Oct 21 (Reuters) - U.S.-based energy company EQT Corp ( EQT )

beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit on

Tuesday, benefiting from higher natural gas prices and sales

volumes.

The demand for and output of U.S. natural gas are expected

to hit record highs in 2025, according to the Energy Information

Administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook.

The energy sector has been benefiting from a rise in demand

for natural gas, supported by LNG exports and increasing power

consumption due to hotter temperatures as well as data center

operations.

EQT's average realized price for natural gas was $2.76 per

thousand cubic feet equivalent (Mcfe) during the third quarter,

compared with $2.38 Mcfe from a year ago.

Total sales volume for the quarter was 634,395 million cubic

feet equivalent (MMcfe), compared with 581,414 MMcfe a year

earlier.

The company reported adjusted profit of 52 cents per share

for the quarter ended September 30, above analysts' average

estimate of 43 cents per share, according to data compiled by

LSEG.