible items:

Shortfall on vested shares

988

(1.0)

Limited executive compensation

812

(0.8)

Other

353

(0.4)

Prior year taxes

 

9

Income tax expense

$

50,927

(51.4)

%

(1) Taxes in the state of Alabama contributed to the majority of the tax effect in this category.

The Company’s income tax (benefit) expense for 2024 and 2023 resulted in effective tax rates of 10.3% and 54.0%, respectively. The reconciliation of income taxes computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21% to these effective tax rates is as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

Income tax (benefit) expense at the federal statutory rate

$

(20,397)

$

7,128

Compensation adjustments

 

2,607

 

1,752

State income taxes

 

(57)

 

1,143

Valuation allowance

 

7,699

 

8,125

Other

 

163

 

197

Income tax (benefit) expense

$

(9,985)

$

18,345

Income Taxes Paid

Income taxes paid, net of refunds received, were as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 

2025

Federal

$

580

State and local - Louisiana

27

Income taxes paid, net of refunds received

$

607

Income tax (refunds) payments were $(2.0) million and $2.4 million in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

As of December 31, 2025, income taxes receivable of $0.5 million were included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

December 31, 

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Deferred tax assets:

 

  ​

 

  ​

Derivatives

$

$

4,376

Asset retirement obligations

 

122,862

 

118,398

Contingent asset retirement obligations

7,906

4,493

Right of use liability

2,937

2,743

Federal net operating losses

 

18,286

 

10,805

State net operating losses

 

4,831

 

4,581

Interest expense limitation carryover

 

25,743

 

24,947

Share-based compensation

 

1,938

 

1,480

Other

 

4,952

 

4,560

Total deferred tax asset

189,455

176,383

Valuation allowance

 

(100,321)

 

(29,155)

Total deferred tax asset after valuation allowance

 

89,134

 

147,228

Deferred tax liabilities:

  ​

  ​

Property and equipment

$

86,701

$

93,284

Investment in non-consolidated entity

 

1,110

 

2,149

Other

 

3,198

 

2,995

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

91,009

 

98,428

Net deferred tax (liability) asset (1)

$

(1,875)

$

48,800

(1) As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, $1.9 million and $8 thousand, respectively, are included in Other liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Valuation Allowance

Changes to the Company’s valuation allowance are as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

Balance at beginning of period

$

(29,155)

$

(23,202)

$

(15,311)

Additions to valuation allowance

(71,166)

(5,953)

(7,891)

Balance at end of period

$

(100,321)

$

(29,155)

$

(23,202)

Deferred tax assets are recorded related to net operating losses (“NOLs”) and temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities expected to produce tax deductions in future periods. The Company records valuation allowances when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of each reporting date, the Company assesses available positive and negative evidence regarding its ability to realize its deferred tax assets, including reversing temporary differences and projections of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible, as well as negative evidence such as historical losses, to evaluate the realizability of its net deferred tax asset position. The realization of these assets depends on recognition of sufficient future taxable income in specific tax jurisdictions in which those temporary differences or NOLs are deductible.

The amount of the Company’s deferred tax assets considered realizable was reduced in 2025 mainly due to negative evidence regarding its ability to realize its deferred tax assets. The Company can support a portion of its deferred tax assets through the generation of income from future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and recorded a valuation allowance against the remaining unsupported deferred tax assets.

Net Operating Loss and Interest Expense Limitation Carryover

The table below presents the details of the Company’s net operating loss and interest expense limitation carryover as of December 31, 2025 (in thousands):

  ​ ​ ​

Amount

  ​ ​ ​

Expiration
Year

Federal net operating loss

$

87,078

 

N/A

State net operating loss

 

108,804

 

2038 - 2040

Interest expense limitation carryover

 

117,550

 

N/A

Uncertain Tax Positions

The Company’s tax filings are subject to examination by federal and state tax authorities where it conducts its business. These examinations may result in assessments of additional tax that are resolved with the authorities or through the courts. The Company has evaluated whether any material tax positions it has taken will more likely than not be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority. As the Company believes that all such material tax positions it has taken are supportable by existing laws and related interpretations, the Company believes there are no material uncertain tax positions to consider.

Years Open to Examination

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes in both the U.S. federal jurisdiction and state jurisdictions in which it conducts its business, each of which may have multiple open years subject to examination. As of December 31, 2025, the tax years 2022 through 2025 remain open to examination by the federal and state tax jurisdictions where the Company conducts its business.