CHESAPEAKE REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 2023 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS AND ISSUES 2024 OUTLOOK
- None.
- - While Chesapeake Energy Corporation reported strong financial results for Q4 and full-year 2023, there is a potential negative impact on the company's stock performance due to the lower capital expenditure guidance for 2024, which may indicate reduced future growth opportunities.
- - Chesapeake's focus on free cash flow generation and capital discipline may lead to limited expansion and exploration activities, affecting the company's long-term growth prospects.
- - Despite the positive ESG initiatives, the company's commitment to achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2035 may require significant investments, potentially impacting profitability in the short to medium term.
Insights
Chesapeake Energy Corporation's reported net income of $2.4 billion and adjusted net income of $702 million for the full year 2023 reflect a robust financial performance, particularly given the challenging commodity price environment mentioned by the CEO. The adjusted EBITDAX of $2.5 billion and free cash flow of $551 million demonstrate the company's ability to generate significant earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and exploration expenses and to retain cash after all capital expenditures. These metrics are critical for investors as they indicate the company's operational efficiency and financial health.
Moreover, the return of $840 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases underscores a shareholder-friendly capital allocation policy. This is a positive sign for investors looking for returns in the form of capital appreciation and income. The company's capital expenditure guidance reduction by approximately 20% for 2024 is a strategic move to maintain capital discipline in response to market conditions, which could further stabilize the company's financial position and potentially enhance shareholder value.
The strategic merger with Southwestern Energy is poised to create a significant entity in the natural gas sector, potentially expanding market reach and enhancing competitive positioning on a global scale. This merger could create synergies and drive efficiencies that might not be achievable independently. The implications for the energy market include potential impacts on natural gas supply dynamics, pricing and the overall competitive landscape.
The announced LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements with Delfin LNG and Gunvor, with a contract start date in 2028, signal Chesapeake's entry into the international LNG market. The linkage of sales price to the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) could provide exposure to international pricing benchmarks, which often trade at a premium to domestic prices, thus potentially increasing revenue streams. This diversification of sales channels aligns with the industry trend of U.S. natural gas producers seeking to capitalize on growing global LNG demand.
Chesapeake's commitment to achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2035 for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions is noteworthy and aligns with the broader industry's push towards sustainability and responsible energy production. The recertification of all assets under the MiQ/EO100™ standard demonstrates the company's dedication to responsible sourcing of natural gas. The installation of continuous methane emission monitoring devices and retrofitting of pneumatic devices, resulting in significant reductions in GHG and methane emissions intensity, showcases proactive environmental management that can mitigate regulatory risks and enhance the company's reputation among environmentally conscious investors.
The improvement in the total recordable incident rate (TRIR) by approximately 40% year-over-year reflects a strong safety culture, which is important for operational sustainability and risk management. Such ESG initiatives can influence investor sentiment and potentially lead to a re-rating of the company's stock as ESG factors become increasingly integrated into investment decisions.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights:
- Net cash provided by operating activities of
$470 million - Net income totaled
$569 million $4.02 $185 million $1.31 - Adjusted EBITDAX(1) of
$635 million $91 million - Produced approximately 3.43 bcfe/d net (
98% natural gas) - Closed remaining Eagle Ford divestiture package for approximately
$700 million
Full-Year 2023 Highlights:
- Net cash provided by operating activities of
$2.4 billion - Net income totaled
$2.4 billion $16.92 $702 million $4.91 - Adjusted EBITDAX(1) of
$2.5 billion $551 million - Returned approximately
$840 million $480 million $360 million - Successfully closed Eagle Ford divestitures; total proceeds greater than
$3.5 billion
2024 Outlook Highlights:
- Lowering prior capital expenditure guidance approximately
20% to$1.25 $1.35 billion - Capital plan generates a baseline guide of 2.65 – 2.75 bcf/d
- Announced Southwestern Energy merger targeted to close in the second quarter
- Signed LNG SPAs with offtake from Delfin LNG and sale to Gunvor at a JKM linked price
(1) | A Non-GAAP measure as defined in the supplemental financial tables available on the company's website at www.chk.com. |
Nick Dell'Osso, Chesapeake's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "2023 marked another year of strong operational performance for Chesapeake as we delivered approximately
Shareholder Return Update
Chesapeake generated
Including fourth quarter base dividends and buybacks, Chesapeake returned approximately
Operations Update
Chesapeake's net production in the fourth quarter was approximately 3.43 bcfe per day (approximately
For the full year 2023, the company produced approximately 3.66 bcfe per day (approximately
Chesapeake is currently operating nine rigs (five in the Haynesville and four in the Marcellus) and four frac crews (two in each basin). Given current market dynamics, the company plans to defer placing wells on production while reducing rig and completion activity. The company will drop a rig in the Haynesville and Marcellus in March and around mid-year, respectively, and a frac crew in each basin in March. These activity levels will be maintained through year end. Deferring new well production and completion activity will build short-cycle, capital efficient productive capacity which can be activated when consumer demand requires it. The company expects to drill 95 to 115 wells and place 30 to 40 wells on production in 2024.
Chesapeake announced earlier this month the signing of its first LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPA) which represents two long-term SPAs for LNG. Under the SPAs, Chesapeake will purchase approximately 0.5 million tonnes per annum ("mtpa") of LNG from Delfin LNG at a Henry Hub linked price with a targeted contract start date in 2028. Chesapeake will then deliver the LNG to Gunvor on an FOB basis with the sales price linked to the Japan Korea Marker ("JKM") for a period of 20 years. These volumes represent 0.5 mtpa of the previously announced up to 2 mtpa HOA with Gunvor.
ESG Update
Chesapeake successfully recertified all assets under the MiQ/EO100™ standard, maintaining
The company remains committed to achieving its expanded 2035 net zero goal, inclusive of both Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions. From 2020 to 2022, Chesapeake installed more than 2,000 continuous methane emission monitoring devices and retrofitted more than 19,000 pneumatic devices leading to a
Chesapeake's culture of operational excellence and safety resulted in a ~
Conference Call Information
Chesapeake plans to conduct a conference call to discuss its recent financial and operating results and its 2024 outlook at 9:00 AM EST on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. The telephone number to access the conference call is 888-317-6003 or 412-317-6061 for international callers. The passcode is 8453967.
Financial Statements, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and 2023 Guidance and Outlook Projections
The company's 2023 fourth quarter and year-end financial and operational results, along with non-GAAP measures that adjust for items typically excluded by securities analysts, are available on the company's website. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures and other disclosures are provided with the supplemental financial tables available on the company's website at www.chk.com. Management's updated guidance for 2024 can be found on the company's website at www.chk.com.
Headquartered in
Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements include our current expectations or forecasts of future events, including matters relating to the pending merger with Southwestern Energy Company ("Southwestern"), armed conflict and instability in
Although we believe the expectations and forecasts reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. No assurance can be given that such forward-looking statements will be correct or achieved or that the assumptions are accurate or will not change over time. Particular uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements include:
- conservation measures and technological advances could reduce demand for natural gas and oil;
- negative public perceptions of our industry;
- competition in the natural gas and oil exploration and production industry;
- the volatility of natural gas, oil and NGL prices, which are affected by general economic and business conditions, as well as increased demand for (and availability of) alternative fuels and electric vehicles;
- risks from regional epidemics or pandemics and related economic turmoil, including supply chain constraints;
- write-downs of our natural gas and oil asset carrying values due to low commodity prices;
- significant capital expenditures are required to replace our reserves and conduct our business;
- our ability to replace reserves and sustain production;
- uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL reserves and projecting future rates of production and the amount and timing of development expenditures;
- drilling and operating risks and resulting liabilities;
- our ability to generate profits or achieve targeted results in drilling and well operations;
- leasehold terms expiring before production can be established;
- risks from our commodity price risk management activities;
- uncertainties, risks and costs associated with natural gas and oil operations;
- our need to secure adequate supplies of water for our drilling operations and to dispose of or recycle the water used;
- pipeline and gathering system capacity constraints and transportation interruptions;
- our plans to participate in the LNG export industry;
- terrorist activities and/or cyber-attacks adversely impacting our operations;
- risks from failure to protect personal information and data and compliance with data privacy and security laws and regulations;
- disruption of our business by natural or human causes beyond our control;
- a deterioration in general economic, business or industry conditions;
- the impact of inflation and commodity price volatility, including as a result of armed conflict and instability in
Europe and theMiddle East , along with the effects of the current global economic environment, on our business, financial condition, employees, contractors, vendors and the global demand for natural gas and oil and onU.S. and global financial markets; - our inability to access the capital markets on favorable terms;
- the limitations on our financial flexibility due to our level of indebtedness and restrictive covenants from our indebtedness;
- our actual financial results after emergence from bankruptcy may not be comparable to our historical financial information;
- risks related to acquisitions or dispositions, or potential acquisitions or dispositions, including risks related to the pending merger with Southwestern, such as the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the possibility that our stockholders may not approve the issuance of our common stock in connection with the proposed transaction; the possibility that the stockholders of Southwestern may not approve the merger agreement; the risk that we or Southwestern may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the proposed transaction, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the merger; the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to limitation on our ability to pursue alternatives to the merger; risks related to change in control or other provisions in certain agreements that may be triggered upon completion of the merger; risks related to the merger agreement's restrictions on business activities prior to the effective time of the merger; risks related to loss of management personnel, other key employees, customers, suppliers, vendors, landlords, joint venture partners and other business partners following the merger; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of our common stock or Southwestern's common stock; the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction; the risk that problems may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of the companies, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected; and the risk that the combined company may be unable to achieve synergies or other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction or it may take longer than expected to achieve those synergies or benefits;
- our ability to achieve and maintain ESG certifications, goals and commitments;
- legislative, regulatory and ESG initiatives, addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change or further regulating hydraulic fracturing, methane emissions, flaring or water disposal;
- federal and state tax proposals affecting our industry;
- risks related to an annual limitation on the utilization of our tax attributes, which is expected to be triggered upon completion of the Merger, as well as trading in our common stock, additional issuances of common stock, and certain other stock transactions, which could lead to an additional, potentially more restrictive, annual limitation; and
- other factors that are described under Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of our Form 10-K.
We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release, which speak only as of the filing date, and we undertake no obligation to update this information. We urge you to carefully review and consider the disclosures in this release and our filings with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business.
INVESTOR CONTACT: | MEDIA CONTACT: |
Chris Ayres | Brooke Coe |
(405) 935-8870 | (405) 935-8878 |
ir@chk.com | media@chk.com |
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SOURCE Chesapeake Energy Corporation
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