Texas Pacific Land Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE: TPL) reported its fourth quarter and full-year financial results for 2020, revealing a net income of $44.8 million for Q4, down 35.2% from Q4 2019, primarily due to decreased land and water sales. Full-year net income also dropped 44.8% to $176.0 million. The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.75 per share and a special cash dividend of $10.00 per sub-share. Despite challenges in the oil and gas sector and impacts from COVID-19, TPL reported its second-largest revenue year, $302.6 million, historically.

Positive

• Declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.75 per share.
• Special cash dividend of $10.00 per sub-share paid in December 2020.
• Generated positive operating results despite challenging market conditions.

Negative

• Net income decreased 35.2% in Q4 2020 compared to Q4 2019.
• Full-year net income down 44.8% due to lower land sales and water royalties.
• Total revenue fell to $302.6 million, down from $490.5 million in 2019.

Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE: TPL) (the “Company” or "TPL") today announced its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2020.

Conversion of the Trust

As previously announced, on January 11, 2021, we completed our reorganization from a business trust, Texas Pacific Land Trust, into Texas Pacific Land Corporation (the “Corporate Reorganization”), a corporation formed and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Any references herein to the Company, TPL, our, we or us with respect to periods prior to January 11, 2021 will be in reference to Texas Pacific Land Trust, and references to periods on that date and thereafter will be in reference to Texas Pacific Land Corporation. Any reference to Sub-share Certificates or Sub-shares are to the Sub-share Certificates of Proprietary Interest of Texas Pacific Land Trust.

Quarterly Dividend Declared

The board of directors (the "Board") has determined to pay dividends quarterly going forward in March, June, September and December of each year, subject to the discretion of the Board. On February 17, 2021, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.75 per share payable on March 15, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2021.

Share Repurchases

The Board has also decided that the Company will begin the repurchase of the Company's common stock consistent with TPL's long history of repurchasing Sub-shares. The timing and amount of share repurchases is subject to the discretion of the Board.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights:

• Net income of $44.8 million, or $5.77 per Sub-share Certificate ("Sub-share")

• Revenues of $74.3 million

• EBITDA of $59.0 million ⁽¹⁾

• Cash flows of $45.6 million from operating activities

• Special cash dividend of $10.00 per Sub-share on December 17, 2020, the Company's second special cash dividend in 2020

Full Year 2020 Highlights:

• Net income of $176.0 million, or $22.70 per Sub-share

• Revenues of $302.6 million, the second largest year in our history

• EBITDA of $234.1 million ⁽¹⁾

• Cash flows of $207.0 million from operating activities

• Total dividends of $26.00 per Sub-share, consisting of a regular cash dividend of $10.00 per Sub-share in March 2020, a special cash dividend of $6.00 per Sub-share in March 2020 and a special cash dividend of $10.00 per Sub-share in December 2020.

(1) Reconciliations of Non-GAAP measures are provided in the tables below.

“Despite the challenges presented during 2020, particularly with respect to the oil and gas industry, we continued to generate positive operating results and reported our second largest revenue year in the Company's history,” said Tyler Glover, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “With the completion of our Corporate Reorganization in January 2021, we are eager to begin the next chapter of history as a corporation and anticipate the benefits our new structure affords us.”

Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2020:

The Company reported net income of $44.8 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020, a decrease of 35.2% compared to net income of $69.1 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was impacted by decreased revenues, largely driven by a $20.5 million decrease in land sales and a $12.5 million decrease in water sales and royalties. The decrease in revenue was partially offset by a $6.1 million decrease in operating expenses over the same time period.

Revenues across all revenue streams were lower for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. Land sales for the fourth quarter of 2019 included a $22.0 million land exchange. There were no significant land transactions during the fourth quarter of 2020. Our revenues from land sales are subject to substantial fluctuation and vary from year to year. The decrease in water sales for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to 2019 is principally due to a 22.8% decrease in the average sales price per barrel of water over the same time period. Additionally, the fourth quarter of 2020 was impacted by an approximately $7.0 million deferral of water sales revenue related to take or pay contracts.

Operating expenses decreased approximately $6.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. The decreases were principally related to a $4.9 million decrease in incentive compensation expense, a $2.4 million decrease in water service-related expenses resulting from cost savings measures implemented during 2020 and a $1.8 million reduction in contract labor expense. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.6 million increase in legal and professional fees, primarily resulting from our Corporate Reorganization.

Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2020:

The Company reported net income of $176.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, a decrease of 44.8% compared to net income of $318.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, which included a $100 million land sale. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was principally impacted by decreased land sales and decreased water sales and royalties. Excluding the impact of the 2019 land sale (net of income tax), net income for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $239.7 million.

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $302.6 million compared to $490.5 million for the comparable period of 2019. All revenue streams for the year ended December 31, 2020 were lower than for the same period of 2019. Revenues were negatively impacted by the economic impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the declines in demand and crude oil prices that occurred during 2020. Many of our revenue streams are impacted by the capital decisions made by companies that operate in the areas where we own land. The most significant impact on our revenues related to decreased land sales for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019. Revenues for 2019 included a $100 million land sale. We had no comparable land sales in 2020. Water sales decreased $23.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019, principally due to an 18.7% decrease in the average sales price per barrel of water, a 6.8% decrease in the number of barrels sold and a $7.0 million deferral of water sales revenue during the fourth quarter related to take or pay contracts. Additionally, water royalties decreased $6.4 million over the same time period.

Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were approximately $5.6 million lower than the same period of 2019. The decrease is principally the result of a decrease of $6.6 million of water-related expenses resulting from cost savings measures implemented during 2020 and decreased legal and professional fees.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Market Conditions Update

The increased supply of oil and gas by member nations of OPEC+ and the uncertainty caused by the global spread of COVID 19 led to declines in crude oil prices and a reduction in global demand for oil and gas in 2020. The full impact of these events, which resulted in production curtailments and/or conservation of capital by the owners and operators of the oil and gas wells to which the Company’s royalty interests relate, is unknown at this time. These events have negatively affected the Company’s business and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.

During these uncertain times, we have continued to generate positive operating results and remain focused on meeting the operational needs of our customers while maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for our employees. Our existing information technology infrastructure has afforded us the opportunity to allow our corporate employees to work remotely. We have deployed additional safety and sanitization measures, including quarantine facilities for our field employees, if needed.

In an effort to decrease ongoing operational costs, we have implemented certain cost reduction measures which include, but are not limited to, a reduction in contract labor, conversion of portions of our water sourcing infrastructure to electric power and negotiated price reductions and discounts with certain vendors. We continue to monitor our customer base and outstanding accounts receivable balances as a means of minimizing any potential collection issues. As a royalty owner, we have no capital expenditure or operating expense burden for development of wells. Furthermore, our water operations currently have limited capital expenditure requirements, the amount and timing of which are entirely within our control.

About Texas Pacific Land Corporation

Texas Pacific Land Corporation is one of the largest landowners in the State of Texas with approximately 880,000 acres of land in West Texas. The Company is not an oil and gas producer, but its surface and royalty ownership allow revenue generation through the entire value chain of oil and gas development, including through fixed fee payments for use of our land, revenue for sales of materials (caliche) used in the construction of infrastructure, providing sourced water and treated produced water, revenue from our oil and gas royalty interests, and revenues related to saltwater disposal on our land. The Company also generates revenue from pipeline, power line and utility easements, commercial leases, material sales and seismic and temporary permits related to a variety of land uses including midstream infrastructure projects and hydrocarbon processing facilities.

Visit TPL at www.texaspacific.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on TPL’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, TPL, and therefore involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Generally, future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may” and the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Corporate Reorganization and other references to strategies, plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, assumptions, future operations and prospects and other statements that are not historical facts. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although TPL believes that plans, intentions and expectations, including those regarding the Corporate Reorganization, reflected in or suggested by any forward-looking statements made herein are reasonable, TPL may be unable to achieve such plans, intentions or expectations and actual results, and performance or achievements may vary materially and adversely from those envisaged in this news release due to a number of factors including, but not limited to: an inability to achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the Corporate Reorganization and distribution; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Corporate Reorganization; the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the global and U.S. economies as well as on TPL’s financial condition and business operations; the initiation or outcome of potential litigation; and any changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions. These risks, as well as other risks associated with TPL and the Corporate Reorganization are also more fully discussed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by TPL with the SEC on December 31, 2020, which includes an information statement describing the Corporate Reorganization and the distribution in more detail. You can access TPL’s filings with the SEC through the SEC website at www.sec.gov and TPL strongly encourages you to do so. Except as required by applicable law, TPL undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or other statements herein for revisions or changes after this communication is made.

REPORT OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,								Years Ended December 31,
		2020				2019				2020				2019
Revenues:
Oil and gas royalties		$	43,317			$	43,616			$	137,948			$	154,729
Easements and other surface-related income		22,068				27,727				92,038				115,362
Water sales and royalties		7,337				19,882				54,862				84,949
Land sales		1,528				22,000				17,383				135,020
Other operating revenue		54				107				323				436
Total revenues		74,304				113,332				302,554				490,496
Expenses:
Salaries and related employee expenses		4,938				12,299				32,173				35,041
Water service-related expenses		3,028				5,385				14,233				20,808
General and administrative expenses		2,461				2,663				9,751				9,540
Legal and professional fees		3,823				1,205				10,778				16,403
Land sales expenses		1,200				—				3,973				225
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		3,622				3,620				14,395				8,906
Total operating expenses		19,072				25,172				85,303				90,923
Operating income		55,232				88,160				217,251				399,573
Other income, net		105				911				2,411				2,682
Income before income taxes		55,337				89,071				219,662				402,255
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current		12,849				14,007				46,002				57,492
Deferred		(2,303)				5,942				(2,389)				26,035
Total income tax expense		10,546				19,949				43,613				83,527
Net income		$	44,791			$	69,122			$	176,049			$	318,728
Net income per Sub-share Certificate - basic and diluted		$	5.77			$	8.91			$	22.70			$	41.09
Weighted average number of Sub-share Certificates outstanding		7,756,156				7,756,156				7,756,156				7,756,437

SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS (in thousands) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2020							2019
Revenues:
Land and resource management:
Oil and gas royalties		$	43,317			58	%		$	43,616			38	%
Easements and other surface-related income		8,092				11	%		13,382				12	%
Land sales and other operating revenue		1,582				2	%		22,107				19	%
		52,991				71	%		79,105				69	%
Water services and operations:
Water sales and royalties		7,337				10	%		19,882				18	%
Easements and other surface-related income		13,976				19	%		14,345				13	%
		21,313				29	%		34,227				31	%
Total consolidated revenues		$	74,304			100	%		$	113,332			100	%
Net income:
Land and resource management		$	35,780			80	%		$	54,144			78	%
Water services and operations		9,011				20	%		14,978				22	%
Total consolidated net income		$	44,791			100	%		$	69,122			100	%

		Years Ended December 31,
		2020							2019
Revenues:
Land and resource management:
Oil and gas royalties		$	137,948			46	%		$	154,729			31	%
Easements and other surface-related income		39,478				13	%		73,143				15	%
Land sales and other operating revenue		17,706				6	%		135,456				28	%
		195,132				65	%		363,328				74	%
Water services and operations:
Water sales and royalties		54,862				18	%		84,949				17	%
Easements and other surface-related income		52,560				17	%		42,219				9	%
		107,422				35	%		127,168				26	%
Total consolidated revenues		$	302,554			100	%		$	490,496			100	%
Net income:
Land and resource management		$	127,977			73	%		$	258,366			81	%
Water services and operations		48,072				27	%		60,362				19	%
Total consolidated net income		$	176,049			100	%		$	318,728			100	%

NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND DEFINITIONS

In addition to amounts presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), we also present certain supplemental non-GAAP measurements. These measurements are not to be considered more relevant or accurate than the measurements presented in accordance with GAAP. In compliance with requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), our non-GAAP measurements are reconciled to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP performance measure. For all non-GAAP measurements, neither the SEC nor any other regulatory body has passed judgment on these non-GAAP measurements.

EBITDA

EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measurement of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization. Its purpose is to highlight earnings without finance, taxes, and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, and its use is limited to specialized analysis. We have presented EBITDA because we believe that it is a useful supplement to net income as an indicator of operating performance.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended December 31,								Years Ended December 31,
		2020				2019				2020				2019
Net income		$	44,791			$	69,122			$	176,049			$	318,728
Add:
Income tax expense		10,546				19,949				43,613				83,527
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		3,622				3,620				14,395				8,906
EBITDA		$	58,959			$	92,691			$	234,057			$	411,161

 

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FAQ

What was Texas Pacific Land Corporation's net income for Q4 2020?

Texas Pacific Land Corporation reported a net income of $44.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2020.

How did TPL's full-year revenue for 2020 compare to 2019?

The full-year revenue for 2020 was $302.6 million, down from $490.5 million in 2019.

What dividends did Texas Pacific Land Corporation declare in 2021?

TPL declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.75 per share and a special cash dividend of $10.00 per sub-share.

What were the key factors affecting TPL's financial performance in 2020?

Key factors included decreased land sales, water sales, and royalties, all impacted by COVID-19 and market conditions.