Antero Resources Corporation

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results, and the differences can be material. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to vary from our expectations include changes in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices, the timing of planned capital expenditures, our ability to fund our development programs, uncertainties in estimating proved reserves and forecasting production results, operational factors affecting the commencement or maintenance of producing wells, the condition of the capital markets generally, as well as our ability to access them, impacts of world health events and uncertainties regarding environmental regulations or litigation and other legal or regulatory developments affecting our business, as well as those factors discussed below, all of which are difficult to predict. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Also, see the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

In this section, references to “Antero,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Antero Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires.

Our Company

We have assembled a portfolio of long-lived properties that are characterized by what we believe to be high repeatability and low geologic risk. We focus on unconventional reservoirs, which can generally be characterized as fractured shale formations. Our management team has worked together for many years and has a successful track record of reserve and production growth as well as significant expertise in unconventional resource plays. Our strategy is to leverage our team’s experience delineating and developing natural gas resource plays to develop our reserves and production, primarily on our existing multi-year inventory of drilling locations in the Appalachian Basin. As of June 30, 2026, we held approximately 858,000 net acres in the Appalachian Basin.

HG Acquisition

On December 5, 2025, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of HG Production for total cash consideration of $2.8 billion, subject to the terms and conditions thereof. The HG Acquisition included approximately 385,000 net acres in the core of the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia. This acquisition closed on the Closing Date. The HG Acquisition was funded with borrowings under the Term Loan, net proceeds of the 2036 Notes, borrowings under the Credit Facility and restricted cash. See Note 3—Transactions to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information. The Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026 included results of operations from the assets and operations acquired in the HG Acquisition from the Closing Date through June 30, 2026.

In light of the nature and location of the assets and operations acquired in the HG Acquisition, we and Antero Midstream agreed in principle to certain updates to, and intend to modify, our existing commercial arrangements to provide for well pad compression with respect to certain wells and to provide certain water services. See Note 15—Related Parties to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Utica Shale Divestiture

On December 5, 2025, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the Buyer Parties to sell our Utica Shale Properties for aggregate cash consideration of $800 million, subject to the terms and conditions thereof. The Utica Shale Properties included approximately 80,000 gross (70,000 net) acres located in Ohio and proved reserves of approximately 600 Bcfe as of December 31, 2025. The Utica Shale Divestiture closed on February 23, 2026, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. The net proceeds from the Utica Shale Divestiture were used for the repayment of long-term debt. See Note 3—Transactions to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

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Martica Hurdle Achievement and Dissolution

On May 1, 2026, Sixth Street achieved its Hurdle for Martica. As such, beginning May 1, 2026, 85% of the distributions in respect of the ORRIs to which Sixth Street was entitled immediately prior to the Hurdle being achieved reverted to us. On June 30, 2026, we elected to dissolve Martica and make in-kind liquidating distributions to Sixth Street and ourselves, which included conveyance of the ORRIs to Sixth Street and Antero Resources after giving effect to the Reversion, after which Martica was deconsolidated for our condensed consolidated financial statements. On July 1, 2026, after the deconsolidation of Martica, our condensed consolidated financial statements will reflect the ORRIs conveyed to us by Martica after giving effect to the Reversion, including the related earnings and cash flows. See Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for additional information.

Financing Highlights

Issuance of 2036 Notes

On January 28, 2026, we issued $750 million of 5.400% senior notes due February 1, 2036 at a price of 99.869% of par. The 2036 Notes are unsecured and rank pari passu to our Credit Facility, Term Loan and other outstanding senior notes. The 2036 Notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The net proceeds from this offering were used to partially fund the HG Acquisition. See Note 3—Transactions and Note 7—Debt to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Term Loan

On February 3, 2026, substantially concurrently with the consummation of the HG Acquisition, we entered into an unsecured three year term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion with the lenders party thereto and Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent. Borrowings are unsecured and are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. On February 3, 2026, we borrowed $1.5 billion in a single borrowing to partially fund the HG Acquisition. The Term Loan is scheduled to mature on February 3, 2029. As of June 30, 2026, we have $1.1 billion outstanding on the Term Loan. See Note 3—Transactions and Note 7—Debt to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Redemption of 2029 Notes

On February 24, 2026, we redeemed the remaining $365 million principal amount of the 2029 Notes at 101.271% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, and the 2029 Notes were fully retired on such date. See Note 7—Debt to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Commercial Paper Program

On June 16, 2026, we established the Commercial Paper Program pursuant to which we may issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes. The Commercial Paper may be issued and redeemed from time to time, with the aggregate face or principal amount of the notes outstanding under the Commercial Paper Program at any time not to exceed $1.65 billion. Our Credit Facility will serve as a liquidity backstop for any issuances under the Commercial Paper Program, and we intend to maintain available capacity under the Credit Facility in an amount at least equal to the aggregate outstanding borrowings under the Commercial Paper Program. See Note 7—Debt to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Share Repurchase Program

During 2022, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program that allows us to repurchase up to $2.0 billion of outstanding common stock. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, we repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares of our common stock at a total cost of $38 million through our share repurchase program. As of June 30, 2026, we have approximately $877 million of capacity remaining under our share repurchase program. The shares may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, through privately negotiated transactions or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The timing, as well as the number and value of shares repurchased under the program, will be determined by us at our discretion and will depend on a variety of factors, including the market price of our common stock, general market and economic conditions and applicable legal requirements.

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Market Conditions and Business Trends

Commodity Markets

Prices for natural gas, NGLs and oil that we produce significantly impact our revenues and cash flows. Benchmark prices for C3+ NGLs and oil increased significantly, while benchmark prices for natural gas and ethane decreased during the three months ended June 30, 2026 as compared to the same period of 2025. Benchmark prices for natural gas and oil increased significantly, while benchmark prices for ethane decreased and C3+ NGLs remained consistent during the six months ended June 30, 2026 as compared to the same period of 2025. We monitor the economic factors that impact natural gas, NGLs and oil prices, including domestic and foreign supply and demand indicators, domestic and foreign commodity inventories, the actions of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other large producing nations and the current conflicts in Ukraine, Venezuela and in the Middle East, among others. In the current economic environment, we expect that commodity prices for some or all of the commodities we produce could remain volatile. This volatility is beyond our control and may adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and future cash flows. However, we use derivative instruments when circumstances warrant to manage our exposure to commodity price risk. See “—Hedge Position” and Note 11—Derivative Instruments to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information on our derivative instruments.

The following table details the average benchmark natural gas, NGLs and oil prices:

Hedge Position

We are exposed to certain commodity price risks relating to our ongoing business operations, and we use derivative instruments when circumstances warrant to manage such risks. In addition, we periodically enter into contracts that contain embedded features that are required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately as derivatives. For the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2026, 4% and 47%, respectively, of our production was hedged through commodity derivatives, excluding basis swaps. For the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2026, 4% and 44%, respectively, of our production was hedged through commodity derivatives, excluding basis swaps. Assuming our 2026 production is the same as our production in 2025, approximately 54% of our total production for 2026 is hedged through commodity derivatives, excluding basis swaps. In addition, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, 18% and 15%, respectively, of our production was hedged with basis swap commodity derivatives. We did not have any basis swap commodity derivatives for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. Assuming our 2026 production is the same as our production in 2025, approximately 20% of our total production for 2026 is hedged with basis swap commodity derivatives. As of June 30, 2026, the estimated fair value of our commodity derivative contracts was a net asset of $228 million. See Note 11—Derivative Instruments to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

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Economic Indicators

The economy experienced elevated inflation levels as a result of global supply and demand imbalances, where global demand outpaced supplies beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2026. During the second half of 2024, inflation rates began to approach the Federal Reserve’s stated goal of 2%, and the Federal Reserve decreased the federal funds rate by 1.75% in 2024 and 2025. Annual inflation rates have remained generally consistent at approximately 3% since 2023.

The economy also continues to be impacted by the effects of global events. These events have often caused global supply chain disruptions with additional pressure due to trade sanctions, tariffs, other global trade restrictions and conflicts,

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including those in the Middle East and Venezuela, among others. While our supply chain has not experienced any significant interruptions as a result of such events, there can be no assurance that we will not experience interruptions in the future.

Inflationary pressures, particularly as they relate to certain of our long-term contracts with CPI-based adjustments, and supply chain disruptions have and could continue to result in increases to our operating and capital costs that are not fixed. These economic variables are beyond our control and may adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and future cash flows.

Results of Operations

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We have three reportable segments: exploration and production, our equity method investment in Antero Midstream and marketing. Revenues from Antero Midstream’s operations were primarily derived from intersegment transactions for services provided to our exploration and production operations by Antero Midstream. All intersegment transactions were eliminated upon consolidation, including revenues from water handling services provided by Antero Midstream, which we capitalized as proved property development costs. Marketing revenues are primarily derived from activities to purchase and sell third-party natural gas and NGLs and to market and utilize excess firm transportation capacity. See Note 16—Reportable Segments to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2025 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2026

The operating results of our reportable segments were as follows (in thousands):