SM Energy Reports Second Quarter 2019 Results: Solid Earnings And Cash Flow Driven By Continued Execution

DENVER, Aug. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Energy Company ("SM Energy" or the "Company") SM today announced financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2019. Highlights include:

• Better wells at lower costs - As previously reported, second quarter production of 12.4 MMBoe (136.5 MBoe/d), was up 19% from the second quarter of 2018 and up 16% sequentially, as performance from both the Midland Basin and South Texas exceeded expectations. Oil production of 5.4 MMBbls (60 MBbls/d) was up 24% from the second quarter of 2018 and 12% sequentially. Second quarter 2019 costs incurred in oil and gas activities was $269 million and total capital spend (total capital spend is a non-GAAP measure; see below for definition and reconciliation) was $261 million. Total capital spend was below guidance and reflects continued cost savings.
• Strong production drove solid earnings and cash flow - Net income was $50.4 million; EPS was $0.45 per diluted common share, and adjusted EPS was $0.01 per diluted common share; net cash provided by operating activities was $259.9 million and adjusted EBITDAX was $263.0 million, up 41% sequentially (adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDAX are non-GAAP measures; see below for definition and reconciliation).
• Best in class well performance - The Sarah Connor 1050WA well set SM's record as its top performing Midland Basin well to date, based on a peak 30-day IP rate of 2,426 Boe/d (93% oil) from a 10,366 foot lateral. 27 new RockStar wells across five intervals reached 30-day peak IP rates averaging 1,250 Boe/d per well and 87% oil.
• Value enhancement through successful interval tests - Four new horizons have continued to deliver encouraging results, including the Company's previously announced Austin Chalk wells in South Texas and its first Middle Spraberry, Dean and Wolfcamp D tests in RockStar.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Ottoson comments: "Our excellent performance is the result of having some of the best assets in the Midland Basin combined with continued outstanding operational execution. This year, operational efforts include well tests from South Texas and the Midland Basin on four new horizons that, while early, remain encouraging for organic inventory growth and value creation. Adjusted EBITDAX for the second quarter was the highest recorded since 2015, despite lower natural gas and NGL prices. We are generating top tier returns, continuing to drive higher operating margins and are on course with our long-term plan to deliver a positive free cash flow yield and de-lever the balance sheet."

SUMMARY WELL RESULTS

New well results include RockStar area wells that reached their 30-day peak IP rates subsequent to the Company's May 2019 update and new interval exploration results in both the RockStar area and South Texas.

• Results from 27 new RockStar wells, having an average lateral length of 10,552 feet, delivered 30-day peak IP rates that averaged 1,250 Boe/d per well and 87% oil. This includes wells across five intervals, 24 of which were fully or half bounded.
• By interval, results included 13 Wolfcamp A wells averaging 1,326 Boe/d per well, two Wolfcamp B wells averaging 902 Boe/d per well, and 10 Lower Spraberry wells averaging 1,076 Boe/d per well.
• As previously reported, new interval tests at RockStar targeting the Dean and Wolfcamp D reached 30-day peak rates of approximately 1,550 Boe/d (92% oil) and approximately 1,400 Boe/d (80% oil and naturally flowing), respectively. New interval tests at RockStar continue to be encouraging and the Company plans to include additional tests in future programs.
• All 25 wells that are part of the Merlin Maximus development have now reached their 30-day peak IP rates, averaging approximately 1,400 Boe/d per well and 86% oil.
• As previously reported, the Company's Watson State Austin Chalk test in South Texas continues to show encouraging results with a 30-day peak IP rate that averaged approximately 3,200 Boe/d (3-stream) with approximately 55% liquids from a 12,875 foot lateral. Both Austin Chalk test wells continue to perform well and, based on their success, the Company has planned two additional tests, both of which are expected to start producing in the fourth quarter. The Austin Chalk presents the potential for higher margin and higher return wells due to higher liquids content and lower transportation costs per Boe.

SECOND QUARTER 2019 RESULTS

Second quarter of 2019 production was 12.4 MMBoe, or 136.5 MBoe/d, with 44% oil in the commodity mix. Second quarter realized prices (before the effects of hedges) averaged $32.75 per Boe. The Company realized a $4.1 million, or $0.32 per Boe, gain after the effects of hedges.

Second quarter of 2019 net income was $50.4 million, or $0.45 per diluted common share, compared with net income of $17.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2018. For the first six months of 2019, net loss was ($127.2) million or ($1.13) per diluted common share.

Second quarter of 2019 net cash provided by operating activities was $259.9 million. For the first six months of 2019, net cash provided by operating activities was $378.4 million.

The following paragraphs discuss adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share, and adjusted EBITDAX, all of which are non-GAAP measures. Please reference the definitions and reconciliations of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.

Second quarter of 2019 adjusted EBITDAX was $263.0 million. Adjusted EBITDAX is up 17% year-over-year and up 41% sequentially. The increase in adjusted EBITDAX year-over-year was primarily driven by a production increase of 19% and per unit operating costs down by 11%, partially offset by lower realized prices (post-hedge). The sequential increase in adjusted EBITDAX was driven by a 16% increase in total production, including a 12% increase in oil production and a 14% decline in per unit operating costs. For the first six months of 2019, adjusted EBITDAX was $449.5 million.

Second quarter of 2019 adjusted net income was $1.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted common share, compared with adjusted net income of $16.8 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2018. For the first six months of 2019, adjusted net loss was ($36.4) million, or ($0.32) per diluted common share.

COMMODITY DERIVATIVES

As of July 31, 2019, the Company had commodity derivatives in place for the third and fourth quarters of 2019 and fiscal year 2020, including:

• WTI oil hedges for approximately 80% of expected second half 2019 and approximately 50% + of expected 2020 oil production;
• HSC natural gas hedges for approximately 70% of expected second half 2019 production;
• Midland-Cushing differential hedges for approximately 60% of expected second half 2019 and expected 2020 Permian oil production; and
• WAHA natural gas hedges for approximately 70% of expected second half 2019 Permian residue natural gas production

Detailed data on derivatives are provided in the accompanying IR presentation and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2019.

SCHEDULE FOR SECOND QUARTER REPORTING

This release is accompanied by an investor presentation and pre-recorded call with transcript all of which are posted to the Company's website. Please visit the Company's website at ir.sm-energy.com to access this additional second quarter detail.

Please join SM Energy management at 8:00 a.m. Mountain time/10:00 a.m. Eastern time on August 2, 2019 for the second quarter 2019 financial and operating results Q&A session. This discussion will be accessible via webcast (available live and for replay) on the Company's website at ir.sm-energy.com or by telephone at:

• Live (conference ID 3293419) - Domestic toll free/International: 844-343-4183/647-689-5129
• Replay (conference ID 3293419) - Domestic toll free/International: 800-585-8367/416-621-4642

The call replay will be available approximately one hour after the call until August 9, 2019.

UPCOMING CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

• August 12, 2019 - Enercom's The Oil and Gas Conference. President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Ottoson will present at 2:30 p.m. Mountain time. The presentation will be webcast, accessible from the Company's website, and available for replay for a limited period. An investor presentation for this event will be posted to the Company's website before market open on August 12, 2019.
• September 3, 2019 - Barclay's Global CEO - Energy Power Conference. President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Ottoson will present at 1:45 p.m. Eastern time. The presentation will be webcast, accessible from the Company's website, and available for replay for a limited period. An investor presentation for this event will be posted to the Company's website before market open on September 3, 2019.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. The words "anticipate," "budget," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "guidance," "plan," "project," "objectives," "target," "will," "on course," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause SM Energy's actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include: projections for cash flow yield; projections for improved margins; Austin Chalk production and related margin projections; expected inventory growth; expected value creation; and, expected de-levering of the balance sheet. General risk factors include the availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, processing and transportation facilities; the volatility and level of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids prices and related differentials, including any impact on the Company's asset carrying values or reserves arising from price declines; uncertainties inherent in projecting future test results and timing and rates of production or other results from drilling and completion activities; the imprecise nature of estimating oil and natural gas reserves; uncertainties inherent in projecting future drilling and completion activities, costs or results; the availability of additional economically attractive exploration, development, and acquisition opportunities for future growth and any necessary financings; unexpected drilling conditions and results; unsuccessful exploration and development drilling results; the availability of drilling, completion, and operating equipment and services; the risks associated with the Company's commodity price risk management strategy; and other such matters discussed in the Risk Factors section of SM Energy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak as of the date of this announcement. Although SM Energy may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in onshore North America.  SM Energy routinely posts important information about the Company on its website. For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at www.sm-energy.com.

SM ENERGY INVESTOR CONTACT

Jennifer Martin Samuels, jsamuels@sm-energy.com, 303-864-2507

DEFINITIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES AS CALCULATED BY THE COMPANY

The following non-GAAP measures are presented in addition to financial statements as the Company believes these metrics and performance measures are widely used by the investment community, including investors, research analysts and others, to evaluate and compare investments among upstream oil and gas companies in making investment decisions or recommendations. These measures, as presented, may have differing calculations among companies and investment professionals and may not be directly comparable to the same measures provided by others.  Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measure or any other measure of a company's financial or operating performance presented in accordance with GAAP.  A reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure or measures is presented below. These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Adjusted EBITDAX:  Adjusted EBITDAX is calculated as net income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, income taxes, depletion, depreciation, amortization and asset retirement obligation liability accretion expense, exploration expense, property abandonment and impairment expense, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, derivative gains and losses net of settlements, gains and losses on divestitures, and certain other items.  Adjusted EBITDAX excludes certain items that the Company believes affect the comparability of operating results, including items that are generally non-recurring in nature or whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated. Adjusted EBITDAX is a non-GAAP measure that the Company presents because management believes it provides useful additional information to investors and analysts, as a performance measure, for analysis of our ability to internally generate funds for exploration, development, acquisitions, and to service debt.  Adjusted EBITDAX is also important as it is considered among financial covenants under the Company's Credit Agreement, a material source of liquidity for the Company.  Please reference the Company's second quarter of 2019 Form 10-Q and 2018 Form 10-K for discussion of the Credit Agreement and its covenants.

Adjusted net income (loss):  Adjusted net income (loss) excludes certain items that the Company believes affect the comparability of operating results, including items that are generally non-recurring in nature or whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated. These items include non-cash and other adjustments, such as derivative gains and losses net of settlements, impairments, net (gain) loss on divestiture activity, and accruals for non-recurring matters. Adjusted net income (loss) is presented because management believes it provides useful additional information to investors for analysis of the Company's fundamental business on a recurring basis. In addition, management believes that adjusted net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders is widely used by professional research analysts and others in the valuation, comparison, and investment recommendations of upstream oil and gas companies.

Total capital spend: Total capital spend is calculated as costs incurred, less asset retirement obligations ("ARO"), capitalized interest and acquisitions.  Total capital spend is presented because management believes that it provides useful information to investors in the analysis of SM Energy Company and is widely used by professional research analysts and others in the valuation, comparison and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Total capital spend should not be used in isolation or as a substitute to costs incurred or other capital spending measures under GAAP.

Discretionary cash flow: Discretionary cash flow is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities excluding changes in current assets and current liabilities, and exploration. Exploration expense is added back in the calculation because, for peer comparison purposes, this number is included in our total capital spend. The Company believes this measure is important to investors because it provides useful additional information to investors for analysis of the Company's ability to generate cash to fund exploration and development, and to service indebtedness. In addition, management believes that discretionary cash flows is widely used by professional research analysts and others in the valuation, comparison, and investment recommendations of upstream oil and gas companies.

FORWARD-LOOKING NON-GAAP MEASURES

The Company is unable to present a reconciliation of forward-looking Total Capital Spend because components of the calculation, such as potential acquisitions, are inherently unpredictable. Moreover, estimating the most directly comparable GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort.