Vitesse Energy, Inc. (VTS)

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

You should read the following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition together with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included under Part I – Financial Information. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about the oil and natural gas industry and our business and financial results. Our actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 in the section entitled Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors and in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in the sections entitled Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors and “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.”

As further described in Note 3 (“Oil and Gas Properties”) to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we completed the Lucero Acquisition on March 7, 2025. The financial information presented herein (i) excludes the results of Lucero and its subsidiaries for periods prior to March 7, 2025 and (ii) includes the results of Lucero and its subsidiaries for periods on or after March 7, 2025.

Executive Overview

Our business strategy is focused on creating long-term stockholder value through the profitable acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas assets that provide an attractive return on invested capital, while maintaining a strong balance sheet and distributing a meaningful dividend to our stockholders. We invest in working and mineral interests in oil and natural gas properties with our core area of focus currently in the Bakken and Three Forks formations of the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. We also have interests in wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin located in Colorado and Wyoming and the Powder River Basin located in Wyoming. As of June 30, 2026, we had a working interest in 6,579 gross (237.4 net) productive wells and 278 gross (6.4 net) wells that were being drilled or completed, and an additional 320 gross (13.0 net) wells that had been permitted for development by our operators. In addition, we had a royalty only interest in 1,289 gross (3.1 net) productive wells.

As previously announced, on May 1, 2026, Mr. Jamie Benard joined our team as President and Chief Executive Officer. On the same date, Mr. Brian Cree transitioned from President and Interim Chief Executive Officer to Senior Advisor, a role he will hold until his retirement on December 31, 2026.

Our financial and operating performance for the three months ended June 30, 2026 included the following:

■Paid $20.6 million in dividends to our equity holders.

■Production of 17,354 Boe/d with 60% of production from oil.

■Total revenue of $91.0 million.

■Net income of $33.1 million.

■Cash flows from operations of $25.4 million.

■Invested $20.7 million in capital development and acquisitions, net of divestitures.

■Total debt of $158.5 million at June 30, 2026.

Industry Trends Impacting Our Business

Commodity prices are a significant factor impacting our earnings, operating cash flows and our acquisition and divestiture strategy, as well as the decisions of us and our operators in conducting operations. During the last several years, prices for oil and natural gas have experienced sustained volatility, impacted by general economic and political conditions, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, including Iran, the situation in Venezuela, U.S. international trade and tariff policies and responses thereto, supply chain constraints, elevated interest rates and costs of capital, and changes in production by OPEC and its key member, Saudi Arabia, and certain other non-OPEC oil-producing countries. Most recently, the conflict in Iran and disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has caused significant volatility in commodity prices.

As a result of such commodity price volatility, which we expect to continue throughout 2026, our earnings and operating cash flows can vary substantially. While we do hedge a substantial portion of our production, we are still significantly subject to movements in commodity prices. Such volatility can make it difficult to predict future effects on our financial results and the decisions of our operators. Factors that we expect will continue to impact commodity prices include product demand connected with global economic conditions, inflationary factors, industry production and inventory levels, the United States Department of Energy’s sales and purchases related to the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve, technology advancements, production quotas or other actions imposed by OPEC and other oil-producing countries, the imposition of and changes in tariffs and other controls on imports and exports and resulting consequences of such, actions of regulators, and regional supply interruptions or fears thereof that may be caused by military conflicts, civil unrest or political uncertainty, including as a result of the conflict in Iran and disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Any of the foregoing can have a substantial impact on the prices of oil and natural gas, which in turn impacts our decisions and the decision of our operators to drill and extract resources.

Source of Our Revenues

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We derive our revenues from the sale of oil and natural gas produced from our properties. Revenues are a function of the volume produced, the prevailing market price at the time of sale, oil quality, Btu content and transportation costs to market. We use derivative instruments to hedge future sales prices on a substantial, but varying, portion of our oil and natural gas production. We expect our derivative activities will help us achieve more predictable cash flows and reduce our exposure to downward price fluctuations. The use of derivative instruments has in the past, and may in the future, prevent us from realizing the full benefit of upward price movements but also mitigates the effects of declining price movements.

Principal Components of Our Cost Structure

Commodity price differentials. The price differential between our wellhead price for oil and the WTI benchmark price is primarily driven by the cost to transport oil via pipeline, train or truck to refineries. The price differential between our wellhead price for natural gas and the NYMEX benchmark price is primarily driven by Btu content along with gathering, processing and transportation costs.

Commodity derivative gain (loss), net. We utilize commodity derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the prices of oil and gas. Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives, net is comprised of (1) cash gains and losses we recognize on settled commodity derivatives during the period, and (2) non-cash mark-to-market gains and losses we incur on commodity derivative instruments outstanding at period-end.

Lease operating expenses. Lease operating expenses are costs incurred to bring oil and natural gas out of the ground and to market, together with the costs incurred to maintain our producing properties. Such costs include field personnel compensation, saltwater disposal, utilities, maintenance, repairs and servicing expenses related to our oil and natural gas properties.

Production taxes. Production taxes are paid on produced oil and natural gas based on a percentage of revenues from products sold at market prices (not hedged prices) or at fixed rates established by federal, state or local taxing authorities. In general, the production taxes we pay correlate to the changes in oil and natural gas revenues.

DD&A. DD&A includes the systematic expensing of the capitalized costs incurred to acquire, explore and develop oil and natural gas properties. As a successful efforts company, costs associated with the acquisition, drilling, and equipping of successful exploratory wells and costs of successful and unsuccessful development wells are capitalized. Accretion expense relates to the passage of time of our asset retirement obligations.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses include overhead, including payroll and benefits for our staff, costs of maintaining our headquarters, costs of managing our acquisition and development operations, franchise taxes, audit and other professional fees and legal compliance. During the six months ended June 30, 2025, general and administrative expenses included non-recurring costs related to the Lucero Acquisition and an offset for reimbursement of past legal expenses as a result of a settlement discussed in Note 9 (“Commitments and Contingencies”) to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest expense. We finance a portion of our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and acquisitions with borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. As a result, we incur interest expense that is affected by both fluctuations in interest rates and our financing decisions. We do not capitalize any portion of the interest paid on applicable borrowings. We include the amortization of deferred financing costs, commitment fees and annual agency fees as interest expense.

Impairment expense. Under the successful efforts method of accounting, we review our oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of their carrying value may have occurred. Whenever we conclude the carrying value may not be recoverable, we estimate the expected undiscounted future net cash flows of our oil and natural gas properties using proved and risked probable and possible reserves based on our development plans and best estimate of future production, commodity pricing, reserve risking, gathering, processing and transportation deductions, production tax rates, lease operating expenses and future development costs. We compare such undiscounted future net cash flows to the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties in each depletion pool to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the undiscounted future net cash flows exceed the carrying amount of the aggregated oil and natural gas properties, no impairment is recorded. If the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties exceeds the undiscounted future net cash flows, we will record an impairment expense to reduce the carrying value to fair value as of the balance sheet date. The factors used to determine fair value may include, but are not limited to, recent sales prices of comparable properties, indications from marketing activities, the present value of future revenues, net of estimated operating and development costs using estimates of reserves, future commodity pricing, future production estimates, anticipated capital expenditures and various discount rates commensurate with the risk and current market conditions associated with realizing the projected cash flows. There were no proved oil and gas property impairments during the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025.

Income tax expense. Our provision for taxes includes both federal and state taxes. We record our federal income taxes in accordance with accounting for income taxes under GAAP, which results in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to appl

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Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read the following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition together with our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included under the section entitled “Index to Financial Statements,” as well as the discussion in Part I. Items 1 and 2. Business and Properties. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about the oil and natural gas industry and our business and financial results. Our actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors and “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.”

This section generally discusses certain 2025 and 2024 items and certain year-to-year comparisons between 2025 and 2024. Discussions of 2023 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on March 12, 2025 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Unless otherwise indicated, the financial, reserve and operational information presented does not reflect the Lucero Acquisition for periods prior to March 7, 2025.

Executive Overview

Our business strategy is focused on creating long-term stockholder value through the profitable acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas assets that provide an attractive return on invested capital, while maintaining a strong balance sheet and distributing a meaningful dividend to our stockholders. We invest in working and mineral interests in oil and natural gas properties with our core area of focus currently in the Bakken and Three Forks formations of the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. We also have interests in wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin located in Colorado and Wyoming and the Powder River Basin located in Wyoming. As of December 31, 2025, we had a working interest in 6,402 gross (226.1 net) productive wells and 283 gross (6.1 net) wells that were being drilled or completed, and an additional 336 gross (15.9 net) wells that had been permitted for development by us or our operators. In addition, we had a royalty only interest in 1,301 gross (3.2 net) productive wells.

Our financial and operating performance for the year ended December 31, 2025 included the following:

■Paid $92.1 million in dividends to our equity holders.

■Production of 17,444 Boe/d with 65% of production from oil.

■Total revenue of $274.0 million.

■Net income of $25.3 million.

■Cash flows from operations of $170.3 million.

■Invested $127.7 million in capital development and acquisitions.

■Proved reserves of 47.8 MMBoe and $473 million PV-10 value at December 31, 2025, as estimated by our third-party reserve engineers using SEC guidelines.

■Total debt of $124.5 million at December 31, 2025.

See Non-GAAP Financial Information for additional information about PV-10.

On March 7, 2025, we closed the Lucero Acquisition pursuant to which we acquired Lucero in an all-stock transaction. Lucero shareholders received 8,169,368 shares of Vitesse common stock. Lucero is an oil and natural gas operator with assets in the Bakken and Three Forks formations in the Williston Basin area of North Dakota.

Industry Trends Impacting Our Business

Commodity prices are a significant factor impacting our earnings, operating cash flows and our acquisition and divestiture strategy, as well as the decisions of us and our operators in conducting operations. During the last several years, prices for oil and natural gas have experienced periodic downturns and sustained volatility, impacted by general economic and political conditions, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, hostilities in the Middle East, the evolving situation in Venezuela, supply chain constraints, elevated interest rates and costs of capital, and changes in production by OPEC and its key member, Saudi Arabia, and certain other non-OPEC oil-producing countries.

As a result of such commodity price volatility, which we expect to continue throughout 2026, our earnings and operating cash flows can vary substantially. While we do hedge a substantial portion of our production, we are still significantly subject to movements in commodity prices. Such volatility can make it difficult to predict future effects on our financial results and the decisions of our operators. Factors that we expect will continue to impact commodity prices include product demand connected with global economic conditions, inflationary factors, industry production and inventory levels, the United States Department of Energy’s planned repurchases (or possible releases) of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve, technology advancements, production quotas or other actions imposed by OPEC and other oil-producing countries, the

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imposition of and changes in tariffs and other controls on imports and exports and resulting consequences of such, actions of regulators, and regional supply interruptions or fears thereof that may be caused by military conflicts, civil unrest or political uncertainty, including a prolonged U.S. government shutdown. Any of the foregoing can have a substantial impact on the prices of oil and natural gas, which in turn impacts our decisions and the decision of our operators to drill and extract resources.

Source of Our Revenues

We derive our revenues from the sale of oil and natural gas produced from our properties. Revenues are a function of the volume produced, the prevailing market price at the time of sale, oil quality, Btu content and transportation costs to market. We use derivative instruments to hedge future sales prices on a substantial, but varying, portion of our oil and natural gas production. We expect our derivative activities will help us achieve more predictable cash flows and reduce our exposure to downward price fluctuations. The use of derivative instruments has in the past, and may in the future, prevent us from realizing the full benefit of upward price movements but also mitigates the effects of declining price movements.

Principal Components of Our Cost Structure

Commodity price differentials. The price differential between our wellhead price for oil and the WTI benchmark price is primarily driven by the cost to transport oil via pipeline, train or truck to refineries. The price differential between our wellhead price for natural gas and the NYMEX benchmark price is primarily driven by Btu content along with gathering, processing and transportation costs.

Commodity derivatives gain (loss), net. We utilize commodity derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the prices of oil and natural gas. Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives, net is comprised of (1) cash gains and losses we recognize on settled commodity derivatives during the period, and (2) non-cash mark-to-market gains and losses we incur on commodity derivative instruments outstanding at period-end.

Lease operating expenses. Lease operating expenses are costs incurred to bring oil and natural gas out of the ground and to market, together with the costs incurred to maintain our producing properties. Such costs include field personnel compensation, saltwater disposal, utilities, maintenance, repairs and servicing expenses related to our oil and natural gas properties.

Production taxes. Production taxes are paid on produced oil and natural gas based on a percentage of revenues from products sold at market prices (not hedged prices) or at fixed rates established by federal, state or local taxing authorities. In general, the production taxes we pay correlate to the changes in oil and natural gas revenues.

DD&A. DD&A includes the systematic expensing of the capitalized costs incurred to acquire, explore and develop oil and natural gas properties. As a successful efforts company, costs associated with the acquisition, drilling, and equipping of successful exploratory wells and costs of successful and unsuccessful development wells are capitalized. Accretion expense relates to the passage of time of our asset retirement obligations.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses include overhead, including payroll and benefits for our staff, costs of maintaining our headquarters, costs of managing our acquisition and development operations, franchise taxes, audit and other professional fees and legal compliance. For fiscal 2025, general and administrative expenses included non-recurring costs related to the Lucero Acquisition and an offset for reimbursement of past legal expenses as a result of the settlement discussed in Note 11 (“Commitments and Contingencies”) to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest expense. We finance a portion of our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and acquisitions with borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. As a result, we incur interest expense that is affected by both fluctuations in interest rates and our financing decisions. We include the amortization of deferred financing costs, commitment fees and annual agency fees as interest expense.

Impairment expense. Under the successful efforts method of accounting, we review our oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of their carrying value may have occurred. Whenever we conclude the carrying value may not be recoverable, we estimate the expected undiscounted future net cash flows of our oil and natural gas properties using proved and risked probable and possible reserves based on our development plans and best estimate of future production, commodity pricing, reserve risking, gathering, processing and transportation deductions, production tax rates, lease operating expenses and future development costs. We compare such undiscounted future net cash flows to the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties in each depletion pool to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the undiscounted future net cash flows exceed the carrying amount of the aggregated oil and natural gas properties, no impairment is recorded. If the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties exceeds the undiscounted future net cash flows, we will record an impairment expense to reduce the carrying value to fair value as of the balance sheet date. The factors used to determine fair value may include, but are not limited to, recent sales prices of comparable properties, indications from marketing activities, the present value of future revenues, net of estimated operating and development costs using estimates of reserves, future commodity pricing, future production estimates, anticipated capital expenditures and various discount rates commensurate

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with the risk and current market conditions associated with realizing the projected cash flows. There were no proved oil and gas property impairments during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.

Income tax expense. Our provision for taxes includes both federal and state taxes. We record our federal income taxes in accordance with accounting for income taxes under GAAP, which results in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted

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