EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

     LOGO    Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

      NEWS RELEASE
       
       

1200 Enclave Parkway, Houston, Texas 77077

       

P. O. Box 4544, Houston, Texas 77210-4544

       

(281) 589-4600

 

FOR RELEASE   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
April 28, 2005   Scott Schroeder (281) 589-4993

 

CABOT OIL & GAS REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

 

HOUSTON, April 28, 2005 - Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today announced first quarter results, including net income of $20.8 million, or $.43 per share, cash flow from operations of $108.0 million and discretionary cash flow of $82.7 million. Each of these compares favorably to the prior year’s first quarter when the Company recorded net income totaling $19.0 million, or $.39 per share, cash flow from operations of $97.6 million and discretionary cash flow of $72.3 million. The per share results reflect the three for two split of the Company’s common stock on March 31, 2005.

 

“Due to the significant rise in the forward curve for oil prices at March 31, 2005, the current quarter net income figure was reduced for this future impact (that includes the expectation of continued high oil prices),” stated Dan O. Dinges, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The mark-to-market requirement for derivatives had a $4.6 million, or approximately $.09 per share, after-tax impact on the results,” (see attached table on mark-to-market matters).

 

Continued high commodity prices combined with production increases year-over-year drove Company realizations. For natural gas prices Cabot realized $5.71 per mcf, up 10 percent over last year’s comparable period. Crude oil prices during the same time period rose 36 percent to an overall realization of $42.11 per barrel. Also contributing to the improved results were increased production levels versus last year’s first quarter. Total equivalent production increased 1 percent driven by a 0.7 Bcf increase in natural gas production, primarily from advances in the East region. “In addition to the year-over-year production gains, the daily volume improved over those realized in the fourth quarter of 2004,” said Dinges.


Overall operating expenses were up 5 percent between reporting periods, due primarily to increases in DD&A, exploration, operations and G&A expenses. “Employee-related cost was the main factor in the increases for operations and G&A expense as cost associated with retirement benefits continue to escalate,” commented Dinges.

 

Dinges added, “Overall I am pleased with our progress that includes a diversified drilling program across North America and a balance sheet that affords us a high degree of flexibility. Our transition towards longer-lived, more predictable opportunities is well underway. Combine this with $59.6 million of cash on the balance sheet that results in a net debt to total capitalization of 31.2 percent, and you have a platform for further value creation.”

 

Conference Call

 

Listen in live to Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation’s 2005 first quarter financial and operating results discussion with financial analysts on Friday, April 29, at 9:30am EDT (8:30am CDT) at www.cabotog.com. A teleconference replay will also be available at (800) 642-1687, (U.S./Canada) or (706) 645-9291 (International), passcode 5486532. A replay will be available from Friday, April 29 through Friday, May 6, 2005. The latest financial guidance, including the Company’s hedge positions, along with a replay of the webcast, which will be archived for one year, are available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.cabotog.com.

 

* * *

 

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading independent natural gas producer with substantial interests in the Gulf Coast, including Texas and Louisiana; the West, with the Rocky Mountains and Mid-Continent; the East and an expansion effort in Canada. For additional information, visit the Company’s Internet homepage at www.cabotog.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The statements regarding future financial performance and results and the other statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, market factors, the market price (including regional basis differentials) of natural gas and oil, results of future drilling and marketing activity, future production and costs, and other factors detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 3

 

OPERATING DATA

 

     Quarter Ended
March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

PRODUCED NATURAL GAS (Bcf) & OIL (MBbl)

                

Natural Gas

                

Gulf Coast

     7.4       7.7  

West

     5.7       5.6  

East

     5.1       4.4  

Canada

     0.2       —    
    


 


Total

     18.4       17.7  
    


 


Crude/Condensate/Ngl

                

Gulf Coast

     406       494  

West

     37       41  

East

     5       7  

Canada

     4       —    
    


 


Total

     452       542  
    


 


Equivalent Production (Bcfe)

     21.1       20.9  

PRICES

                

Average Produced Gas Sales Price ($/Mcf)

                

Gulf Coast

   $ 6.03     $ 5.14  

West

   $ 4.73     $ 4.83  

East

   $ 6.35     $ 5.80  

Canada

   $ 5.57     $  —    

Total

   $ 5.71     $ 5.21  

Crude/Condensate Price ($/Bbl)

                

Gulf Coast

   $ 41.50     $ 30.70  

West

   $ 48.57     $ 34.34  

East

   $ 48.06     $ 31.86  

Canada

   $ 38.64     $  —    

Total

   $ 42.11     $ 30.99  

WELLS DRILLED

                

Gross

     44       38  

Net

     28       29  

Gross Success Rate

     86 %     100 %


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 4

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

    

Quarter Ended

March 31,


     2005

   2004

Operating Revenues

             

Natural Gas Production (1)

   $ 104,272    $ 90,379

Brokered Natural Gas

     26,492      31,559

Crude Oil and Condensate (1)

     11,978      12,767

Other

     1,332      1,899
    

  

       144,074      136,604

Operating Expenses

             

Brokered Natural Gas Cost

     23,298      28,721

Direct Operations - Field and Pipeline

     14,618      12,078

Exploration

     19,369      16,144

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     30,067      26,812

General and Administrative (excluding Stock-based Compensation)

     7,925      6,245

Stock-based Compensation (2)

     1,035      471

Taxes Other Than Income

     9,718      10,102
    

  

       106,030      100,573

Gain on Sale of Assets

     —        59
    

  

Income from Operations

     38,044      36,090

Interest Expense and Other

     4,988      5,377
    

  

Income Before Income Taxes

     33,056      30,713

Income Tax Expense

     12,294      11,702
    

  

Net Income

   $ 20,762    $ 19,011
    

  

Net Earnings Per Share - Basic (3)

   $ 0.43    $ 0.39

Average Common Shares Outstanding (3)

     48,724      48,597

(1) See the “Impact of Mark-to-Market Accounting Requirements” table for additional information.
(2) Includes the impact of the Company’s performance share mark-to-market requirement and restricted stock amortization.
(3) Reflects the 3-for-2 split of the Company’s Common Stock on March 31, 2005.


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 5

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

    

March 31,

2005


   

December 31,

2004


 

Assets

                

Current Assets

   $ 218,040     $ 194,679  

Property, Equipment and Other Assets

     1,018,887       1,001,422  

Deferred Income Taxes

     15,163       14,855  
    


 


Total Assets

   $ 1,252,090     $ 1,210,956  
    


 


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                

Current Liabilities

   $ 222,313     $ 196,889  

Long-Term Debt

     250,000       250,000  

Deferred Income Taxes

     255,005       247,376  

Other Liabilities

     61,728       61,029  

Stockholders’ Equity

     463,044       455,662  
    


 


Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 1,252,090     $ 1,210,956  
    


 


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)  
(In thousands)  
    

Quarter Ended

March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

                

Net Income

   $ 20,762     $ 19,011  

Change in Derivative Fair Value

     7,512       5,619  

Income Charges Not Requiring Cash

     31,990       27,076  

Gain on Sale of Assets

     —         (59 )

Deferred Income Tax Expense

     3,022       4,549  

Changes in Assets and Liabilities

     25,362       25,230  

Exploration Expense

     19,369       16,144  
    


 


Net Cash Provided by Operations

     108,017       97,570  
    


 


Cash Flows From Investing Activities

                

Capital Expenditures

     (41,070 )     (35,711 )

Proceeds from Sale of Assets

     588       —    

Exploration Expense

     (19,369 )     (16,144 )
    


 


Net Cash Used by Investing

     (59,851 )     (51,855 )
    


 


Cash Flows From Financing Activities

                

Sale of Common Stock Proceeds

     2,731       6,656  

Dividends Paid

     (1,339 )     (1,296 )
    


 


Net Cash Provided by Financing

     1,392       5,360  
    


 


Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 49,558     $ 51,075  
    


 



CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 6

 

Selected Item Review and Reconciliation of Net Income and Earnings Per Share

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

    

Quarter Ended

March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

As Reported - Net Income

   $ 20,762     $ 19,011  

Reversal of Selected Items, Net of Tax:

                

Gain on Sale of Assets

     —         (37 )

Change in Derivative Fair Value

     4,647       3,478  
    


 


Net Income Including Reversal of Selected Items

   $ 25,409     $ 22,452  
    


 


As Reported - Net Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.43     $ 0.39  

Per Share Impact of Reversing Selected Items

     0.09       0.07  
    


 


Net Earnings Per Share Including Reversal of Selected Items

   $ 0.52     $ 0.46  
    


 


Average Common Shares Outstanding

     48,724       48,597  
Discretionary Cash Flow Calculation and Reconciliation  
(In thousands)  
    

Quarter Ended

March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Discretionary Cash Flow

                

As Reported - Net Income

   $ 20,762     $ 19,011  

Plus:

                

Change in Derivative Fair Value

     7,512       5,619  

Income Charges Not Requiring Cash

     31,990       27,076  

Gain on Sale of Assets

     —         (59 )

Deferred Income Tax Expense

     3,022       4,549  

Exploration Expense

     19,369       16,144  
    


 


Discretionary Cash Flow

     82,655       72,340  

Plus: Changes in Assets and Liabilities

     25,362       25,230  
    


 


Net Cash Provided by Operations

   $ 108,017     $ 97,570  
    


 


Net Debt Reconciliation  
(In thousands)  
    

March 31,

2005


   

December 31,

2004


 

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

   $ 20,000     $ 20,000  

Long-Term Debt

     250,000       250,000  
    


 


Total Debt

   $ 270,000     $ 270,000  

Stockholders’ Equity

     463,044       455,662  
    


 


Total Capital

   $ 733,044     $ 725,662  

Total Debt

   $ 270,000     $ 270,000  

Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (59,584 )     (10,026 )
    


 


Net Debt

   $ 210,416     $ 259,974  

Net Debt

   $ 210,416     $ 259,974  

Stockholders’ Equity

     463,044       455,662  
    


 


Total Adjusted Capital

   $ 673,460     $ 715,636  

Total Debt to Total Capital Ratio

     36.8 %     37.2 %

Less: Impact of Cash and Cash Equivalents

     5.6 %     0.9 %
    


 


Net Debt to Capitalization Ratio

     31.2 %     36.3 %


CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 7

 

Impact of Mark-to-Market Accounting Requirements

(In thousands)

 

     Quarter Ended
March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Unrealized Loss on Derivatives (1)

                

Natural Gas

   $ (560 )   $ (1,724 )

Crude Oil

     (6,952 )     (3,895 )

Incentive Stock Compensation Expense (2)

                

Performance Shares

     (412 )     —    
    


 


Mark-to-Market Impact, Before Income Tax

   $ (7,924 )   $ (5,619 )

Mark-to-Market Impact, Income Tax

     3,022       2,141  
    


 


Mark-to-Market Impact on Net Income

   $ (4,902 )   $ (3,478 )
    


 



(1) These amounts represent the unrealized loss associated with the mark-to-market valuation of open positions which do not qualify for hedge accounting or are ineffective. These amounts are reflected in the respective line items of Operating Revenues. Therefore, the computation of our reported realized commodity prices can be obtained by adding the loss from the respective Operating Revenues line item and dividing by reported production.
(2) This amount relates to the mark-to-market valuation of the Company’s performance share incentive stock compensation awards that is reflected in general and administrative expense. At March 31, 2005 the Company recognized stock compensation expense based on Cabot’s ranking against a predetermined peer group based on total shareholder return. Cabot must calculate its liability at the balance sheet date under the assumption that its relative ranking remains constant throughout the measurement period (January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2006), creating an assumed ultimate liability which is then amortized over the measurement period (percent payout multiplied by shares multiplied by stock price at reported balance sheet date multiplied by the pro-rata time expired in the measurement period). Expense recognition will fluctuate between reporting periods due to the valuation of the performance shares at the reported balance sheet date.