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PITTSBURGH, July 29, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) today announced second quarter 2009 earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.20 on net income of $26.6 million and operating cash flow of $94.6 million. This compares with EPS of $0.44 on net income of $55.4 million and operating cash flow of $161.9 million in the second quarter 2008.
Second quarter 2009 highlights include:
-- Production sales of 24.4 Bcfe, 22% over the prior year and 6% higher
than the first quarter 2009; and
-- EQT increased its 2009 natural gas sales volume estimate from between 96
and 97 Bcfe to between 98 and 100 Bcfe, 16-19% growth over 2008.
Operating income was $67.5 million, 33% lower than the second quarter 2008. Lower commodity prices more than offset higher revenues from increased production, transmission, gathering and processing volumes and higher utility rates. The impact of lower commodity prices on net operating revenue was $62.0 million. In total, net operating revenues declined by $12.3 million from $215.7 million to $203.4 million. Operating expenses, excluding purchased gas costs, increased by $21.4 million. The unit costs to produce, gather, process and transport EQT's produced gas, excluding production taxes, were down 9.4% to $1.25 per Mcfe.
Quarterly Results by Business
EQT Production
EQT Production's operating income for the quarter totaled $33.6 million, $40.6 million lower than the $74.2 million earned in the same period last year. Production operating revenues were $89.9 million, $35.0 million lower than the $124.9 million reported in 2008. Average daily production sales volumes increased by 22%, driven by horizontal Huron shale drilling. The revenue and operating income impacts of the increase in volumes were more than offset by lower realized natural gas prices. The average wellhead natural gas sales price was $3.59 per MMBtu, 42% lower than in 2008.
Operating expenses for the quarter were $56.2 million compared to $50.8 million last year. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (DD&A) was $8.8 million higher as a result of the company's drilling program and higher produced volumes. Exploration expense was $4.4 million in the quarter. EQT Production is performing a seismic study of 80 square miles in northern West Virginia, targeting deep zones below the company's current producing zones. Partially offsetting this increase in expenses were a $5.8 million decrease in commodity-based production taxes and a $1.3 million reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses.
The company drilled a total of 167 gross wells in the second quarter 2009, including 70 horizontal Huron wells, 9 horizontal Berea wells and 7 horizontal Marcellus wells, and 4 fractured multilateral Huron wells.
Huron Play
The Huron development is the main driver of production sales growth in the quarter. Since the fourth quarter 2006, EQT has completed 576 horizontal wells in the various Huron zones. By the end of 2009 approximately 33% of EQT's production sales will be from horizontal Huron wells. The cost per well of a single-leg horizontal Huron well is now approximately $1.0 million, 17% below the 2008 average cost of $1.2 million. In total, EQT has 2.2 million acres in the Huron play with an average of more than two target zones per drill site. The company has reported 1.5 Tcfe of proved, 2.5 Tcfe of probable, and 2.0 Tcfe of possible reserves in the Huron play as of December 31, 2008.
Marcellus Play
In the second quarter, EQT drilled 7 Marcellus horizontal wells. To date, EQT has drilled 21 horizontal wells, with 8 on-line for more than 30 days. Average 30-day initial production rates have been between 1.0 and 2.4 MMcfe per day. The most recent Marcellus horizontal wells cost $3.3 million each, and the cost per well is expected to decrease to around $3.0 million. Days-to-drill have been reduced from 35 days to 17 days and completion costs have been reduced from $3.2 million to $2.0 million. The projected average estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) from the wells that have been on-line for more than 30-days is 3.2 Bcfe per well. Based on test results of all wells drilled, EUR is expected to average 3.5 Bcfe per well. The company expects to drill 41 horizontal Marcellus wells in 2009.
EQT Midstream
EQT Midstream earned $32.8 million of operating income for the quarter, compared to $23.6 million reported for the same period last year. Net operating revenues for the quarter were $81.2 million, 34% higher than last year's $60.6 million. Net gathering revenues increased by $7.5 million, or 22%, driven by an 18% increase in gathering volumes, and net processing revenues increased by $1.0 million, or 11%, from higher liquids volumes. Net transmission revenues increased by $7.1 million, or 66%, driven by revenues from the Big Sandy pipeline which was turned-in-line in the second quarter 2008. Net storage, marketing and other revenues increased by $5.1 million, or 68%, primarily from reselling contracted Big Sandy pipeline capacity not currently being used to transport EQT Production gas.
Operating expenses increased year-over-year to $48.4 million, up from $36.9 million in the second quarter 2008. The increase was primarily attributable to a $6.8 million increase in operating and maintenance costs (O&M) and a $5.0 million increase in DD&A. The increases in O&M and DD&A were primarily due to higher costs associated with the growth in the EQT Midstream business, including increased electric costs, property taxes, and labor to operate the expanded investment in gathering, processing and transmission infrastructure.
Distribution
Distribution's operating income totaled $9.4 million for the quarter compared to $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2008. Net operating revenues were $32.4 million for the quarter compared to $30.1 million for the second quarter of 2008. The $2.3 million increase in net operating revenues was primarily a result of higher rates approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in February 2009.
Operating expenses totaled $23.0 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $28.1 million for the second quarter of 2008. The $5.1 million decrease in operating expenses was primarily the result of lower bad debt and overhead expenses, partially offset by an increase in DD&A.
Other Business
Debt Issuance
During the quarter, the company completed a public offering of $700.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 10-year, 8.125% Senior Notes. The proceeds from the offering were used to repay short-term borrowings under the company's revolving credit facility and will fund part of the company's 2009 capital program. At the end of the quarter, the company had $335.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and no short-term borrowings outstanding.
Hedging
EQT recognized a $41.8 million net gain from its production hedges in the quarter. The company's production sales volumes are approximately 60% hedged for 2009. There were no changes to the company's production hedge position in the quarter. The company's total hedge positions for 2009 through 2011 production are:
2009** 2010 2011
------ ---- ----
Swaps
Total Volume (Bcf) 19 23 19
Average Price per Mcf (NYMEX)* $5.91 $5.12 $5.10
2009** 2010 2011
------ ---- ----
Puts
Total Volume (Bcf) - 3 3
Average Floor Price per Mcf
(NYMEX)* $- $7.35 $7.35
2009** 2010 2011
------ ---- ----
Collars
Total Volume (Bcf) 11 17 14
Average Floor Price per Mcf
(NYMEX)* $7.34 $7.28 $7.11
Average Cap Price per Mcf
(NYMEX)* $13.68 $14.05 $14.12
* The above price is based on a conversion rate of 1.05 MMBtu/Mcf
**July through December
Operating Income
The company reports operating income by segment in this press release. Both interest and income taxes are controlled on a consolidated, corporate-wide basis, and are not allocated to the segments.
The following table reconciles operating income by segment as reported in this press release to the consolidated operating income reported in the company's financial statements:
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
-------- --------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Operating income
(thousands):
EQT Production $33,648 $74,177 $78,065 $134,509
EQT Midstream 32,802 23,628 81,782 84,482
Distribution 9,353 2,029 53,205 39,979
Unallocated expenses (8,289) 1,299 (9,402) (38,414)
------ ----- ------ -------
Operating income $67,514 $101,133 $203,650 $220,556
======= ======== ======== ========
Unallocated expenses are primarily due to incentive compensation and administrative costs. For each period presented, the difference between equity in earnings of nonconsolidated investments as reported on the company's statements of consolidated income and on EQT Midstream's operational and financial report is the earnings from the company's ownership interest in Appalachian Natural Gas Trust.
Non-GAAP Disclosures
Operating cash flow is presented because of its acceptance 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. The company has also included this information because changes in operating assets and liabilities relate to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements which the company may not control and may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred. Net operating revenues and operating expenses, excluding purchased gas cost are presented because they are important analytical measures used by management to evaluate period-to-period comparisons of revenue and cost trends. Purchased gas cost, which is subject to commodity price volatility, is paid by the purchasers of the company's natural gas products. Operating cash flow, net operating revenue and operating expense, excluding purchased gas costs, should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities, operating revenues or operating expenses prepared in accordance with GAAP. The tables below reconcile these non-GAAP disclosures to the most directly comparable GAAP numbers as derived from the financial statements to be included in the company's Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
Operating Cash Flow
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
-------- --------
(thousands) 2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Net Income: $26,645 $55,391 $98,638 $125,911
Add back (deduct):
Deferred income taxes 26,461 76,708 82,878 125,215
Depreciation,
depletion, and
amortization 46,188 32,051 90,777 62,816
Other items, net (4,657) (2,255) (5,356) (5,291)
------ ------ ------ ------
Operating cash flow: $94,637 $161,895 $266,937 $308,651
======= ======== ======== ========
Add back (deduct):
Changes in
margin deposits $2,372 $(161,577) $1,119 $(233,693)
Other changes in
operating assets
and liabilities 158,461 (17,607) 200,060 13,786
------- ------- ------- ------
Net cash provided by
operating activities $255,470 $(17,289) $468,116 $88,744
======== ======== ======== =======
Net Operating Revenues / Operating Expenses, Excluding Purchased Gas Cost
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
-------- --------
(thousands) 2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Operating expenses $170,526 $232,876 $503,793 $649,227
Less: Purchased gas cost 34,591 118,352 243,598 389,530
------ ------- ------- -------
Operating expenses,
excluding purchased
gas cost 135,935 114,524 260,195 259,697
Operating revenues 238,040 334,009 707,443 869,783
Less: Purchased gas cost 34,591 118,352 243,598 389,530
------ ------- ------- -------
Net operating revenues $203,449 $215,657 $463,845 $480,253
======== ======== ======== ========
Price Reconciliation
EQT Production's average wellhead sales price is calculated by allocating some revenues to EQT Midstream for the gathering, processing and transportation of the produced gas. EQT Production's average wellhead sales price for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
-------- --------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Average NYMEX price ($/ MMBtu) $3.50 $10.92 $4.19 $9.48
Average Btu premium 0.34 1.20 0.38 1.08
---- ---- ---- ----
Average NYMEX price ($/ Mcfe) 3.84 12.12 4.57 10.56
Average basis 0.09 0.31 0.14 0.27
Hedge impact 1.71 (4.34) 1.16 (3.38)
---- ----- ---- -----
Average hedge adjusted price
($/ Mcfe) 5.64 8.09 5.87 7.45
Revenues to EQT Midstream
($/ Mcfe) (1.66) (1.46) (1.69) (1.37)
Third party gathering,
processing and transportation (0.39) (0.49) (0.31) (0.41)
----- ----- ----- -----
Total revenue deductions (2.05) (1.95) (2.00) (1.78)
----- ----- ----- -----
Average wellhead sales price
to EQT Production 3.59 6.14 3.87 5.67
==== ==== ==== ====
EQT Revenue ($/ Mcfe)
Revenues to EQT Midstream 1.66 1.46 1.69 1.37
Revenues to EQT Production 3.59 6.14 3.87 5.67
==== ==== ==== ====
Average wellhead sales price
to EQT Corporation $5.25 $7.60 $5.56 $7.04
===== ===== ===== =====
Unit Costs
EQT's unit costs to produce, gather, process and transport EQT's produced natural gas were:
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
-------- --------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Production segment costs:
($/ Mcfe)
LOE $0.28 $0.33 $0.26 $0.31
Production taxes 0.29 0.61 0.32 0.55
SG&A 0.39 0.52 0.37 0.49
---- ---- ---- ----
0.96 1.46 0.95 1.35
Midstream segment costs:
($/ Mcfe)
Gathering, processing and
transmission 0.45 0.38 0.43 0.35
SG&A 0.13 0.15 0.13 0.14
---- ---- ---- ----
0.58 0.53 0.56 0.49
Total $1.54 $1.99 $1.51 $1.84
===== ===== ===== =====
EQT's conference call with securities analysts, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time today, will be broadcast live via EQT's web site, http://www.eqt.com and on the Investor information page from the company's web site which is available at http://ir.eqt.com and will be available for seven days.
EQT is an integrated energy company with emphasis on Appalachian area natural gas production, gathering, processing, transmission and distribution. Additional information about the company can be obtained through the company's web site, http://www.eqt.com. Investor information is available on EQT's web site at http://ir.eqt.com. EQT uses its web site as a channel of distribution of important information about the company, and routinely posts financial and other important information regarding the company and its financial condition and operations on the Investors Web pages.
EQT management speaks to investors from time to time. Slides for these discussions will be available online via EQT's web site. The slides may be updated periodically.
Cautionary Statements
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. The company uses the terms "probable", "possible", "potential" and other descriptions of volumes of reserves that may be recoverable through additional drilling or recovery techniques that the SEC's guidelines would prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and, accordingly, are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in the company's 2008 Form 10-K, File No. 001-03551 available from the company at 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Corporate Secretary. You can also obtain the company's Form 10-K from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
The company is unable to provide a reconciliation of its projected operating cash flow to projected net cash provided by operating activities, the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, because of uncertainties associated with projecting future net income and changes in assets and liabilities.
Disclosures in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives, and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance of the company and its subsidiaries, including guidance regarding the company's drilling and infrastructure programs, production and sales volumes, reserves, EUR, the expected decline curve, capital expenditures, financing requirements, projected operating cash flows, hedging strategy and tax position. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The company has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the company considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the company's control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of the company's business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as updated by any subsequent Form 10-Qs.
Any forward-looking statement applies only as of the date on which such statement is made and the company does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
EQT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Operating revenues $238,040 $334,009 $707,443 $869,783
Operating expenses:
Purchased gas costs 34,591 118,352 243,598 389,530
Operation and maintenance 34,892 28,612 66,482 54,204
Production 14,860 20,369 29,880 36,889
Exploration 4,414 838 7,725 1,393
Selling, general and
administrative 35,581 32,654 65,331 104,395
Depreciation, depletion
and amortization 46,188 32,051 90,777 62,816
------ ------ ------ ------
Total operating
expenses 170,526 232,876 503,793 649,227
------- ------- ------- -------
Operating income 67,514 101,133 203,650 220,556
Other income 698 1,574 1,288 5,098
Equity in earnings of
nonconsolidated
investments 1,610 1,697 2,732 2,991
Interest expense 26,460 14,327 45,703 27,980
------ ------ ------ ------
Income before income taxes 43,362 90,077 161,967 200,665
Income taxes 16,717 34,686 63,329 74,754
------ ------ ------ ------
Net income $26,645 $55,391 $98,638 $125,911
======= ======= ======= ========
Earnings per share of
common stock:
Basic:
Weighted average common
shares outstanding 130,830 126,243 130,784 124,372
------- ------- ------- -------
Net income $0.20 $0.44 $0.75 $1.01
===== ===== ===== =====
Diluted:
Weighted average common
shares outstanding 131,443 127,321 131,421 125,432
------- ------- ------- -------
Net income $0.20 $0.44 $0.75 $1.00
===== ===== ===== =====
(A) Due to the seasonal nature of the Company's natural gas distribution
and storage businesses, and the volatility of commodity prices, the
interim statements for the three month periods are not indicative of
results for a full year.
EQT PRODUCTION
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REPORT
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
OPERATIONAL DATA
Natural gas and oil
production (MMcfe) 25,505 21,543 49,983 42,564
Company usage, line loss (MMcfe) (1,139) (1,587) (2,641) (2,893)
------ ------ ------ ------
Total sales volumes (MMcfe) 24,366 19,956 47,342 39,671
Average (well-head) sales
price ($/Mcfe) $3.59 $6.14 $3.87 $5.67
Lease operating expenses,
excluding production
taxes ($/Mcfe) $0.28 $0.33 $0.26 $0.31
Production taxes ($/Mcfe) $0.29 $0.61 $0.32 $0.55
Production depletion ($/Mcfe) $1.03 $0.81 $1.03 $0.81
Production depletion $26,226 $17,502 $51,431 $34,593
Other depreciation, depletion
and amortization 1,209 1,119 2,437 2,149
----- ----- ----- -----
Total depreciation, depletion
and amortization $27,435 $18,621 $53,868 $36,742
Capital expenditures
(thousands) $164,880 $146,413 $302,316 $242,876
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands)
Total operating revenues $89,885 $124,949 $187,648 $230,026
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expense
excluding production taxes 7,170 7,054 13,212 13,016
Production taxes 7,326 13,114 16,150 23,337
Exploration expense 4,414 838 7,725 1,393
Selling, general and
administrative 9,892 11,145 18,628 21,029
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization 27,435 18,621 53,868 36,742
------ ------ ------ ------
Total operating expenses 56,237 50,772 109,583 95,517
Operating income $33,648 $74,177 $78,065 $134,509
EQT MIDSTREAM
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REPORT
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
OPERATIONAL DATA
Gathered volumes (BBtu) 39,590 33,444 78,069 67,281
Average gathering fee ($/MMBtu) $1.04 $1.00 $1.04 $0.99
Gathering and compression
expense ($/MMBtu) $0.42 $0.38 $0.41 $0.36
NGLs Sold (Mgal) 32,514 17,181 59,888 35,574
Average NGL sales price ($/gal) $0.63 $1.57 $0.65 $1.47
Transmission pipeline
throughput (BBtu) 22,313 16,379 39,531 31,139
Net operating revenues (thousands):
Gathering $40,775 $33,293 $79,454 $66,728
Processing 10,127 9,105 16,747 20,452
Transmission 17,735 10,665 37,545 21,955
Storage, marketing and other 12,574 7,503 40,021 44,884
------- ------ ------ ------
Total net operating revenues $81,211 $60,566 $173,767 $154,019
Capital expenditures (thousands) $53,344 $152,099 $115,517 $247,664
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands)
Total operating revenues $119,500 $153,777 $242,874 $375,102
Purchased gas costs 38,289 93,211 69,107 221,083
------ ------ ------ -------
Total net operating revenues 81,211 60,566 173,767 154,019
Operating expenses:
Operating and maintenance 24,440 17,678 45,641 32,943
Selling, general and
administrative 11,182 11,417 21,319 21,533
Depreciation and amortization 12,787 7,843 25,025 15,061
------ ----- ------ ------
Total operating expenses 48,409 36,938 91,985 69,537
------ ------ ------ ------
Operating income $32,802 $23,628 $81,782 $84,482
Other income $355 $1,464 $905 $4,847
Equity in earnings of
nonconsolidated
investments $1,595 $1,471 $2,662 $2,626
DISTRIBUTION
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REPORT
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
OPERATIONAL DATA
Heating degree days (30 year
average: Qtr - 705;
YTD - 3,635 553 577 3,440 3,461
Residential sales and
transportation volume (MMcf) 2,672 2,647 14,633 14,710
Commercial and industrial
volume (MMcf) 6,445 5,224 16,635 16,835
----- ----- ------ ------
Total throughput (MMcf)
- Distribution 9,117 7,871 31,268 31,545
Net operating revenues (thousands):
Residential $18,816 $18,338 $62,995 $59,626
Commercial & industrial 8,207 7,500 27,817 27,334
Off-system and energy services 5,330 4,304 11,933 9,248
----- ----- ------ -----
Total net operating revenues $32,353 $30,142 $102,745 $96,208
Capital expenditures (thousands) $8,717 $12,378 $15,493 $19,983
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands)
Total operating revenues $78,094 $114,731 $371,266 $370,693
Purchased gas costs 45,741 84,589 268,521 274,485
------ ------ ------- -------
Net operating revenues 32,353 30,142 102,745 96,208
Operating expenses:
Operating and maintenance 10,651 11,202 20,430 21,318
Selling, general and
administrative 6,863 11,756 18,186 24,703
Depreciation and amortization 5,486 5,155 10,924 10,208
----- ----- ------ ------
Total operating expenses 23,000 28,113 49,540 56,229
------ ------ ------ ------
Operating income $9,353 $2,029 $53,205 $39,979
SOURCE EQT Corporation (EQT-IR)
http://www.eqt.com
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