Gulfport Energy Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial and Operating Results and Provides 2024 Operational and Financial Guidance
- None.
- None.
Insights
The reported financial and operating results of Gulfport Energy Corporation indicate a strong performance in the fourth quarter, with net income and adjusted EBITDA surpassing analyst expectations. The company's ability to generate substantial net cash from operating activities and adjusted free cash flow, while maintaining a robust balance sheet, is a positive sign for investors. The strategic repurchases of common stock, which utilized a significant portion of the free cash flow, reflect a shareholder-friendly capital return policy. This action, coupled with the disciplined capital expenditure strategy, suggests a management team focused on creating shareholder value and financial health amidst a challenging natural gas pricing environment.
It is also noteworthy that Gulfport has been able to achieve operational efficiencies, as indicated by the improvements in average drilling footage per day and completion hours pumped per day. These efficiencies, along with a planned decrease in capital expenditures for 2024, could potentially lead to sustained profitability even if the natural gas market remains under pressure. The company's focus on liquids-rich development in the Utica and SCOOP regions is a strategic move to enhance margins and leverage existing infrastructure. The forward-looking statements about the expected capital efficient program and the emphasis on maintaining financial leverage below one times are reassuring for investors concerned about risk management and operational focus.
The outlook provided by Gulfport for 2024, with an expected flat year-over-year net production and a reduction in capital expenditures, reflects a cautious approach in response to the current natural gas pricing challenges. The company's shift towards more liquids-rich development is indicative of an industry trend where companies are seeking to optimize their product mix in favor of higher-margin products. This strategy could mitigate some of the impacts of low natural gas prices and improve overall profitability.
The report on Gulfport's year-end 2023 total proved reserves, which shows a 4% increase compared to 2022, is a positive indicator of the company's resource base and potential for future production. The delineation of additional liquids-rich Marcellus locations is a strategic move that could provide long-term inventory and development opportunities. Investors may find reassurance in the fact that Gulfport is proactively managing its asset portfolio to navigate the current market dynamics effectively.
Gulfport's financial strategy, particularly its stock repurchase program, signals a strong confidence in the intrinsic value of the company. The repurchase of shares at a weighted average price significantly higher than the current market price could be seen as a bullish signal to the market. However, it is essential to consider the opportunity cost of these buybacks, especially in a capital-intensive industry where reinvestment can drive future growth. Investors should weigh the benefits of immediate capital return against the potential for long-term value creation through strategic investments in operations.
The company's liquidity position and low financial leverage provide it with flexibility to navigate the uncertain pricing environment for natural gas and NGLs. This financial prudence is crucial for energy companies that must manage the inherent volatility of commodity markets. Gulfport's focus on returning capital to shareholders while maintaining operational and financial discipline will likely be a key factor in investor sentiment and the stock's performance going forward.
Fourth Quarter 2023
- Delivered total net production of 1,063.3 MMcfe per day, above analyst consensus expectations
-
Reported
$245.7 million $190.8 million -
Generated
$155.5 million $85.4 million -
Incurred capital expenditures, excluding discretionary acreage acquisitions, of
$82.9 million -
Utilized adjusted free cash flow(1) for discretionary acreage acquisitions totaling
$23.1 million -
Repurchased 490 thousand shares of common stock for approximately
$66.0 million
Full Year 2023 Highlights and Recent Highlights
- Delivered total net production of 1,054.3 MMcfe per day, at the high end of the Company's increased guidance range
-
Reported
$1.5 billion $725.0 million -
Generated
$723.2 million $198.9 million -
Incurred capital expenditures, excluding discretionary acreage acquisitions, of
$443.4 million -
Maintained a strong balance sheet and low financial leverage, with liquidity at December 31, 2023 totaling
$720.1 million -
Expanded common stock repurchase authorization in February 2023 and October 2023, to a total of
$650 million $236 million -
Returned substantially all full year adjusted free cash flow(1), excluding discretionary acreage acquisitions, to shareholders by repurchasing 1.5 million shares of common stock for approximately
$148.9 million -
Allocated
$48.0 million -
Developed first Marcellus two-well pad in
Belmont County, Ohio with promising initial results, delineating approximately 50 to 60 locations, representing multiple years of additional liquids-rich drilling inventory -
Achieved significant operational efficiencies, with average drilling footage per day and completion hours pumped per day improving by
60% and30% year-over-year, respectively
Full Year 2024 Outlook
- Expect to deliver relatively flat year-over-year net production with a range of 1,045 MMcfe to 1,080 MMcfe per day
-
Plan to invest total base capital expenditures of
$380 million $420 million $50 million $60 million 10% (3) compared to full year 2023 and focused on more liquids-rich development in theUtica and SCOOP -
Forecast delivering a significantly more capital efficient program associated with longer laterals and continued cycle time improvements; plan to deliver similar net completed lateral footage compared to 2023 while turning to sales
20% fewer gross wells - Plan to continue to allocate substantially all adjusted free cash flow(1), excluding acquisitions, toward common share repurchases
"Gulfport's 2023 results delivered on all fronts, highlighted by our quality resource base and the continued improvement of development efficiencies throughout the year. The Company delivered net production at the high end of the updated guidance range, and well above our initial guidance provided in February 2023. This was accomplished while staying within our initial capital budget range, despite the incremental activity accelerated during the fourth quarter of 2023, as previously disclosed. The company augmented our attractive acreage portfolio by strategically acquiring liquids-rich
"As we move into 2024, the current natural gas pricing environment is challenged and reinforces the importance of developing our assets in an efficient and sustainable manner. Building on the momentum from 2023, we plan to remain focused on further optimizing our development programs cycle times and operating costs, and we laid out a program today expected to deliver similar production year over year on
A company presentation to accompany the Gulfport earnings conference call can be accessed by clicking here.
- A non-GAAP financial measure. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures and other disclosures are provided with the supplemental financial tables available on our website at www.gulfportenergy.com.
- As of February 26, 2024.
- Assumes midpoint of 2024 guidance.
Operational Update
The table below summarizes Gulfport's operated drilling and completion activity for the full year of 2023:
|
Year Ended December 31, 2023 |
||
|
Gross |
Net |
Lateral Length |
Spud |
|
|
|
Utica & Marcellus |
20 |
17.9 |
17,100 |
SCOOP |
5 |
3.2 |
11,800 |
|
|
|
|
Drilled |
|
|
|
Utica & Marcellus |
22 |
20.2 |
15,400 |
SCOOP |
2 |
1.7 |
8,600 |
|
|
|
|
Completed |
|
|
|
Utica & Marcellus |
22 |
20.2 |
14,000 |
SCOOP |
2 |
1.7 |
8,600 |
|
|
|
|
Turned-to-Sales |
|
|
|
Utica & Marcellus |
22 |
20.2 |
14,000 |
SCOOP |
2 |
1.7 |
8,600 |
|
|
|
|
Gulfport’s net daily production for the full year of 2023 averaged 1,054.3 MMcfe per day, primarily consisting of 783.8 MMcfe per day in the
|
Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 |
|
Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2023 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
||||||||
Production |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Natural gas (Mcf/day) |
|
976,820 |
|
|
|
934,763 |
|
|
|
959,743 |
|
|
|
883,195 |
|
Oil and condensate (Bbl/day) |
|
3,498 |
|
|
|
4,959 |
|
|
|
3,733 |
|
|
|
4,412 |
|
NGL (Bbl/day) |
|
10,923 |
|
|
|
14,520 |
|
|
|
12,018 |
|
|
|
12,281 |
|
Total (Mcfe/day) |
|
1,063,341 |
|
|
|
1,051,637 |
|
|
|
1,054,251 |
|
|
|
983,354 |
|
Average Prices |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Natural gas: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Average price without the impact of derivatives ($/Mcf) |
$ |
2.37 |
|
|
$ |
5.45 |
|
|
$ |
2.37 |
|
|
$ |
6.20 |
|
Impact from settled derivatives ($/Mcf) |
$ |
0.54 |
|
|
$ |
(2.88 |
) |
|
$ |
0.42 |
|
|
$ |
(3.11 |
) |
Average price, including settled derivatives ($/Mcf) |
$ |
2.91 |
|
|
$ |
2.57 |
|
|
$ |
2.79 |
|
|
$ |
3.09 |
|
Oil and condensate: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Average price without the impact of derivatives ($/Bbl) |
$ |
73.47 |
|
|
$ |
79.27 |
|
|
$ |
73.27 |
|
|
$ |
91.58 |
|
Impact from settled derivatives ($/Bbl) |
$ |
(3.32 |
) |
|
$ |
(16.89 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.53 |
) |
|
$ |
(24.32 |
) |
Average price, including settled derivatives ($/Bbl) |
$ |
70.15 |
|
|
$ |
62.38 |
|
|
$ |
70.74 |
|
|
$ |
67.26 |
|
NGL: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Average price without the impact of derivatives ($/Bbl) |
$ |
26.65 |
|
|
$ |
30.85 |
|
|
$ |
27.29 |
|
|
$ |
41.26 |
|
Impact from settled derivatives ($/Bbl) |
$ |
2.72 |
|
|
$ |
0.92 |
|
|
$ |
2.07 |
|
|
$ |
(2.80 |
) |
Average price, including settled derivatives ($/Bbl) |
$ |
29.37 |
|
|
$ |
31.77 |
|
|
$ |
29.36 |
|
|
$ |
38.46 |
|
Total: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Average price without the impact of derivatives ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
2.69 |
|
|
$ |
5.64 |
|
|
$ |
2.73 |
|
|
$ |
6.49 |
|
Impact from settled derivatives ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.51 |
|
|
$ |
(2.63 |
) |
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
|
$ |
(2.94 |
) |
Average price, including settled derivatives ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
3.20 |
|
|
$ |
3.01 |
|
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
|
$ |
3.55 |
|
Selected operating metrics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Lease operating expenses ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
Taxes other than income ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
Transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.91 |
|
|
$ |
0.99 |
|
|
$ |
0.91 |
|
|
$ |
1.00 |
|
Recurring cash general and administrative expenses ($/Mcfe) (non-GAAP) |
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
Interest expenses ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
Capital Investment
Capital investment was
Common Stock Repurchase Program
Gulfport repurchased approximately 490 thousand shares of common stock during the fourth quarter for approximately
Financial Position and Liquidity
As of December 31, 2023, Gulfport had approximately
Gulfport’s liquidity at December 31, 2023, totaled approximately
During 2023, the Company paid
2024 Guidance
Gulfport released operational guidance and outlook for the full year 2024, including full year expense estimates and projections for production and capital expenditures. Gulfport's 2024 guidance assumes commodity strip prices as of February 13, 2024, adjusted for applicable commodity and location differentials, and no property acquisitions or divestitures.
|
Year Ending |
||||||
|
December 31, 2024 |
||||||
|
Low |
|
High |
||||
Production |
|
|
|
||||
Average daily gas equivalent (MMcfe/day) |
|
1,045 |
|
|
|
1,080 |
|
% Gas |
~ |
||||||
|
|
|
|
||||
Realizations (before hedges) |
|
|
|
||||
Natural gas (differential to NYMEX settled price) ($/Mcf) |
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.35 |
) |
NGL (% of WTI) |
|
35 |
% |
|
|
40 |
% |
Oil (differential to NYMEX WTI) ($/Bbl) |
$ |
(4.75 |
) |
|
$ |
(5.75 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Expenses |
|
|
|
||||
Lease operating expense ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
Taxes other than income ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
Transportation, gathering, processing and compression ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.90 |
|
|
$ |
0.94 |
|
Recurring cash general and administrative(1,2) ($/Mcfe) |
$ |
0.11 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Total |
||||||
Capital expenditures (incurred) |
(in millions) |
||||||
D&C |
$ |
330 |
|
|
$ |
360 |
|
Maintenance leasehold and land |
$ |
50 |
|
|
$ |
60 |
|
Total base capital expenditures |
$ |
380 |
|
|
$ |
420 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
(1) Recurring cash G&A includes capitalization. It excludes non-cash stock compensation and expenses related to the continued administration of our prior Chapter 11 filing. |
|
|
|
||||
(2) This is a non-GAAP measure. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures and other disclosures are provided with the supplemental financial tables available on our website at www.gulfportenergy.com. |
|
|
|
||||
Derivatives
Gulfport enters into commodity derivative contracts on a portion of its expected future production volumes to mitigate the Company's exposure to commodity price fluctuations. For details, please refer to the "Derivatives" section provided with the supplemental financial tables available on our website at ir.gulfportenergy.com.
Estimated Proved Reserves
Gulfport reported year end 2023 total proved reserves of 4.2 Tcfe, consisting of 3.7 Tcf of natural gas, 18.6 MMBbls of oil and 62.8 MMBbls of natural gas liquids. Gulfport’s year end 2023 total proved reserves increased approximately
The table below provides information regarding the components driving the 2023 net proved reserve adjustments:
|
Total (Bcfe) |
|
Proved Reserves, December 31, 2022 |
4,048 |
|
Extensions and discoveries |
996 |
|
Revisions of prior reserve estimates |
(445 |
) |
Current production |
(385 |
) |
Proved Reserves, December 31, 2023 |
4,214 |
|
Proved developed reserves totaled approximately 2,203 Bcfe as of December 31, 2023 or approximately
The table below summarizes the Company’s 2023 net proved reserves:
|
December 31, 2023 |
||||||
|
Oil (MMBbl) |
|
Natural Gas (Bcf) |
|
NGL (MMBbl) |
|
Total (Bcfe) |
Utica & Marcellus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proved developed(1) |
2 |
|
1,520 |
|
7 |
|
1,576 |
Proved undeveloped(1) |
10 |
|
1,421 |
|
17 |
|
1,585 |
Total proved(1) |
13 |
|
2,941 |
|
24 |
|
3,160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCOOP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proved developed |
4 |
|
459 |
|
24 |
|
627 |
Proved undeveloped |
2 |
|
325 |
|
15 |
|
426 |
Total proved |
6 |
|
785 |
|
39 |
|
1,053 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proved developed |
6 |
|
1,980 |
|
31 |
|
2,203 |
Proved undeveloped |
12 |
|
1,746 |
|
32 |
|
2,011 |
Total proved |
19 |
|
3,725 |
|
63 |
|
4,214 |
Totals may not sum or recalculate due to rounding. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|||||||
(1) Includes approximately 17 Bcfe and 108 Bcfe of net developed and undeveloped reserves, respectively, located in the Marcellus target formation. |
|||||||
The following table reconciles the standardized measure of future net cash flows to the PV-10 value of Gulfport’s proved reserves:
|
Proved Developed |
|
Proved Undeveloped |
|
Total Proved |
|
($ in millions) |
||||
Estimated future net revenue(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
Present value of estimated future net revenue (PV-10)(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
Standardized measure(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
Totals may not sum due to rounding. |
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|||||
(1) Estimated future net revenue represents the estimated future revenue to be generated from the production of proved reserves, net of estimated production and future development costs, using prices and costs under existing economic conditions as of December 31, 2023, and assuming commodity prices as set forth below. For the purpose of determining prices used in our reserve reports, we used the unweighted arithmetic average of the prices on the first day of each month within the 12-month period ended December 31, 2023. The prices used in our PV-10 measure were the average West Texas Intermediate Spot price of |
|||||
Management uses PV-10, which is calculated without deducting estimated future income tax expenses, as a measure of the value of the Company's current proved reserves and to compare relative values among peer companies. We also understand that securities analysts and rating agencies use this measure in similar ways. While estimated future net revenue and the present value thereof are based on prices, costs and discount factors which may be consistent from company to company, the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is dependent on the unique tax situation of each individual company. PV-10 should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows or any other measure of a company's financial or operating performance presented in accordance with GAAP. |
|||||
A reconciliation of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows to PV-10 is presented above. Neither PV-10 nor the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows purport to represent the fair value of our proved oil and gas reserves. |
|||||
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Conference Call
Gulfport will host a teleconference and webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2023 results, as well as its 2024 outlook, beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. CT) on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
The conference call can be heard live through a link on the Gulfport website, www.gulfportenergy.com. In addition, you may participate in the conference call by dialing 888-428-7458 domestically or 862-298-0702 internationally. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Gulfport website and a telephone audio replay will be available from February 28, 2024 to March 13, 2024, by calling 877-660-6853 domestically or 201-612-7415 internationally and then entering the replay passcode 13744254.
Financial Statements and Guidance Documents
Fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings results and supplemental information regarding quarterly data such as production volumes, pricing, financial statements, and non-GAAP reconciliations are available on our website at ir.gulfportenergy.com.
Non-GAAP Disclosures
This news release includes non-GAAP financial measures. Such non-GAAP measures should be not 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 our website at ir.gulfportenergy.com.
About Gulfport
Gulfport is an independent natural gas-weighted exploration and production company focused on the exploration, acquisition and production of natural gas, crude oil and NGL in
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements other than statements of historical fact. They include statements regarding Gulfport’s current expectations, management's outlook guidance or forecasts of future events, projected cash flow and liquidity, inflation, share repurchases and other return of capital plans, its ability to enhance cash flow and financial flexibility, future production and commodity mix, plans and objectives for future operations, the ability of our employees, portfolio strength and operational leadership to create long-term value and the assumptions on which such statements are based. Gulfport believes the expectations and forecasts reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Gulfport can give no assurance they will prove to have been correct. They can be affected by inaccurate or changed assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Important risks, assumptions and other important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are described under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Gulfport’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and any updates to those factors set forth in Gulfport's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K (available at https://www.gulfportenergy.com/investors/sec-filings). Gulfport undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Investors should note that Gulfport announces financial information in SEC filings, press releases and public conference calls. Gulfport may use the Investors section of its website (www.gulfportenergy.com) to communicate with investors. It is possible that the financial and other information posted there could be deemed to be material information. The information on Gulfport’s website is not part of this filing.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240227526076/en/
Investor Contact:
Jessica Antle – Vice President, Investor Relations
jantle@gulfportenergy.com
405-252-4550
Source: Gulfport Energy Corporation
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