As the shale sector enters a new phase defined by capital discipline, consolidation, and operational innovation, Permian Resources Corp. (NYSE: PR) is charting a course that blends efficiency with upside. With a strong footprint in the Delaware Basin and a management team unafraid to act decisively, the remainder of 2025 looks poised to deliver focused growth.

Here are the top five things Permian Resources is concentrating on for the balance of the year:

US Oil & Gas Operator Account Directory – $10

Includes: Account Name, Location, Phone, Website, Wells Drilled 2025

1. 🔁 Executing Smart Bolt-On Acquisitions

Permian Resources kicked off 2025 with a major $608 million acquisition from APA Corp., adding ~13,320 net acres in Eddy County, NM. This bolt-on isn’t just about expanding land—it’s about unlocking 100+ gross operated two-mile locations with shallow declines and $30/bbl breakevens. The acreage overlays the company’s Parkway asset, giving PR enhanced exposure to underdeveloped Bone Spring and deeper Wolfcamp targets.

💬 “There really is a lot more beyond just those zones… really good targets.” — Co-CEO Will Hickey

2. 🔄 Optimizing the Asset Base Through Trades and Divestitures

While acquiring new acreage, PR is also trimming the fat. The company sold midstream assets in Reeves County to Kinetik Holdings for $180 million, freeing up capital and sharpening its focus on core E&P operations. PR is also trading 4,500 non-op acres to consolidate operated positions—part of a larger trend across the Permian where post-merger realignments are creating prime trade windows.

💡 This dual-track approach—buying high-margin operated locations and shedding non-core infrastructure—is key to improving capital efficiency.

3. 💰 Doubling Down on Capital Discipline

Despite high activity levels, Permian Resources reduced its 2025 capex guidance by $50 million to $1.9–$2.0B while maintaining production guidance at 360,000–380,000 boe/d. The company expects to bring 275 wells online this year, only slightly below its original target of 285.

📉 Efficiency gains are a major driver here:

Drilling & Completion costs: $750/ft (–8% YoY)
Cash costs per boe: –4% QoQ
Q1 2025 Free Cash Flow: A record-breaking $460 million

4. ⚙️ Boosting Drilling Efficiency with High-Spec Rigs and Automation

Permian Resources continues to push the envelope on drilling performance. Rigs like H&P 313 and H&P 375 have already drilled 50+ wells in 2024 across New Mexico and Texas. These high-spec rigs are essential to PR’s strategy of longer laterals, multi-zone development, and tighter cycle times.

While specific automation tech hasn’t been disclosed, PR is expected to benefit from industry-wide adoption of tools like SLB’s DrillPilot and Halliburton’s LOGIX platforms—tech that’s helping peers achieve double-digit gains in ROP and reductions in NPT.

5. 📈 Enhancing Shareholder Returns

PR is emerging as one of the Delaware Basin’s most investor-focused operators, with a balanced return framework. For 2025, the company is targeting a 7.8% capital return yield, up from 4.6% in 2024, through:

Base and variable dividends
Opportunistic share buybacks
Low reinvestment rate (~35%)

At a P/E ratio of just 8.57x and current share price of ~$15, analysts see room for upside. Price targets range from $18 to $21 from firms like BMO, UBS, and Morgan Stanley.

🧠 Final Takeaway

Permian Resources isn’t chasing volume—it’s engineering a resilient growth model through disciplined M&A, operational excellence, and focused capital allocation. For oilfield service providers, investors, and peers alike, PR’s 2025 playbook is one to watch.