HOUSTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cabot Oil
& Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today reported that for the first
quarter of 2010 the Company had net income of $28.7 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to $47.6 million, or $0.46 per share, for last year's first quarter.
The 2010 earnings figure, along with 2009 comparison, were
impacted by gains on sales of properties, charges related to stock
compensation and derivative-related movements, which are detailed
in the attached Selected Items table. Net income excluding
these selected items for both first quarter periods is $30.6 million, or $0.30 per share, for 2010 versus $42.2 million, or $0.41 per share, in 2009.
The Company also reported cash flow from operations for the
quarter of $116.1 million, versus the
$152.5 million recorded in last
year's first quarter. Discretionary cash flow was down
slightly between comparable periods at $131.4 million for 2010, compared to $138.0 million for 2009.
"The key drivers for the lower quarterly results were lower
natural gas price realizations, partially offset by increased
production," said Dan O. Dinges,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "For the quarter,
Cabot reported 26.7 Bcfe of production, compared to last year's
first quarter figure of 25.6 Bcfe, which includes 0.6 Bcfe of
production from the Canadian properties sold in 2009. Based
on 25.0 Bcfe of pro forma production the growth rate for the
comparable first quarter periods is 6.8 percent." Dinges added, "We
had a significant up-tick in production half-way through the first
quarter, generating a production exit rate of 325 Mmcfe per
day."
Natural gas price realizations were $6.56 per Mcf in 2010 versus $7.51 per Mcf in 2009 for the quarter comparison.
This year's quarter experienced a $1.12 per Mcf pick-up from the Company's hedge
position, where last year's impact was $3.34 per Mcf. While oil comprises a small
portion of Cabot's production, the hedge per unit impact was very
positive, moving realized oil prices up $22.36 per barrel for the first quarter 2010
versus $39.07 per barrel in the first
quarter 2009. Even with the smaller hedge benefit in 2010,
the realized price of $97.40 per
barrel was 29 percent above last year's first quarter.
"Expenses between comparable quarters fell slightly and were
within expectations," added Dinges. "DD&A increased due
to higher production and costs related to leasehold
amortizations.
"During the quarter, Cabot used its balance sheet to continue
its leasing efforts in the Marcellus and in establishing a new oil
position in the Eagle Ford," said Dinges. "So far during 2010 we
have accumulated 28,400 net acres in these two areas. This,
combined with carryover investments from 2009, moved our overall
debt level by $110 million but still
well within our comfort level at 33 percent debt to total
capital."
Conference Call
Listen in live to Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation's first
quarter financial and operating results discussion with financial
analysts on Thursday, April 29, 2010
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 64482901. The replay will be
available through Saturday, May 1,
2010. 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.
OPERATING
DATA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
|
PRODUCED NATURAL GAS (Bcf) & OIL
(MBbl)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
|
|
14.4
|
|
10.7
|
|
|
South
|
|
11.0
|
|
13.2
|
|
|
Canada
|
|
-
|
|
0.6
|
|
|
Total
|
|
25.4
|
|
24.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crude/Condensate/Ngl
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
|
|
23.0
|
|
26.0
|
|
|
South
|
|
194.0
|
|
166.0
|
|
|
Canada
|
|
-
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
Total
|
|
217.0
|
|
196.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equivalent Production
(Bcfe)
|
|
26.7
|
|
25.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRICES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Produced Gas Sales Price
($/Mcf)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
|
$
|
5.59
|
$
|
7.19
|
|
|
South
|
$
|
7.84
|
$
|
7.95
|
|
|
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
3.51
|
|
|
Total (1)
|
$
|
6.56
|
$
|
7.51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Crude/Condensate Price
($/Bbl)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
|
$
|
68.04
|
$
|
30.63
|
|
|
South
|
$
|
100.86
|
$
|
83.24
|
|
|
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
32.01
|
|
|
Total (1)
|
$
|
97.40
|
$
|
75.25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WELLS DRILLED
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
24
|
|
49
|
|
|
Net
|
|
20
|
|
37
|
|
|
Gross Success Rate
|
|
96%
|
|
96%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) These realized prices
include the realized impact of derivative instrument settlements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Realized Impacts to Gas
Pricing
|
$
1.12
|
|
$
3.34
|
|
|
Realized Impacts to Oil
Pricing
|
$ 22.36
|
|
$ 39.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
|
|
|
(In thousands,
except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Operating Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas
Production
|
|
$ 166,081
|
|
$ 184,522
|
|
|
Brokered Natural Gas
|
|
24,873
|
|
33,381
|
|
|
Crude Oil and
Condensate
|
|
19,982
|
|
14,242
|
|
|
Other
|
|
1,620
|
|
1,794
|
|
|
|
|
212,556
|
|
233,939
|
|
|
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brokered Natural Gas
Cost
|
|
21,268
|
|
29,749
|
|
|
Direct Operations - Field and
Pipeline
|
|
22,983
|
|
25,479
|
|
|
Exploration
|
|
8,426
|
|
6,466
|
|
|
Depreciation, Depletion and
Amortization
|
|
73,498
|
|
65,092
|
|
|
General and Administrative
(excluding Stock-Based Compensation)
|
|
12,522
|
|
11,936
|
|
|
Stock-Based Compensation
(1)
|
|
3,224
|
|
5,129
|
|
|
Taxes Other Than
Income
|
|
10,805
|
|
12,898
|
|
|
|
|
152,726
|
|
156,749
|
|
|
Gain on Sale of Assets (2)
|
|
759
|
|
12,707
|
|
|
Income from Operations
|
|
60,589
|
|
89,897
|
|
|
Interest Expense and Other
|
|
14,912
|
|
14,226
|
|
|
Income Before Income Taxes
|
|
45,677
|
|
75,671
|
|
|
Income Tax Expense
|
|
16,981
|
|
28,091
|
|
|
Net Income
|
|
$
28,696
|
|
$
47,580
|
|
|
Net Earnings Per Share -
Basic
|
|
$
0.28
|
|
$
0.46
|
|
|
Weighted Average Common Shares
Outstanding
|
|
103,794
|
|
103,521
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(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 which commenced in
2008.
|
|
(2) The gain on sale of assets for the
period ending March 31, 2009 primarily relates to the sale of the
Thornwood properties in the East.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Current Assets
|
$
293,897
|
|
$
281,502
|
|
Property, Equipment and Other
Assets
|
3,518,020
|
|
3,401,899
|
|
Total Assets
|
$
3,811,917
|
|
$
3,683,401
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Current Liabilities
|
$
265,302
|
|
$
308,741
|
|
Long-Term Debt, excluding Current
Maturities
|
915,000
|
|
805,000
|
|
Deferred Income Taxes
|
663,579
|
|
644,801
|
|
Other Liabilities
|
113,906
|
|
112,345
|
|
Stockholders' Equity
|
1,854,130
|
|
1,812,514
|
|
Total Liabilities and
Stockholders' Equity
|
$
3,811,917
|
|
$
3,683,401
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
Cash Flows From Operating
Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income
|
$
28,696
|
|
$
47,580
|
|
Unrealized (Gain) Loss on
Derivatives
|
587
|
|
(941)
|
|
Income Charges Not Requiring
Cash
|
78,776
|
|
71,292
|
|
Gain on Sale of Assets
|
(759)
|
|
(12,707)
|
|
Deferred Income Tax Expense
|
15,716
|
|
26,349
|
|
Changes in Assets and
Liabilities
|
(15,345)
|
|
14,495
|
|
Exploration Expense
|
8,426
|
|
6,466
|
|
Net Cash Provided by
Operations
|
116,097
|
|
152,534
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows From Investing
Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Expenditures
|
(226,977)
|
|
(171,029)
|
|
Proceeds from Sale of
Assets
|
803
|
|
15,063
|
|
Exploration Expense
|
(8,426)
|
|
(6,466)
|
|
Net Cash Used in Investing
|
(234,600)
|
|
(162,432)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows From Financing
Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase in Debt
|
110,000
|
|
10,000
|
|
Dividends Paid
|
(3,112)
|
|
(3,103)
|
|
Other
|
(38)
|
|
149
|
|
Net Cash Provided by
Financing
|
106,850
|
|
7,046
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase / (Decrease) in Cash and
Cash Equivalents
|
$
(11,653)
|
|
$
(2,852)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected Item
Review and Reconciliation of Net Income and Earnings Per
Share
|
|
(In thousands,
except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
As Reported - Net
Income
|
$
28,696
|
|
$
47,580
|
|
Reversal of Selected Items, Net
of Tax:
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on Sale of
Assets (1)
|
(474)
|
|
(7,967)
|
|
Stock-Based
Compensation Expense
|
2,015
|
|
3,216
|
|
Unrealized Loss
(Gain) on Derivatives (2)
|
367
|
|
(590)
|
|
Net Income Excluding Selected
Items
|
$
30,604
|
|
$
42,239
|
|
As Reported - Net Earnings Per
Share
|
$
0.28
|
|
$
0.46
|
|
Per Share Impact of Reversing
Selected Items
|
0.02
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
Net Earnings Per Share Including
Reversal of
Selected Items
|
$
0.30
|
|
$
0.41
|
|
Weighted Average Common Shares
Outstanding
|
103,794
|
|
103,521
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The gain on sale of assets
in 2009 primarily relates to the sale of the Thornwood properties
in the East.
|
|
(2) This unrealized loss (gain)
is included in Natural Gas Production 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,
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
Discretionary Cash
Flow
|
|
|
|
|
As Reported - Net
Income
|
$
28,696
|
|
$
47,580
|
|
Plus / (Less):
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized Loss (Gain) on
Derivatives
|
587
|
|
(941)
|
|
Income Charges Not Requiring
Cash
|
78,776
|
|
71,292
|
|
Gain on Sale of
Assets
|
(759)
|
|
(12,707)
|
|
Deferred Income Tax
Expense
|
15,716
|
|
26,349
|
|
Exploration Expense
|
8,426
|
|
6,466
|
|
Discretionary Cash
Flow
|
131,442
|
|
138,039
|
|
Changes in Assets and
Liabilities
|
(15,345)
|
|
14,495
|
|
Stock-Based Compensation Tax
Benefit
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
Net Cash Provided by
Operations
|
$
116,097
|
|
$
152,534
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Debt
Reconciliation
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Debt
|
$
915,000
|
|
$
805,000
|
|
Stockholders' Equity
|
1,854,130
|
|
1,812,514
|
|
Total
Capitalization
|
$
2,769,130
|
|
$
2,617,514
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Debt
|
$
915,000
|
|
$
805,000
|
|
Less: Cash and Cash
Equivalents
|
(28,505)
|
|
(40,158)
|
|
Net
Debt
|
$
886,495
|
|
$
764,842
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Debt
|
$
886,495
|
|
$
764,842
|
|
Stockholders' Equity
|
1,854,130
|
|
1,812,514
|
|
Total
Adjusted Capitalization
|
$
2,740,625
|
|
$
2,577,356
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Debt to Total
Capitalization Ratio
|
33.0%
|
|
30.8%
|
|
Less: Impact of Cash and
Cash Equivalents
|
0.7%
|
|
1.1%
|
|
Net Debt to
Adjusted Capitalization Ratio
|
32.3%
|
|
29.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOURCE Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation