Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) Stock Price & How to Invest

Last updated October 2026

Short answer

Magnolia Oil & Gas (NYSE: MGY) is a South Texas oil and gas producer built around the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk. Investors have typically owned it for its low-leverage balance sheet, high free cash flow, and steady dividends plus buybacks rather than aggressive growth, and that profile changed in the third quarter of 2026 when it closed the acquisition of WildFire Energy, roughly 50% larger production and about $1.9 billion of net debt. As of October 16, 2026 the shares closed near $24.74, up about 10% year to date, for a market value near $6.8 billion.

MGY stock price

As of 2026-10-19, Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) last closed at $25.47, up 12.0% over the past year. Over the past 52 weeks it has traded between $21.24 and $32.36.

MGY last close
$25.47
1 day
+0.47%
1 month
+1.15%
1 year
+11.96%
52-week range
$21.24 to $32.36
Last close
2026-10-19

Prices are daily closing prices from Yahoo Finance and may be delayed. For the live quote, check your broker or Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation's investor relations page. Walnut is informational, not investment advice.

What does Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) do?

Magnolia Oil & Gas is an independent exploration and production company concentrated in the core of South Texas, where it operates in the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk across two main areas, Karnes and Giddings. As of March 2026 it held interests in roughly 2,890 gross wells and produced about 102.6 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, with oil making up around 40% of volumes. The company's strategy centers on steady, moderate production growth while keeping capital spending disciplined and reinvestment rates low, which lets it generate free cash flow across commodity cycles.

The largest change since then is the WildFire Energy acquisition, announced in late July 2026 and closed in the third quarter, which the company says makes it the premier Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk operator. Magnolia guides fourth-quarter 2026 production, the first full quarter with WildFire, to about 159-161 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day with oil at 49-50% of volumes, up from 116-118 thousand expected for the third quarter. It expects 2027 drilling and completion spending of $900-950 million and production growth of 4-5%, more than $100 million of annual run-rate synergies, and one-time transaction costs of $65-75 million in the third quarter. Separately it sold non-core Dimmit and Zavala County assets for $47.5 million.

The balance sheet looks different as a result. Net debt was about $1.9 billion at the end of the third quarter, which management puts below 1.0 times 2027 estimated EBITDA at strip prices, against a long-term target of 0.5 times or lower. Magnolia also departed from its usual unhedged stance, putting costless collars on more than half of oil production through the second quarter of 2027 and inheriting swaps from WildFire. Shareholder returns continue: the company targets buybacks of at least 1% of shares each quarter, repurchased about 2.3 million shares in the third quarter, and pays a dividend of about $0.66 a year, a yield near 2.7%. Before the deal closed, second-quarter 2026 results were strong, with revenue of about $479 million, net income near $179 million, and EPS of $0.99 against a $0.93 consensus. Third-quarter results are due November 4, 2026.

What's driving Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY)?

1. Leverage after the WildFire deal

Before the WildFire acquisition Magnolia carried roughly $400 million of senior notes with an undrawn revolver. After closing, net debt was about $1.9 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2026, which management says is below 1.0 times 2027 estimated EBITDA at strip prices, with a stated target of 0.5 times or lower. Paying that down while keeping the dividend and buybacks going is the main financial task for the next several quarters.

2. Free cash flow and shareholder returns

The company reported about $146 million of free cash flow in the first quarter of 2026, and trailing free cash flow is about $332 million. That cash funds a growing per-share dividend and consistent share repurchases: Magnolia now targets buying back at least 1% of its shares each quarter and repurchased about 2.3 million shares in the third quarter of 2026, which supports the stated goal of increasing per-share value.

3. Capital-efficient Giddings and Karnes inventory

High-return Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk wells in Giddings and Karnes support moderate production growth while requiring relatively modest reinvestment. With WildFire included, Magnolia guides 2027 production growth of 4-5% on $900-950 million of drilling and completion capital, and fourth-quarter 2026 output of about 159-161 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day.

4. Bolt-on acquisition strategy

Magnolia has regularly deployed cash into small bolt-on deals, such as roughly $155 million of property acquisitions in the first quarter of 2026. WildFire Energy, closed in the third quarter of 2026, is a step change rather than a bolt-on, adding enough production to lift volumes by roughly half and raising the oil share toward 50%. Management expects more than $100 million of annual run-rate synergies, at least a third of it by the end of 2026, and has trimmed non-core acreage in Dimmit and Zavala counties.

What are the risks to Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY)?

Magnolia's results are highly sensitive to oil and natural gas prices; it has historically run unhedged, and although new collars now cover more than half of oil production through the second quarter of 2027, a sustained downturn would still pressure revenue, cash flow, and buybacks. The WildFire acquisition adds integration risk, one-time costs of $65-75 million, and about $1.9 billion of net debt, a much higher level than the company carried before, so the low-leverage profile that set Magnolia apart now depends on paying debt down. Synergy targets of more than $100 million a year have yet to be delivered. Its assets are geographically concentrated in South Texas, which raises exposure to regional operating, weather, and regulatory factors, and drilling inventory eventually needs replenishment. Broader energy-sector regulation, cost inflation for services, and the long-term energy transition add uncertainty. As with any single stock, outcomes can differ materially from expectations.

What is the Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) forecast?

17 analysts publish price targets on MGY, averaging $32.88 against a $25.35 price as of October 2026, or +29.7%. The published targets run from $27.00 to $38.00, a moderate spread, and the ratings split 14 buy, 5 hold, 0 sell. Over the last six months there have been 6 raises and 4 cuts among the published actions. A price target is what an analyst published on a date, not a prediction, and sell-side ratings skew positive across the whole market.

Read the full MGY forecast and price target for the target table, the recent rating actions by firm, and how the consensus has shifted.

Is MGY a buy or a sell?

We give no verdict on Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation. Both cases are real, which is why the question is contested at all, so here is the strongest version of each.

The case for buying. Leverage after the WildFire deal. Before the WildFire acquisition Magnolia carried roughly $400 million of senior notes with an undrawn revolver. The most optimistic published target, $38.00, assumes this works close to its best case.

The case against. Magnolia's results are highly sensitive to oil and natural gas prices; it has historically run unhedged, and although new collars now cover more than half of oil production through the second quarter of 2027, a sustained downturn would still pressure revenue, cash flow, and buybacks. The most pessimistic target, $27.00, is roughly what MGY is worth if this bites instead.

Read the full bull and bear case on MGY, including what would have to change to break either one. Walnut is not an investment adviser.

Has Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) split its stock?

No. Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) has not split its stock in the last 10 years. That is a statement about the window we check rather than about the company’s entire history, so an older split is possible. It also matters less than it once did: fractional shares mean a high price per share no longer keeps smaller investors out, which removed most of the practical reason to split.

How is Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) valued? (approximate, October 2026)

A simple financial snapshot. These are approximations and refresh quarterly; for current figures see Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation's investor relations page or your broker.

  • Market cap: ~$6.8B
  • Revenue (TTM): ~$1.48B, up ~50% in the latest quarter
  • Q2 2026 results: ~$479M revenue, ~$179M net income, EPS $0.99 vs $0.93 expected
  • Net income (TTM): ~$420M, ~29% net margin
  • P/E: ~10.9x trailing, ~8.2x forward
  • Dividend yield: ~2.7% (~$0.66 a year)
  • Net debt (end Q3 2026): ~$1.9B after the WildFire acquisition

Magnolia trades near 11 times trailing and 8 times forward earnings, with EV/EBITDA under 6 times, cheaper on earnings than in the summer because second-quarter profit jumped and the WildFire volumes lift forward estimates (consensus 2027 EPS about $3.03). The premium the market used to pay for its near-debt-free balance sheet is now tied to how quickly it moves from about $1.9 billion of net debt toward its 0.5 times target. Valuation and profitability still move with commodity prices, so multiples can shift quickly with the oil and gas cycle.

Who competes with Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY)?

Eagle Ford and South Texas E&Ps

Producers operating in the same Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk fairway, such as EOG Resources, Matador Resources, and Crescent Energy. They compete for acreage, drilling inventory, and investor capital, and offer a direct read on regional well economics.

Small and mid-cap independent producers

Other capital-disciplined independents that emphasize free cash flow and shareholder returns, including names like Permian and mid-continent focused operators. Investors often compare these on leverage, dividend policy, and reinvestment rate rather than pure growth.

Large diversified oil and gas majors

Bigger integrated and large-cap producers such as ConocoPhillips and Devon Energy that offer broader asset diversification and scale. They serve as lower-volatility alternatives for energy exposure compared with a concentrated single-basin operator.

What stocks are similar to Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY)?

Other names that sit close to MGY: same theme, named as a direct competitor, or held beside it in the same funds. Each entry says which. Worth a look if you are thinking about diversification within a thesis rather than concentration on one ticker.

How to invest in Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY)

There are three common ways to get MGY exposure. Buy shares (or fractional shares) directly at any major broker. Hold an ETF that includes it, which spreads the position across many companies. Or build it into a focused thematic portfolio, so MGY sits alongside other stocks that express the same thesis.

Walnut takes the portfolio route. Describe a thesis where MGY fits (for example “AI infrastructure” or “dividend-growth large-caps”) and the AI proposes 5 to 6 constituents with target weights. You review the plan and fund it through your own broker when you're ready.

New to this? Start with how to invest in stocks, see how to analyze a stock with AI, or compare the best AI stock analyzers.

The bottom line on Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY)

MGY is a capital-disciplined, oil-weighted independent whose appeal has rested on a low-debt balance sheet and consistent shareholder returns; after the WildFire deal it is a much larger Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk operator carrying more debt and some hedges, with results still tied closely to commodity prices.

More on Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY)

Whether MGY is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, what would have to go right, and the risks in is MGY a buy or a sell?, and where the stock could go from here in the MGY stock forecast.

For income investors, whether MGY pays a dividend and how the payout looks is covered in does MGY pay a dividend? And to weigh MGY against a peer, read the full side-by-side comparisons: MGY vs EOG and MGY vs MTDR.

Wondering how MGY fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.

Investing in Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation with AI

Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how MGY fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.

FAQ

What does Magnolia Oil & Gas do?

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Magnolia is an independent exploration and production company that drills for and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in South Texas, primarily in the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk across its Karnes and Giddings areas.

Where does MGY operate?

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Its operations are concentrated in South Texas, with a high-oil area around Karnes and a much larger acreage position in the Giddings area. The WildFire Energy acquisition, closed in the third quarter of 2026, added more Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk assets in the same region, so the single-region focus remains a defining feature of the company.

Does MGY pay a dividend?

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Yes. Magnolia pays a quarterly cash dividend of about $0.66 a year, a yield near 2.7% as of October 2026, and has generally increased the payout over time while also repurchasing shares. After the WildFire deal management described the dividend as safe, sustainable and growing, and it targets buybacks of at least 1% of shares per quarter.

How much debt does Magnolia carry?

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As of March 2026 the company had about $400 million of senior notes outstanding and no borrowings on its credit facility. That changed with the WildFire Energy acquisition: net debt was about $1.9 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2026, which the company puts below 1.0 times 2027 estimated EBITDA, with a long-term target of 0.5 times or lower.

How did MGY perform in the first quarter of 2026?

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Magnolia reported revenue of about $358 million, net income near $100 million, and free cash flow of roughly $146 million, with production growing about 6% year over year to around 102.6 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Is MGY hedged against oil price swings?

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Historically Magnolia ran largely unhedged. After the WildFire acquisition it added costless collars covering more than half of its oil production through the second quarter of 2027 and inherited swaps from WildFire, so near-term cash flow is somewhat more protected, though commodity direction remains one of the biggest factors in its results.

What are the main risks of owning MGY?

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Key risks include commodity price volatility, higher debt and integration risk from the WildFire acquisition, geographic concentration in South Texas, synergy targets that are not yet delivered, service cost inflation, and broader energy-sector regulatory and transition pressures.

How can I invest in MGY?

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MGY trades on the New York Stock Exchange and can be bought through any standard brokerage account. Walnut is not an investment adviser, so consider your own goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance before investing in any single stock.

What is the WildFire Energy acquisition?

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Magnolia agreed in late July 2026 to acquire WildFire Energy, an Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk producer, and closed the deal in the third quarter. It guides fourth-quarter 2026 production to about 159-161 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, up from 116-118 thousand expected for the third quarter, with oil near half of volumes, and expects more than $100 million of annual run-rate synergies. Net debt rose to about $1.9 billion as a result.

How did Magnolia do in its latest quarter?

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In the second quarter of 2026 Magnolia reported revenue of about $478.8 million, net income of about $179.3 million, and EPS of $0.99 against a $0.93 consensus, its fourth straight quarter at or above estimates. Third-quarter results, the first to include WildFire, are scheduled for November 4, 2026, with consensus near $0.57 per share.

How has MGY stock performed in 2026?

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MGY closed near $24.74 on October 16, 2026, up about 10% year to date and 9% over one year, within a 52-week range of roughly $21.07 to $32.76. The stock has been roughly flat over the past three months as the market absorbed the WildFire deal, and the average analyst target is about $32.88.

Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Financial figures on this page are approximations; always verify current numbers with Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation's investor relations page or your broker before making investment decisions.