Southwestern Energy Announces First Quarter 2021 Results

Strategy and execution delivering free cash flow and reducing debt

SPRING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

• Achieved $347 million net cash provided by operating activities; invested $266 million consistent with its maintenance capital plan;
• Generated $88 million free cash flow (non-GAAP);
• Free cash flow fully utilized to reduce debt; expect to approach 2.0x leverage by year-end;
• Borrowing base and commitments reaffirmed at elected $2.0 billion;
• Reported total production of 269 Bcfe, or 3.0 Bcfe per day, including 2.4 Bcf per day of gas and 103 MBbls per day of liquids;
• Received weighted average realized price (excluding transportation) of $2.99 per Mcfe; and
• Approximately 80% of annual natural gas production protected from impacts of widening Appalachia differentials through transportation capacity and basis hedges.

“The Company’s returns-driven strategy is underpinned by a lower cost structure, improving operational performance, a strong balance sheet, the generation of free cash flow and capturing the benefits of scale, all while operating safely and responsibly. In the first quarter, we delivered on each of these aspects of our strategy. Our teams continue to innovate and create opportunities to further improve results,” said Bill Way, Southwestern Energy President and Chief Executive Officer.

Financial Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, Southwestern Energy recorded net income of $80 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to a net loss in 2020 of $1.5 billion, or ($2.86) per diluted share, attributable to a $1.48 billion non-cash full cost ceiling test impairment and $408 million tax valuation allowance included in 2020 results.

Adjusted net income was $196 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $56 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the prior year period. The increase was primarily related to an 18% increase in the weighted average realized price including derivatives and a 34% increase in production volumes, largely due to the Montage acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was $382 million, net cash provided by operating activities was $347 million and net cash flow (non-GAAP) was $354 million.

As indicated in the table below, first quarter 2021 weighted average realized price, including $0.37 per Mcfe of transportation expenses, was $2.62 per Mcfe excluding the impact of derivatives. Including derivatives, weighted average realized price (including transportation) for the quarter was up 18% from $2.16 per Mcfe in 2020 to $2.54 per Mcfe in 2021 primarily due to higher commodity prices including a 38% increase in NYMEX Henry Hub and a 25% increase in WTI. First quarter 2021 weighted average realized price before transportation expense and excluding the impact of derivatives was $2.99 per Mcfe.

At quarter end, the Company had hedges in place for 88% of its remaining 2021 expected natural gas production, 60% of its 2021 expected natural gas liquids (NGLs) production and 93% of its 2021 expected oil production. During the quarter, SWN realized a $41 million gain from settled basis hedges which was more than offset by losses associated with settled NGL and oil hedges due to increased liquids prices, for a total $22 million settled hedge loss.

As of March 31, 2021, Southwestern Energy had total debt of $3.0 billion with the leverage ratio improving to 3.0x. The Company’s borrowing base was reaffirmed as part of its regularly scheduled spring redetermination, with revolving credit facility commitments unchanged at the elected $2.0 billion and asset coverage continuing to exceed the borrowing base. At quarter end, the Company had $567 million of borrowings under its revolving credit facility with $233 million in letters of credit. During the quarter, debt was reduced by $133 million, which included $88 million in free cash flow and changes in working capital.

Operational Results

Total production for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was 269 Bcfe, of which 79% was natural gas, 17% NGLs and 4% oil. Capital investments totaled $266 million for the first quarter, with 23 wells drilled, 29 wells completed and 17 wells placed to sales.

Southwest Appalachia – In the first quarter, total production was 151 Bcfe, with NGL production of 84 MBbls per day and oil production of 18 MBbls per day. The Company drilled 12 wells, completed 17 wells and placed nine wells to sales, with all the wells to sales located in the super rich acreage with an average lateral length of 12,629 feet. The wells placed to sales during the quarter had an average 30-day rate of 11 MMcfe per day, including 68% liquids.

Northeast Appalachia – First quarter 2021 production was 118 Bcf. The Company drilled 11 wells, completed 12 wells and placed eight wells to sales with an average lateral length of 13,470 feet. The wells placed to sales during the quarter had an average 30-day rate of 18 MMcf per day.

Conference Call

Southwestern Energy will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. Central to discuss first quarter 2021 results. To participate, dial US toll-free 877-883-0383, or international 412-902-6506 and enter access code 2265512. The conference call will webcast live at www.swn.com.

To listen to a replay of the call, dial 877-344-7529, International 412-317-0088, or Canada Toll Free 855-669-9658. Enter replay access code 10154901. The replay will be available until May 30, 2021.

About Southwestern Energy

Southwestern Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil exploration, development, production and marketing. For additional information, visit our website www.swn.com.

Forward Looking Statement

Certain statements and information herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “attempt,” “appears,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “project,” “potential,” “may,” “will,” “are likely,” “guidance,” “goal,” “model,” “target,” “budget” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. Statements may be forward looking even in the absence of these particular words. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, production, reserve growth and other plans and objectives for our future operations, and generation of free cash flow. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are largely based on our expectations for the future, which reflect certain estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions, operating trends, and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. As such, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties involved, see “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings. We do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, changes in circumstances, or otherwise. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf. Management cautions you that the forward looking statements contained herein are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that such statements will be realized or that the events and circumstances they describe will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to: the timing and extent of changes in market conditions and prices for natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), including regional basis differentials and the impact of reduced demand for our production and products in which our production is a component due to governmental and societal actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; our ability to fund our planned capital investments; a change in our credit rating, an increase in interest rates and any adverse impacts from the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate; the extent to which lower commodity prices impact our ability to service or refinance our existing debt; the impact of volatility in the financial markets or other global economic factors, including the impact of COVID-19; difficulties in appropriately allocating capital and resources among our strategic opportunities; the timing and extent of our success in discovering, developing, producing and estimating reserves; our ability to maintain leases that may expire if production is not established or profitably maintained; our ability to realize the expected benefits from the acquisition of Montage Resources Corporation (“Montage Acquisition”); costs in connection with the Montage Acquisition; integration of operations and results subsequent to the Montage Acquisition; our ability to transport our production to the most favorable markets or at all; the impact of government regulation, including changes in law, the ability to obtain and maintain permits, any increase in severance or similar taxes, and legislation or regulation relating to hydraulic fracturing, climate and over-the-counter derivatives; the impact of the adverse outcome of any material litigation against us or judicial decisions that affect us or our industry generally; the effects of weather; increased competition; the financial impact of accounting regulations and critical accounting policies; the comparative cost of alternative fuels; credit risk relating to the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by our counterparties; and any other factors listed in the reports we have filed and may file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Hedging Summary

A detailed breakdown of derivative financial instruments and financial basis positions as of March 31, 2021, including the remainder of 2021 and excluding those positions that settled in the first quarter, is shown below. Please refer to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for complete information on the Company’s commodity, basis and interest rate protection.

Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). However, management believes certain non-GAAP performance measures may provide financial statement users with additional meaningful comparisons between current results, the results of its peers and of prior periods.

One such non-GAAP financial measure is net cash flow. Management presents this measure because (i) it is accepted as an indicator of an oil and gas exploration and production company’s ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt, (ii) changes in operating assets and liabilities relate to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements which the Company may not control and (iii) changes in operating assets and liabilities may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred.

Additional non-GAAP financial measures the Company may present from time to time are net debt, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA, all which exclude certain charges or amounts. Management presents these measures because (i) they are consistent with the manner in which the Company’s position and performance are measured relative to the position and performance of its peers, (ii) these measures are more comparable to earnings estimates provided by securities analysts, and (iii) charges or amounts excluded cannot be reasonably estimated and guidance provided by the Company excludes information regarding these types of items.

Contacts

Investor Contact
Brittany Raiford

Director, Investor Relations

(832) 796-7906

brittany_raiford@swn.com

Bernadette Butler

Investor Relations Advisor

(832) 796-6079

bernadette_butler@swn.com

Read full story here