Income Taxes (Tables)
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12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Income Taxes |
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| Schedule of income tax expense (benefit) |
The Company’s income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2025 | | Current: | | | | | | | | | | | State | | $ | 1,587 | | | 455 | | | 1,902 | | Current income tax expense | | | 1,587 | | | 455 | | | 1,902 | | Deferred: | | | | | | | | | | | U.S. federal | | | 50,969 | | | (107,890) | | | 192,252 | | State | | | 11,070 | | | (10,750) | | | 21,713 | | Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | | | 62,039 | | | (118,640) | | | 213,965 | | Total income tax expense (benefit) | | $ | 63,626 | | | (118,185) | | | 215,867 | |
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| Schedule of reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) |
Income tax expense (benefit) differs from the amount that would be computed by applying the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to income or loss before taxes as a result of the following (in thousands, except percentages): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2025 | | | | Amount | | Percent | | Amount | | Percent | | Amount | | Percent | | U.S. federal statutory income tax | | $ | 75,801 | | 21.0 | % | | $ | (5,143) | | 21.0 | % | | $ | 186,991 | | 21.0 | % | | State and local income tax, net of U.S. federal effect (1) | | | 12,657 | | 3.5 | % | | | (10,295) | | 42.0 | % | | | 23,215 | | 2.6 | % | | Tax credits | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Research and development | | | — | | — | % | | | (148,861) | | 607.9 | % | | | (4,375) | | (0.5) | % | | Nontaxable or nondeductible items | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Executive compensation | | | 2,279 | | 0.6 | % | | | 5,184 | | (21.2) | % | | | 13,515 | | 1.5 | % | | Other | | | 439 | | 0.1 | % | | | 1,037 | | (4.2) | % | | | 431 | | — | % | | Changes in unrecognized tax benefits | | | — | | — | % | | | 53,590 | | (218.8) | % | | | (2,663) | | (0.3) | % | | Other items | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Noncontrolling interests | | | (20,774) | | (5.8) | % | | | (7,659) | | 31.3 | % | | | (8,431) | | (0.9) | % | | Dividends received deduction | | | (3,075) | | (0.9) | % | | | (4,785) | | 19.5 | % | | | (6,155) | | (0.7) | % | | Equity-based compensation | | | (3,030) | | (0.8) | % | | | (2,390) | | 9.8 | % | | | (1,786) | | (0.2) | % | | NOL adjustments | | | — | | — | % | | | 980 | | (4.0) | % | | | 15,186 | | 1.7 | % | | Other | | | (671) | | (0.2) | % | | | 157 | | (0.6) | % | | | (61) | | — | % | | Total income tax expense (benefit) / Effective tax rate | | $ | 63,626 | | 17.5 | % | | $ | (118,185) | | 482.7 | % | | $ | 215,867 | | 24.2 | % | |
| (1) | Pennsylvania made up the majority (greater than 50 percent) of the Company’s state income tax expense, net of the federal effect for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025. |
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| Schedule of net deferred tax assets and liabilities |
The tax effect of the temporary differences giving rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities is as follows (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | December 31, | | | | 2024 | | 2025 | | Deferred income tax assets: | | | | | | | | NOL carryforwards | | $ | 212,289 | | | 266,123 | | Research and development tax credits, net | | | 95,271 | | | 102,309 | | Interest expense carryforwards | | | 46,452 | | | 9,516 | | Equity-based compensation | | | 6,462 | | | 4,132 | | Investment in Antero Midstream | | | 214,357 | | | 194,960 | | Unrealized losses on derivative instruments | | | 9,863 | | | — | | Lease liabilities | | | 555,264 | | | 477,262 | | Asset retirement obligations and other | | | 23,080 | | | 29,247 | | Total deferred income tax assets | | | 1,163,038 | | | 1,083,549 | | Valuation allowance | | | (43,192) | | | (39,112) | | Deferred income tax assets, net | | | 1,119,846 | | | 1,044,437 | | Deferred income tax liabilities: | | | | | | | | Oil and gas properties | | | 1,229,297 | | | 1,439,666 | | Unrealized gains on derivative instruments | | | — | | | 17,912 | | Lease right-of-use assets | | | 556,976 | | | 478,901 | | Investment in Martica | | | 24,808 | | | 13,837 | | Other | | | 2,106 | | | 1,427 | | Total deferred income tax liabilities | | | 1,813,187 | | | 1,951,743 | | Deferred tax liability, net | | $ | (693,341) | | | (907,306) | |
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| Schedule of reserve for uncertain tax positions |
The reserve for uncertain tax positions, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2025 | | Beginning balance | | $ | — | | | — | | | 53,590 | | Tax positions taken in current year | | | — | | | 53,590 | | | — | | Tax positions taken in the prior year | | | — | | | — | | | (2,663) | | Ending balance | | $ | — | | | 53,590 | | | 50,927 | |
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