Permian Basin Royalty Trust Declares March Cash Distribution and Updates on Waddell Ranch Properties
In a recent announcement, Argent Trust Company, acting as the trustee for the Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT), declared a cash distribution for the month of March. Each holder of beneficial interest units will receive a payout of $0.010662, scheduled to be paid on April 14, 2026. This distribution reflects an adjustment compared to the previous month, primarily stemming from reduced oil and gas production volumes from the Texas Royalty Properties and fluctuating oil prices.
Understanding the March Distribution
A significant aspect of this announcement is that the payout will not include proceeds derived from the Waddell Ranch properties. During February, the cumulative production costs exceeded the gross income from these operations, leading to an excess cost position that impacts the March cash distribution. As outlined by the trustee, no profits were realized from Waddell Ranch, indicating that revenue adjustments or recoveries from future sales will be necessary before any money can flow back to the Trust from this aspect of their operations.
Production Insights from Texas Royalty Properties
Focusing on the Texas Royalty Properties, production figures show a total production of 15,009 barrels of oil and 9,793 Mcf of natural gas for the month. When considering the Trust’s allocated share, this translates into 13,047 barrels of oil and 8,518 Mcf of gas. For the Trust’s calculations, the average prices were marked at $56.56 per barrel for oil and $6.02 per Mcf for natural gas. These averages reflect production figures with oil pricing predominantly from December and gas pricing from November.
The revenues generated from these properties reached approximately $907,884 during the reporting period, with post-expense and tax deductions leading to a net profit of $783,853. As the Trust maintains a net profit interest of 95%, this amount contributes namely $744,660 to the announced distribution.
Waddell Ranch and Excess Costs
The management of the Waddell Ranch properties remains complex. The operator, Blackbeard, provides the trust with necessary data only after the monthly distribution announcements. Due to this operational dependency, the Trust must wait to incorporate any profits received from Waddell into future distributions. Since there were no revenues documented from Waddell Ranch during February, the combined excess costs, including accrued interest, will have to be recouped from future distributions before any profits can be allocated to unitholders.
Looking Ahead: SoftVest Unitholder Mailing
In a related matter, unit holders associated with the Trust received a communication from SoftVest, L.P., regarding a District Court petition. This mailing aims to inform unitholders about an upcoming court hearing set for May 8, 2026, regarding a proposed modification to the Trust’s Indenture. This modification seeks to alter certain requirements concerning unitholder amendments. Unitholders will potentially gain more flexibility regarding decision-making within the Trust, contingent on the outcome of this judicial review.
Conclusion and Forward-Looking Statements
While the trustees acknowledge the unpredictability of global market conditions affecting domestic production, the operational viability of the Waddell Ranch properties remains under careful observation. Investors are advised to stay informed about future developments as outlined in the Trust's quarterly and annual reports. The Trust is committed to transparency, with all financial records and distributions available on the official Permian Basin Royalty Trust website.
As we navigate the upcoming quarter, it’s essential for unitholders to remain vigilant and engaged in ongoing discussions that will shape the future trajectory of the Permian Basin Royalty Trust.