Drilling & Completions | Quarterly / Earnings Reports | Second Quarter (2Q) Update | Financial Results | Capital Markets | Capital Expenditure | Drilling Activity

Comstock Resources Second Quarter 2021 Results

Share Print Bookmark    |    Wednesday,September 01,2021

Comstock Resources Inc. reported its Q2 2021 results.

Highlights:

• Adjusted net income to common stockholders was $55 million for the quarter or $0.22 per diluted share.
• Production averaged 1,387 MMcfe per day, comprised of 98% natural gas, and was 8% higher than the first quarter of 2021 and 6% higher than the second quarter of 2020.
• Average realized price, including hedging, was $2.57 per Mcfe compared to $1.96 per Mcfe in 2020's second quarter.
• Revenues, including realized hedging losses, were $325 million, 40% higher than 2020's second quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDAX was $251 million, 55% higher than 2020's second quarter.
• Operating cash flow (excluding working capital changes) was $196 million or $0.71 per diluted share.
• Second quarter capital spending was $172 million, including $8 million for leasing activities.
• Generated free cash flow of $20 million, bringing free cash flow for the first six months of 2021 to $53 million.
• Refinanced 9.75% notes with new 8.5 year 5.875% senior notes, reducing annual interest payments by $28 million and extending senior note maturities to 7.6 years from 6.3 years. Combined with the March 2021 refinancing transaction, future annual interest payments have now been reduced by $48 million.

Q2 Financials

Revenues in the second quarter of 2021 totaled $324.8 million (including realized losses on hedging of $18.8 million). Net cash provided by operating activities (excluding changes in working capital) generated in the second quarter was $196.4 million, and the Company reported a net loss available to common stockholders for the second quarter of $184.1 million ($0.80 per share). The net loss in the quarter was due to a $114.1 million pre-tax loss on the early retirement of the 9.75% senior notes and a $204.8 million unrealized loss on hedging contracts held for risk management. The significant improvement in future natural gas prices since March 31, 2021 drove the unrealized loss on the hedging contracts. Excluding these items and certain other unusual items, adjusted net income available to common stockholders for the second quarter of 2021 was $55.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share.

Comstock's production cost per Mcfe in the second quarter was $0.59 per Mcfe, which was comprised of $0.25 for gathering and transportation costs, $0.21 for lease operating costs, $0.08 for production and other taxes and $0.05 for cash general and administrative expenses. Production cost was $0.60 per Mcfe in both the first quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of 2020. Comstock's unhedged operating margin was 78% in the second quarter of 2021.

1H21 Financials

Revenues reported for the first six months of 2021 totaled $656.9 million (including realized losses on hedging of $27.3 million). Net cash provided by operating activities (excluding changes in working capital) was $403.0 million, and the Company reported a net loss available to common stockholders for the first six months of 2021 of $322.5 million ($1.39 per share). The net loss in the first six months of 2021 included $352.6 million in pre-tax losses on the early retirement of the 9.75% and 7.50% senior notes and a $217.9 million unrealized loss on the change in fair market value of the Company's hedging contracts. Excluding these items and certain other unusual items, adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $118.3 million, or $0.46 per diluted share.

Drilling Results

Comstock drilled 42 (33.5 net) operated horizontal Haynesville/Bossier shale wells in the first six months of 2021 which had an average lateral length of 7,902 feet. Comstock also participated in an additional eight (0.9 net) non-operated Haynesville shale wells in the first six months of 2021. Comstock turned 26 (23.3 net) wells to sales in the first six months of 2021 and currently expects to turn an additional 25 wells (20.8 net) to sales in the third quarter of 2021.

Since its last operational update in May, Comstock has turned 21 (18.5 net) new operated Haynesville/Bossier shale wells to sales. These wells had initial daily production rates of 15 MMcf to 32 MMcf per day, with an average of 22 MMcf per day. The completed lateral length of these wells averaged 8,251 feet. Comstock plans to continue to utilize five operated rigs for the remainder of 2021 for its planned drilling activity, having released one operated rig in May 2021.