(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, and its results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Company has no items of other comprehensive income or loss; therefore, its net income or loss is equal to its comprehensive income or loss.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Antero Resources Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiaries and its VIE, Martica, for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the Company determined that Martica is a VIE for which Antero is the primary beneficiary.  Therefore, Martica’s accounts are consolidated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  Antero is the primary beneficiary of Martica based on its power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Martica’s economic performance, and its obligation to absorb losses of, or right to receive benefits from, Martica that could be significant to Martica.  In reaching such determination that Antero is the primary beneficiary of Martica, the Company considered the following:

The Company accounts for its interest in Antero Midstream using the equity method of accounting. As of December 31, 2024 and 2025, the Company had a 29% interest in Antero Midstream. Investments in entities for which the Company exercises significant influence, but not control, are accounted for under the equity method. The Company’s judgment regarding the level of influence over its equity method investments includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, representation on the board of directors, participation in the policy-making decisions of the investee and material intercompany transactions. Such investments are included in investment in unconsolidated affiliate on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Income (loss) from an investee that is accounted for under the equity method is included in equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliate on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and cash flows. When the Company records its proportionate share of net income (loss), it is recorded in equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliate in the statements of operations and comprehensive income and the carrying value of that investment on the Company’s balance sheet. Distributions received from an equity method investee are recorded as reductions to the carrying value of that investment on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliate is adjusted for intercompany transactions and the basis differences recognized due to the difference between the cost of the equity method investment in Antero Midstream and the amount of underlying equity in the net assets of Antero Midstream Partners LP (“Antero Midstream Partners”) from the Company deconsolidation of Antero Midstream Partners as of March 12, 2019. Basis difference are amortized into equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliate on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income over the remaining useful lives of the underlying assets and liabilities. See Note 5—Equity Method Investments for additional information.

Distributions received from equity method investees are recorded as reductions to the carrying value of the investment on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company accounts for distributions received from equity method investees under the “nature of the distribution” approach. Under this approach, distributions received from equity method investees are classified on the basis of the nature of the activity or activities of the investee that generated the distribution as either a return on investment (classified as cash provided by operating activities) or a return of investment (classified as cash provided by investing activities).

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Changes in facts and circumstances or discovery of new information may result in revised estimates, and actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates, including estimates of natural gas, NGLs and oil reserve quantities, which are the basis for the calculation of depletion and impairment of oil and gas properties. Reserve estimates, by their nature, are inherently imprecise. Other items in the Company’s consolidated financial statements that involve the use of significant estimates include derivative assets and liabilities, accrued revenue, deferred and current income taxes, asset retirement obligations and commitments and contingencies.

The markets for natural gas, NGLs and oil have, and continue to, experience significant price fluctuations. Price fluctuations can result from variations in weather, levels of production, availability of storage capacity transportation to other regions of the country, the level of imports to and exports from the United States and various other factors. Increases or decreases in the prices the Company receives for its production could have a significant impact on the Company’s future results of operations and reserve quantities.

The Company considers all liquid investments purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short term nature of these instruments. From time to time, the Company may be in the position of a “book overdraft” in which outstanding checks exceed cash and cash equivalents. The Company classifies book overdrafts in accounts payable and revenue distributions payable within its consolidated balance sheets, and classifies the change in accounts payable associated with book overdrafts as an operating activity within its consolidated statements of cash flows. As of December 31, 2024, the book overdrafts included within accounts payable and revenue distributions payable were $14 million and $17 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, the book overdrafts included within accounts payable and revenue distributions payable were each $18 million.

The Company classifies restricted cash as all cash that is legally or contractually restricted to withdrawal or usage, including amounts deposited in escrow that are restricted from use. The Company’s restricted cash is classified as a current asset as of December 31, 2025 because the restriction on such cash was released on February 3, 2026 at the closing of the HG Acquisition.

The Company accounts for its natural gas, NGLs and oil exploration and development activities under the successful efforts method of accounting. Under the successful efforts method, the costs incurred to acquire, drill and complete productive wells, development wells and undeveloped leases are capitalized. Oil and gas lease acquisition costs are also capitalized. Exploration costs, including personnel and other internal costs, geological and geophysical expenses, delay rentals for gas and oil leases, and costs associated with unsuccessful lease acquisitions are expensed as incurred. Exploratory drilling costs are initially capitalized, but expensed if the Company determines that the well does not contain reserves in commercially viable quantities. The Company reviews exploration costs related to wells-in-progress at the end of each quarter and determines, based on known results of drilling at that time, whether the costs should continue to be capitalized pending further well testing and results, or expensed. The sale of a partial interest in a proved property is accounted for as a normal retirement, and no gain or loss is recognized as long as this treatment does not significantly affect the units-of-production amortization rate. A gain or loss is recognized for all other sales of producing properties.

Unproved properties are assessed for impairment on a property-by-property basis, and any impairment in value is charged to expense. Impairment is assessed based on remaining lease terms, commodity price outlooks, future plans to develop acreage, drilling results and reservoir performance of wells in the area. Unproved properties and the related costs are transferred to proved properties when reserves are discovered on, or otherwise attributed to, the property. Proceeds from sales of partial interests in unproved properties are accounted for as a cost recovery without recognition of any gain or loss until the cost has been recovered. Impairment of unproved properties was $51 million, $47 million and $29 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

The Company evaluates the carrying amount of its proved natural gas, NGLs and oil properties for impairment on a geological reservoir basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a property’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company would estimate the fair value of its properties and record an impairment expense for any excess of the carrying amount of the properties over the estimated fair value of the properties. Factors used to estimate fair value may include estimates of proved reserves, estimated future commodity prices, future production estimates and anticipated capital expenditures, using a commensurate discount rate. The Company did not incur any impairment expenses associated with its proved properties during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company did not have capitalized costs related to exploratory wells-in-progress that have been deferred for longer than one year pending determination of proved reserves.

Depletion of oil and gas properties is calculated on a geological reservoir basis using the units-of-production method. Depletion expense for oil and gas properties was $739 million, $754 million and $742 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Other property and equipment assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from two to 20 years. Depreciation expense for other property and equipment was $8 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025. A gain or loss is recognized upon the sale or disposal of other property and equipment.

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets other than oil and gas properties for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable. Generally, the basis for making such assessments is undiscounted future cash flow projections for the assets being assessed. If the carrying values of the assets are deemed not recoverable, the carrying values are reduced to the estimated fair values, which are based on discounted future cash flows using assumptions as to revenues, costs and discount rates typical of third-party market participants, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement. There were no such impairments for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Debt issuance costs represent loan origination fees and other initial borrowing costs. Such costs are capitalized and included in Other assets on the consolidated balance sheets if related to the Company’s Credit Facility, and are included as a reduction to Long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets if related to the issuance of the Company’s Senior Notes and 2026 Convertible Notes. These costs are amortized over the term of the related debt instrument. The Company charges expense for unamortized debt issuance costs if the credit facility is retired prior to its maturity date. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $9 million of unamortized debt issuance costs included in other long-term assets, and $8 million of unamortized debt issuance costs included as a reduction to long-term debt. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $16 million of unamortized debt issuance costs included in other long-term assets, and $6 million of unamortized debt issuance costs included as a reduction to long-term debt. The amortization and write-off related to deferred debt issuance costs was $4 million, $4 million and $3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

In order to manage its exposure to natural gas, NGLs and oil price volatility, the Company may enter into derivative transactions from time to time, which contracts may include commodity fixed price swaps, basis swaps, collars and other similar agreements related to the price risk associated with the Company’s production. To the extent legal right of offset exists with a counterparty, the Company reports derivative assets and liabilities on a net basis. The Company has exposure to credit risk to the extent that the counterparty is unable to satisfy its settlement obligations. Cash flows from derivative instruments are classified in operating activities on the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company actively monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties and assesses the impact, if any, on its derivative positions.

The Company records derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value and records changes in the fair value of derivatives in current earnings as they occur. Changes in the fair value of commodity derivatives, including gains or losses on settled derivatives, are classified as revenues on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company’s derivatives have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes.

The Company is obligated to dispose of certain long-lived assets upon their abandonment. The Company’s asset retirement obligations (“AROs”) relate primarily to its obligation to plug and abandon oil and gas wells at the end of their lives. AROs are recorded at estimated fair value, measured by reference to the expected future cash outflows required to satisfy the retirement obligations, which is then discounted at the Company’s credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate. Revisions to estimated AROs often result from changes in retirement cost estimates or changes in the estimated timing of abandonment. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset, and this additional carrying amount is depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability is accreted at the end of each period through charges to operating expense.

Environmental expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and that do not contribute to current or future revenue generation, are expensed as incurred. Liabilities are accrued when environmental assessments and/or clean-up is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. These liabilities are adjusted as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. As of December 31, 2024 and 2025, the Company did not have a material amount accrued for any environmental liabilities, nor has the Company been cited for any environmental violations that it believes are likely to have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company’s revenues are primarily derived from the sale of natural gas and oil production, as well as the sale of NGLs that are extracted from the Company’s natural gas. Sales of natural gas, NGLs and oil are recognized when the Company satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product to a customer. Payment is generally received in the month following the sale.

Under the Company’s natural gas sales contracts, it delivers natural gas to the purchaser at an agreed upon delivery point. Natural gas is transported from the wellheads to delivery points specified under sales contracts. To deliver natural gas to these points, Antero Midstream or other third parties gather, compress, process and transport the Company’s natural gas. The Company maintains control of the natural gas during gathering, compression, processing and transportation. The Company’s sales contracts provide that it receives a specific index price adjusted for pricing differentials. The Company transfers control of the product at the delivery point and recognizes revenue based on the contract price. The costs incurred to gather, compress, process and transport natural gas are recorded as Gathering, compression, processing and transportation expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

NGLs, which are extracted from natural gas through processing, are either sold by the Company directly or by the processor under processing contracts. For NGLs sold by the Company directly, the sales contracts primarily provide that the Company delivers the product to the purchaser at an agreed upon delivery point and that it receives a specific index price adjusted for pricing differentials. The Company transfers control of the product to the purchaser at the delivery point and recognizes revenue based on the contract price. The costs incurred to process and transport NGLs are recorded as Gathering, compression, processing and transportation expense. For NGLs sold by the processor, the Company’s processing contracts provide that the Company transfers control to the processor at the tailgate of the processing plant and it recognizes revenue based on the price received from the processor.

Under the Company’s oil sales contracts, Antero Resources’ generally sells oil to purchasers and collects a contractually agreed upon index price, net of pricing differentials. The Company recognizes revenue based on the contract price when it transfers control of the product to a purchaser. When applicable, the costs incurred to transport oil to a purchaser are recorded as Gathering, compression, processing and transportation expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Marketing revenues are derived from activities to purchase and sell third-party natural gas and NGLs and to market excess firm transportation capacity to third parties. The Company retains control of the purchased natural gas and NGLs prior to delivery to the purchaser. The Company has concluded that it is the principal in these arrangements and therefore, the Company recognizes revenue on a gross basis, with costs to purchase and transport natural gas and NGLs presented as marketing expenses. Contracts to sell third-party gas and NGLs are generally subject to similar terms as contracts to sell the Company’s produced natural gas and NGLs. The Company satisfies performance obligations to the purchaser by transferring control of the product at the delivery point and recognizes revenue based on the contract price received from the purchaser. Fees generated from the sale of excess firm transportation marketed to third parties are included in Marketing revenue on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Marketing expenses include the cost of purchased third-party natural gas and NGLs. The Company classifies firm transportation costs related to capacity contracted for in advance of having sufficient production and infrastructure to fully utilize the capacity (excess capacity) as marketing expenses since it is marketing this excess capacity to third parties. Firm transportation for which the Company has sufficient production capacity (even though it may not use the transportation capacity because of alternative delivery points with more favorable pricing) is considered unutilized capacity and is charged to transportation expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Under the terms of the Company’s volumetric production payment transaction (“VPP”), the Company is obligated to deliver certain natural gas volumes from specified wells to an overriding royalty interest owner over the term of the arrangement. The Company has accounted for the VPP as a conveyance under FASB ASC Topic 932, Extractive Industries—Oil and Gas (“ASC 932”), which requires the net proceeds to be recorded as deferred revenue due to the Company’s future performance obligations. Revenue is recognized as volumes are delivered using the units-of-production method over the term of the VPP in Amortization of deferred revenue on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

The Company’s revenues from its exploration and production and marketing reportable segments are derived principally from uncollateralized sales to purchasers in the oil and gas industry or the utilities industry. The Company also contracts with the primary processor of its natural gas, MarkWest, to market a portion of the Company’s NGLs, which accounted for approximately 16% of the Company’s sales for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024. The concentration of credit risk affects the Company’s overall exposure to credit risk because purchasers may be similarly affected by changes in economic and other conditions. The Company has not experienced significant credit losses on its receivables. No customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s sales for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, except MarkWest as disclosed.

The Company is also exposed to credit risk on its commodity derivative portfolio. Any default by the counterparties to these derivative contracts when they become due could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company has economic hedges in place with eight different counterparties and had derivative assets of $81 million with bank counterparties under the Unsecured Credit Facility as of December 31, 2025. The estimated fair value of commodity derivative assets has been risk-adjusted using a discount rate based upon the respective published credit default swap rates (if available, or if not available, a discount rate based on the applicable Reuters bond rating) as of December 31, 2025 for the counterparty. The Company believes that the counterparty currently is an acceptable credit risk.

The Company, at times, may have cash in banks in excess of federally insured amounts.

The Company recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences resulting from NOL carryforwards for income tax purposes and the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The effect of changes in tax laws or tax rates is recognized in income during the period such changes are enacted. The effect of tax credits related to historical periods is recognized during the period when such credit is claimed on a filed tax return. Deferred income tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized.

Unrecognized tax benefits represent potential future tax obligations for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on tax returns that may not ultimately be sustained. The Company recognizes interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense, net and fines and penalties for tax-related matters as income tax (expense) benefit.

On July 4, 2025, Public Law No. 119-21, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the “OBBB”), was enacted. The OBBB contains a broad range of changes to U.S. federal income tax laws and makes permanent or modifies certain provisions of Public Law No. 115-97, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These changes include, among others, permanently restoring an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense based business interest deduction limitation, 100% bonus depreciation for certain property and immediate expensing for certain domestic research and experimental expenditures. All effects of changes in tax laws are recognized in the consolidated financial statements during the period of enactment. As such, the effects of the OBBB are reflected in the Company's provision for income taxes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025. The OBBB did not have a material effect on income tax expense for the year ending December 31, 2025.

The FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance also relates to all nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not recognized or disclosed on a recurring basis (e.g., those measured at fair value in a business combination, the initial recognition of asset retirement obligations, and impairments of proved oil and gas properties and other long-lived assets). Fair value is the price that the Company estimates would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize inputs to valuation techniques used to estimate fair value. An asset or liability subject to the fair value requirements is categorized within the hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The highest priority (Level 1) is given to unadjusted, quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, and the lowest priority (Level 3) is given to unobservable inputs. Level 2 inputs are data, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Instruments that are valued using Level 2 inputs include non-exchange traded derivatives such as over-the-counter commodity fixed price swaps. Valuation models used to measure fair value of these instruments consider various Level 2 inputs including (i) quoted forward prices for commodities, (ii) time value, (iii) quoted forward interest rates, (iv) current market prices and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, (v) risk of nonperformance by the Company and the counterparty, and (vi) other relevant economic measures.

Management has evaluated how the Company is organized and managed and has identified the following segments: (i) the exploration, and production, (ii) marketing and (iii) equity method investment in Antero Midstream. See Note 17—Reportable Segments for additional information.

All of the Company’s assets are located in the United States and substantially all of its production revenues are attributable to customers located in the United States. However, some of the Company’s production revenues are attributable to customers who then transport the Company’s production to foreign countries for resale or consumption.

Net income per common share—basic for each period is computed by dividing net income attributable to Antero by the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Net income per common share—diluted for each period is computed after giving consideration to the potential dilution from (i) outstanding equity-based awards using the treasury stock method and (ii) shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the 2026 Convertible Notes using the if-converted method. The Company includes restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards, PSU awards and stock options in the calculation of diluted weighted average common shares outstanding based on the number of common shares that would be issuable if the end of the period was also the end of the performance period required for the vesting of the awards. During periods in which the Company incurs a net loss, diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is equal to basic weighted average common shares outstanding because the effects of all equity-based awards and the 2026 Convertible Notes are anti-dilutive.

The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s income attributable to common stockholders for basic and diluted net income per common share (in thousands):

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The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding during the periods presented (in thousands):

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Treasury stock purchases are recorded at cost. The Company retires treasury shares acquired through share repurchases and returns those shares to the status of authorized but unissued. When treasury shares are retired, the Company’s policy is to allocate the excess of the repurchase price over the par value of shares acquired first to additional paid-in capital and then to retained earnings (accumulated deficit) thereafter. The portion allocable to additional paid-in capital is determined by applying a percentage, determined by dividing the number of shares to be retired by the number of shares outstanding, to the balance of additional paid-in capital as of retirement.

The Company recognizes compensation cost related to all equity-based awards in the financial statements based on their estimated grant date fair value. The Company’s equity-based compensation expense is included in general and administrative expenses, and recorded as a credit to additional paid-in capital. The Company is authorized to grant various types of equity-based compensation awards including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted share unit awards, performance share unit awards, dividend equivalent awards and other types of awards. The grant date fair values are determined based on the type of award and may utilize market prices on the date of grant, Black-Scholes option-pricing model, Monte Carlo simulations or other acceptable valuation methodologies, as appropriate for the type of equity-based award. Compensation cost is recognized ratably over the applicable vesting or service period. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur by reversing the expense previously recognized for awards that were forfeited during the period. See Note 9—Equity-Based Compensation for additional information.

Reportable Segments

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 is intended to improve reportable segment disclosures primarily through enhanced disclosure of reportable segment expenses. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 in the 2024 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 is intended to improve income tax disclosures primarily through enhanced disclosure of income tax rate reconciliation items, and disaggregation of income from continuing operations, income tax (expense) benefit and income taxes paid, net disclosures by federal, state and foreign jurisdictions, among others. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December  15, 2024. ASU 2023-09 should be applied on a prospective basis, although retrospective application is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 retrospectively in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 is intended to improve the disclosure about certain operating expenses primarily through enhanced disclosure of cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2024-03 can be applied on either a prospective or a retrospective basis at the Company’s election. The Company is evaluating the impact that ASU 2024-03 will have on the consolidated financial statements and its plans for adoption, including its transition method and adoption date.