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8-K - FORM 8-K - CABOT OIL & GAS CORPd8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

 

FOR RELEASE    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
April 27, 2011    Scott Schroeder (281) 589-4993

Cabot Oil & Gas Announces First Quarter Profits

HOUSTON, April 27, 2011 - Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today reported that for the first quarter of 2011 the Company posted net income of $12.9 million, or $0.12 per share, cash flow from operations of $91.2 million and discretionary cash flow of $108.6 million. This compares to the first quarter of 2010 when the Company announced $28.7 million, or $0.28 per share, of net income, $116.1 million for cash flow from operations and $131.4 million of discretionary cash flow.

After eliminating the impact of selected items (detailed in the attached tables), the net income comparisons would have been $20.7 million, or $0.20 per share, for 2011 versus $30.6 million, or $0.30 per share, in 2010. The selected items are comprised of gains and losses related to the sale of assets, stock compensation and derivatives in both periods, along with pension termination related expenses in 2011.

The relative comparisons between quarterly periods were once again driven by lower natural gas and oil price realizations somewhat offset by higher production volumes from both natural gas and oil. Natural gas price realizations were $4.68 per Mcf in 2011 versus $6.71 per Mcf in 2010 for the quarter comparison. This year’s quarter experienced a $0.37 per Mcf pick-up from the Company’s natural gas hedge position, where last year’s impact was $1.12 per Mcf. While oil comprises a small portion of Cabot’s production, the hedge per unit impact lowered the realized price by $1.42 per barrel for the first quarter 2011 versus an increase of $22.36 per barrel in the first quarter 2010. The realized price of $87.15 per barrel was 11 percent below last year’s first quarter.

“Even with these significant price reductions between first quarters, we were able to hold production revenue essentially flat,” said Dan O. Dinges, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This is on the strength of the positive news coming out of the quarter of 41 percent growth in equivalent production volumes between first quarters, at the top end of equivalent guidance.” The Company reported equivalent volumes of 37.7 Bcfe for 2011. “We still remain constrained on takeaway in the north region but with visibility for significant infrastructure commissioning in the near-term,” added Dinges. “Last year at this time we had a first quarter exit rate in Marcellus of 107 Mmcf gross per day. This year, our Marcellus production exit rate for the first quarter is 320 Mmcf gross per day.”

 

1


Effective in 2011, the Company began reflecting the financial impact of its transportation and gathering arrangements in operating expenses. With the advent of a new third party aggregate for Marcellus, the significant firm transportation arrangements and the growing production base, the magnitude of these categories warranted detailed disclosure. Historically, the total cost of this category was small and captured in Cabot’s realized price calculation. Going forward these costs will all be captured, company-wide, in this new expense line, and realized prices will be higher. From a net perspective, there is no impact to the bottom line, just additional details on the income statement.

“With the higher level of production and only a slight trend upward in expenses due to our activity, we were able to reduce unit costs, including financing, by $1.42 per Mcfe or by about 22 percent over last year’s first quarter,” commented Dinges.

“Additionally, this year appears to be shaping up as another year of $4.00 to $5.00 natural gas prices, and as such, we have to maintain our discipline around our total investment level, which remains at $600 million.”

Conference Call

Listen in live to Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation’s first quarter financial and operating results discussion with financial analysts on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. CDT) at www.cabotog.com. A teleconference replay will also be available at (800) 642-1687, (U.S./Canada) or (706) 645-9291 (International), pass code 59961803. The replay will be available through Saturday, April 30, 2011. The latest financial guidance, including the Company’s hedge positions, along with a replay of the web cast, which will be archived for one year, are available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.cabotog.com.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas is a leading independent natural gas producer with its entire resource base located in the continental United States. For additional information, visit the Company’s Internet homepage at www.cabotog.com.

The statements regarding future financial performance and results and the other statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, market factors, the market price (including regional basis differentials) of natural gas and oil, results of future drilling and marketing activity, future production and costs, and other factors detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 

2


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 3

OPERATING DATA

 

     Quarter Ended  
     March 31,  
     2011     2010  

PRODUCED NATURAL GAS (Bcf) & OIL (MBbl)

    

Natural Gas

    

North

     27.1        14.4   

South

     9.3        11.0   
                

Total

     36.4        25.4   
                

Crude/Condensate/Ngl

    

North

     21.0        23.0   

South

     205.0        194.0   
                

Total

     226.0        217.0   
                

Equivalent Production (Bcfe)

     37.7        26.7   

PRICES

    

Average Produced Gas Sales Price ($/Mcf)

    

North

   $ 4.62      $ 5.80   

South

   $ 4.85      $ 7.91   

Total (1)

   $ 4.68      $ 6.71   

Average Crude/Condensate Price ($/Bbl)

    

North

   $ 90.45      $ 68.04   

South

   $ 86.87      $ 100.86   

Total (1)

   $ 87.15      $ 97.40   

WELLS DRILLED

    

Gross

     24        24   

Net

     17        20   

Gross Success Rate

     100     96

 

(1)

These realized prices include the realized impact of derivative instrument settlements.

 

     Quarter Ended  
     March 31,  
     2011     2010  

Realized Impacts to Gas Pricing

   $ 0.37      $ 1.12   

Realized Impacts to Oil Pricing

   $ (1.42   $ 22.36   


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Quarter Ended  
     March 31,  
     2011     2010  

Operating Revenues

    

Natural Gas

   $ 170,098      $ 169,870   

Brokered Natural Gas

     18,408        24,873   

Crude Oil and Condensate

     18,592        19,982   

Other

     1,928        1,620   
                
     209,026        216,345   

Operating Expenses

    

Brokered Natural Gas Cost

     15,362        21,268   

Direct Operations

     27,007        22,983   

Exploration

     6,308        8,426   

Transportation and Gathering

     12,868        3,789   

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     77,124        73,498   

General and Administrative (excluding Stock-Based Compensation)

     16,161        12,522   

Stock-Based Compensation (1) 

     8,138        3,224   

Taxes Other Than Income

     8,151        10,805   
                
     171,119        156,515   

Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets

     (1,517     759   
                

Income from Operations

     36,390        60,589   

Interest Expense and Other

     17,367        14,912   
                

Income Before Income Taxes

     19,023        45,677   

Income Tax Expense

     6,137        16,981   
                

Net Income

   $ 12,886      $ 28,696   
                

Earnings Per Share - Basic

   $ 0.12      $ 0.28   

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

     104,144        103,794   

 

(1) 

Includes the impact of the Company’s performance share awards and restricted stock amortization as well as expense related to stock options and stock appreciation rights. Also includes expense for the Supplemental Employee Incentive Plans.


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Assets

     

Current Assets

   $ 161,538       $ 203,008   

Property, Equipment and Other Assets

     3,886,869         3,802,023   
                 

Total Assets

   $ 4,048,407       $ 4,005,031   
                 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

     

Current Liabilities

   $ 241,702       $ 303,835   

Long-Term Debt, excluding Current Maturities

     1,055,000         975,000   

Deferred Income Taxes

     722,369         714,953   

Other Liabilities

     143,316         138,543   

Stockholders’ Equity

     1,886,020         1,872,700   
                 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 4,048,407       $ 4,005,031   
                 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Quarter Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

    

Net Income

   $ 12,886      $ 28,696   

Unrealized (Gain) Loss on Derivatives

     (17     587   

Income Charges Not Requiring Cash

     87,180        78,776   

Loss (Gain) on Sale of Assets

     1,517        (759

Deferred Income Tax Expense

     6,543        15,716   

Changes in Assets and Liabilities

     (17,389     (15,345

Exploration Expense

     493        8,426   
                

Net Cash Provided by Operations

     91,213        116,097   
                

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

    

Capital Expenditures

     (203,169     (235,403

Proceeds from Sale of Assets

     5,043        803   
                

Net Cash Used in Investing

     (198,126     (234,600
                

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

    

Net Increase in Debt

     80,000        110,000   

Dividends Paid

     (3,122     (3,112

Other

     (1,018     (38
                

Net Cash Provided by Financing

     75,860        106,850   
                

Net Increase / (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ (31,053   $ (11,653
                


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 6

Selected Item Review and Reconciliation of Net Income and Earnings Per Share

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Quarter Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

As Reported—Net Income

   $ 12,886      $ 28,696   

Reversal of Selected Items, Net of Tax:

    

(Gain) Loss on Sale of Assets

     941        (474

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

     5,046        2,015   

Pension Expense (1)

     1,872        —     

Unrealized Loss (Gain) on Derivatives (2)

     (11     367   
                

Net Income Excluding Selected Items

   $ 20,734      $ 30,604   
                

As Reported - Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.12      $ 0.28   

Per Share Impact of Reversing Selected Items

     0.08        0.02   
                

Earnings Per Share Including Reversal of Selected Items

   $ 0.20      $ 0.30   
                

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

     104,144        103,794   

 

(1) 

On July 28, 2010, the Company notified its employees of its plan to terminate its qualified and non-qualified pension plans, effective September 30, 2010. This amount represents pension expenses related to the plan terminations and expenses related to the acceleration of amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses over the expected amortization period until final distribution of assets from each plan. Pension expense is included in General and Administrative Expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

(2) 

This unrealized loss (gain) is included in Natural Gas Revenues in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and represents the mark to market change related to the Company’s natural gas basis swaps.

Discretionary Cash Flow Calculation and Reconciliation

(In thousands)

 

     Quarter Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Discretionary Cash Flow

    

As Reported - Net Income

   $ 12,886      $ 28,696   

Plus / (Less):

    

Unrealized Loss (Gain) on Derivatives

     (17     587   

Income Charges Not Requiring Cash

     87,180        78,776   

Loss (Gain) on Sale of Assets

     1,517        (759

Deferred Income Tax Expense

     6,543        15,716   

Exploration Expense

     493        8,426   
                

Discretionary Cash Flow

     108,602        131,442   

Changes in Assets and Liabilities

     (17,389     (15,345
                

Net Cash Provided by Operations

   $ 91,213      $ 116,097   
                

Net Debt Reconciliation

(In thousands)

 

     March 31,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Long-Term Debt

   $ 1,055,000      $ 975,000   

Stockholders’ Equity

     1,886,020        1,872,700   
                

Total Capitalization

   $ 2,941,020      $ 2,847,700   

Total Debt

   $ 1,055,000      $ 975,000   

Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (24,896     (55,949
                

Net Debt

   $ 1,030,104      $ 919,051   

Net Debt

   $ 1,030,104      $ 919,051   

Stockholders’ Equity

     1,886,020        1,872,700   
                

Total Adjusted Capitalization

   $ 2,916,124      $ 2,791,751   

Total Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio

     35.9     34.2

Less: Impact of Cash and Cash Equivalents

     0.6     1.3
                

Net Debt to Adjusted Capitalization Ratio

     35.3     32.9