Matador Resources Acquires Cardinal Midstream for $752 Million
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 29 2026
0mins
Matador Resources announced that San Mateo Midstream, Matador's 51%-owned midstream joint venture with Five Point Infrastructure, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the operating subsidiaries of Cardinal Midstream Partners, a portfolio company of EnCap Flatrock Midstream, for total cash consideration of $752M. The transaction is expected to close on or before July 31, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Matador anticipates the Cardinal Acquisition to be cash neutral for Matador as it expects to use distributions from San Mateo and/or proceeds from the potential drop-down to San Mateo or sale of a portion of Matador's wholly-owned midstream assets to fund any required cash contributions to San Mateo related to the acquisition.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy MTDR?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on MTDR
Wall Street analysts forecast MTDR stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 49.860
Low
50.00
Averages
57.08
High
70.00
Current: 49.860
Low
50.00
Averages
57.08
High
70.00
About MTDR
Matador Resources Company is an independent energy company. The Company is engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with an emphasis on oil and natural gas shale and other unconventional plays. Its operations are focused primarily on the oil and liquids-rich portion of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. It also operates in the Haynesville shale, and Cotton Valley plays in Northwest Louisiana. Additionally, the Company conducts midstream operations primarily through its midstream joint venture, San Mateo Midstream, LLC and its subsidiaries in support of, and to provide flow assurance for, the Company’s exploration, development and production operations, and San Mateo provides natural gas processing, oil transportation services, oil, natural gas and produced water gathering services and produced water disposal services to third parties.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Matador Acquires Cardinal Midstream Assets for $752 Million
- Acquisition Overview: Matador Resources (MTDR) announced that its San Mateo Midstream joint venture with Five Point Infrastructure has agreed to acquire the operating subsidiaries of Cardinal Midstream Partners for $752 million in cash, highlighting the company's strategic expansion in the midstream sector.
- Asset Complementarity: Cardinal's midstream assets are complementary to San Mateo's existing natural gas gathering and processing system, enabling more efficient transportation of natural gas throughout the northern Delaware Basin in New Mexico and West Texas, thereby enhancing overall operational efficiency.
- Capacity Enhancement: The acquisition is expected to increase San Mateo's natural gas processing capacity to over 1 billion cubic feet per day and expand its gathering systems to more than 800 miles of pipeline, significantly strengthening the company's market competitiveness and service capabilities.
- Financial Impact: The Cardinal assets are anticipated to be immediately accretive to San Mateo's adjusted EBITDA and cash flows, with adjusted EBITDA expected to rise to as much as $110 million annually by 2028, indicating that the acquisition will yield substantial long-term benefits for the company.
See More
Matador Acquires Cardinal Midstream Assets for $752 Million
- Acquisition Overview: Matador's joint venture San Mateo Midstream has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cardinal Midstream's operating subsidiaries for $752 million, with the transaction expected to close by July 31, 2026, and anticipated to be cash neutral for Matador.
- Asset Complementarity: Cardinal's assets include a cryogenic natural gas processing plant with a capacity of 320 million cubic feet per day and approximately 145 miles of pipelines, enhancing San Mateo's ability to transport natural gas throughout the northern Delaware Basin, expected to increase customer base and revenue.
- Scale Expansion: The acquisition is projected to boost San Mateo's natural gas processing capacity to over one billion cubic feet per day and expand its pipeline systems to over 800 miles, significantly enhancing its market competitiveness and operational efficiency.
- Financial Impact: The Cardinal assets are expected to contribute up to $110 million to San Mateo's Adjusted EBITDA by 2028, with the acquisition financed through new loans and cash flows, further strengthening the company's financial stability.
See More
Key Wall Street Rating Updates on Monday
- Tesla Rating Maintained: Jefferies raised Tesla's price target from $350 to $375, indicating that the stock did not sell off ahead of the SPCX IPO, which suggests a consensus on a potential merger that could turn TSLA into a tracker to minimize shareholder dilution risk.
- Kimco Realty Upgrade: Wolfe upgraded Kimco Realty from Peer Perform to Outperform with a price target of $28, anticipating approximately a 16% total return, reflecting strong fundamentals and signaling a recovery potential in the real estate market.
- Cleveland-Cliffs Downgrade: Morgan Stanley downgraded Cleveland-Cliffs from Overweight to Equal Weight with a new price target of $12.5, indicating a more balanced risk-reward profile in line with peers, reflecting a cautious market sentiment towards the stock.
- Micron Technology Reiteration: Bernstein raised Micron's price target from $510 to $1,300 while maintaining an Outperform rating, driven by optimistic forecasts for conventional memory and high bandwidth memory pricing, highlighting a robust recovery in the semiconductor sector.
See More
Matador Resources Enters Multiple Agreements with Energy Transfer LP
- Gas Supply Agreement: Matador has entered into a gas supply agreement with Energy Transfer to enhance all-in pricing netbacks and reduce reliance on Waha Hub pricing in the second half of 2026, thereby strengthening its market competitiveness.
- NGL Agreements: In addition to the gas supply agreement, Matador has executed separate natural gas liquid (NGL) agreements with various ET affiliates to dedicate and sell NGLs from multiple sources in the Delaware Basin, further optimizing resource allocation.
- Transportation Capacity Boost: Matador has secured firm transportation on Energy Transfer's Hugh Brinson Pipeline, allowing for the movement of 500,000 MMBtu of natural gas per day, which is expected to significantly enhance sales prices, particularly in markets outside of Waha Hub.
- Market Demand Response: This agreement is anticipated to provide ET with natural gas to meet the growing demand from AI-driven data centers and power generation markets, showcasing Matador's strategic positioning in emerging markets.
See More
Matador Resources Announces 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting Details
- Meeting Time and Location: Matador Resources will hold its 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting on June 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Central Time at the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, providing breakfast to facilitate interaction between shareholders and management.
- Live Webcast Arrangement: The meeting will be webcast live, allowing shareholders to participate via the company’s website or the provided link, ensuring all shareholders can stay informed about the proceedings in real-time.
- Company Business Overview: Matador is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources in the U.S., primarily in the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in New Mexico and Texas, showcasing its strength in unconventional oil and gas sectors.
- Midstream Operations Support: In addition to upstream oil and gas activities, Matador conducts midstream operations, offering natural gas processing, oil transportation, and water disposal services, further enhancing its competitive edge in the energy industry.
See More
Matador Resources Expands Delaware Basin Footprint
- Major Expansion: Matador Resources Company has significantly enhanced its position in the Delaware Basin by acquiring 5,154 net undeveloped acres in Southeast New Mexico for $1.1 billion, which is expected to add 141 new drilling opportunities, thereby improving production efficiency and lowering costs.
- Infrastructure Utilization: The newly acquired acreage is strategically located adjacent to Matador's existing operated units, allowing the company to leverage its established infrastructure, with expectations of increased output through longer two-mile wells, shared infrastructure, and enhanced natural gas transportation capacity.
- Financial Outlook: Matador anticipates nearly $1.2 billion in adjusted free cash flow by 2026, with plans to substantially reduce acquisition-related debt by year-end 2026 and fully repay its reserve-based lending facility in the first half of 2027, indicating strong financial health.
- Market Environment: With West Texas Intermediate prices surpassing $90 per barrel, Matador and its peers, including Diamondback Energy and Exxon Mobil, are benefiting from a favorable pricing environment, further solidifying their competitive positions in the market.
See More
Matador Acquires Cardinal Midstream Assets for $752 Million
- Acquisition Overview: Matador Resources (MTDR) announced that its San Mateo Midstream joint venture with Five Point Infrastructure has agreed to acquire the operating subsidiaries of Cardinal Midstream Partners for $752 million in cash, highlighting the company's strategic expansion in the midstream sector.
- Asset Complementarity: Cardinal's midstream assets are complementary to San Mateo's existing natural gas gathering and processing system, enabling more efficient transportation of natural gas throughout the northern Delaware Basin in New Mexico and West Texas, thereby enhancing overall operational efficiency.
- Capacity Enhancement: The acquisition is expected to increase San Mateo's natural gas processing capacity to over 1 billion cubic feet per day and expand its gathering systems to more than 800 miles of pipeline, significantly strengthening the company's market competitiveness and service capabilities.
- Financial Impact: The Cardinal assets are anticipated to be immediately accretive to San Mateo's adjusted EBITDA and cash flows, with adjusted EBITDA expected to rise to as much as $110 million annually by 2028, indicating that the acquisition will yield substantial long-term benefits for the company.
See More
Matador Acquires Cardinal Midstream Assets for $752 Million
- Acquisition Overview: Matador's joint venture San Mateo Midstream has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cardinal Midstream's operating subsidiaries for $752 million, with the transaction expected to close by July 31, 2026, and anticipated to be cash neutral for Matador.
- Asset Complementarity: Cardinal's assets include a cryogenic natural gas processing plant with a capacity of 320 million cubic feet per day and approximately 145 miles of pipelines, enhancing San Mateo's ability to transport natural gas throughout the northern Delaware Basin, expected to increase customer base and revenue.
- Scale Expansion: The acquisition is projected to boost San Mateo's natural gas processing capacity to over one billion cubic feet per day and expand its pipeline systems to over 800 miles, significantly enhancing its market competitiveness and operational efficiency.
- Financial Impact: The Cardinal assets are expected to contribute up to $110 million to San Mateo's Adjusted EBITDA by 2028, with the acquisition financed through new loans and cash flows, further strengthening the company's financial stability.
See More
Key Wall Street Rating Updates on Monday
- Tesla Rating Maintained: Jefferies raised Tesla's price target from $350 to $375, indicating that the stock did not sell off ahead of the SPCX IPO, which suggests a consensus on a potential merger that could turn TSLA into a tracker to minimize shareholder dilution risk.
- Kimco Realty Upgrade: Wolfe upgraded Kimco Realty from Peer Perform to Outperform with a price target of $28, anticipating approximately a 16% total return, reflecting strong fundamentals and signaling a recovery potential in the real estate market.
- Cleveland-Cliffs Downgrade: Morgan Stanley downgraded Cleveland-Cliffs from Overweight to Equal Weight with a new price target of $12.5, indicating a more balanced risk-reward profile in line with peers, reflecting a cautious market sentiment towards the stock.
- Micron Technology Reiteration: Bernstein raised Micron's price target from $510 to $1,300 while maintaining an Outperform rating, driven by optimistic forecasts for conventional memory and high bandwidth memory pricing, highlighting a robust recovery in the semiconductor sector.
See More
Matador Resources Enters Multiple Agreements with Energy Transfer LP
- Gas Supply Agreement: Matador has entered into a gas supply agreement with Energy Transfer to enhance all-in pricing netbacks and reduce reliance on Waha Hub pricing in the second half of 2026, thereby strengthening its market competitiveness.
- NGL Agreements: In addition to the gas supply agreement, Matador has executed separate natural gas liquid (NGL) agreements with various ET affiliates to dedicate and sell NGLs from multiple sources in the Delaware Basin, further optimizing resource allocation.
- Transportation Capacity Boost: Matador has secured firm transportation on Energy Transfer's Hugh Brinson Pipeline, allowing for the movement of 500,000 MMBtu of natural gas per day, which is expected to significantly enhance sales prices, particularly in markets outside of Waha Hub.
- Market Demand Response: This agreement is anticipated to provide ET with natural gas to meet the growing demand from AI-driven data centers and power generation markets, showcasing Matador's strategic positioning in emerging markets.
See More
Matador Resources Announces 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting Details
- Meeting Time and Location: Matador Resources will hold its 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting on June 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Central Time at the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, providing breakfast to facilitate interaction between shareholders and management.
- Live Webcast Arrangement: The meeting will be webcast live, allowing shareholders to participate via the company’s website or the provided link, ensuring all shareholders can stay informed about the proceedings in real-time.
- Company Business Overview: Matador is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources in the U.S., primarily in the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in New Mexico and Texas, showcasing its strength in unconventional oil and gas sectors.
- Midstream Operations Support: In addition to upstream oil and gas activities, Matador conducts midstream operations, offering natural gas processing, oil transportation, and water disposal services, further enhancing its competitive edge in the energy industry.
See More
Matador Resources Expands Delaware Basin Footprint
- Major Expansion: Matador Resources Company has significantly enhanced its position in the Delaware Basin by acquiring 5,154 net undeveloped acres in Southeast New Mexico for $1.1 billion, which is expected to add 141 new drilling opportunities, thereby improving production efficiency and lowering costs.
- Infrastructure Utilization: The newly acquired acreage is strategically located adjacent to Matador's existing operated units, allowing the company to leverage its established infrastructure, with expectations of increased output through longer two-mile wells, shared infrastructure, and enhanced natural gas transportation capacity.
- Financial Outlook: Matador anticipates nearly $1.2 billion in adjusted free cash flow by 2026, with plans to substantially reduce acquisition-related debt by year-end 2026 and fully repay its reserve-based lending facility in the first half of 2027, indicating strong financial health.
- Market Environment: With West Texas Intermediate prices surpassing $90 per barrel, Matador and its peers, including Diamondback Energy and Exxon Mobil, are benefiting from a favorable pricing environment, further solidifying their competitive positions in the market.
See More
