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Comstock Resources Second Quarter 2020 Results

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   |    Wednesday,August 05,2020

Comstock Resources, Inc. reported its Q2 2020 results.

Financial Results

For the second quarter of 2020, Comstock reported net loss available to common stockholders of $60.0 million or $0.29 per share. The loss was primarily related to an unrealized loss on the mark to market value of the Company's derivative financial instruments as future natural gas prices have improved substantially since March 31, 2020. Net income available to common stockholders as adjusted to exclude the unrealized hedging losses and certain items not related to normal operating activities for the second quarter of 2020 was $1.7 million or $0.01 per diluted share. The unrealized derivative loss was $65.6 million in the second quarter and the other items include $5.4 million in non-cash interest amortization resulting from adjusting debt assumed in the Covey Park acquisition to fair value; $2.9 million of non-cash accretion resulting from adjusting the preferred stock issued in connection with the Covey Park acquisition to fair value; and $0.9 million for a loss on early extinguishment of debt.

Comstock produced 116.5 billion cubic feet ("Bcf") of natural gas and 359,142 barrels of oil or 118.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent ("Bcfe") in the second quarter of 2020. Natural gas production averaged 1,280 million cubic feet ("MMcf") per day, an increase of 185% over natural gas production in the second quarter of 2019. The growth in natural gas production was primarily attributable to the Covey Park acquisition completed in July 2019 and the successful results from Comstock's Haynesville shale drilling activities in 2019 and 2020. Oil production in the second quarter of 2020 decreased to 3,947 barrels of oil per day from 7,628 barrels per day produced in the second quarter of 2019 due primarily to the expected production decline of the Bakken Shale properties acquired in 2018 as wells as oil production shut-in in the second quarter due to low oil prices. 23% of the Company's net oil production was shut in or curtailed during the second quarter.

Comstock's average realized natural gas price in the second quarter of 2020, including realized hedging gains, decreased to $1.88 per Mcf as compared to $2.29 per Mcf realized in the second quarter of 2019. The Company's average realized oil price in the second quarter of 2020, including realized hedging gains, decreased to $37.89 per barrel as compared to $52.12 per barrel in the second quarter of 2019. Oil and gas sales were $232.8 million (including realized hedging gains) in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to $130.1 million in the second quarter of 2019. EBITDAX, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, exploration expense and other noncash expenses, of $162.1 million in the second quarter of 2020 increased by 74% over EBITDAX of $93.2 million for the second quarter of 2019. The Company's operating cash flow generated in the second quarter of 2020 of $117.5 million increased 77% over operating cash flow of $66.3 million in the second quarter of 2019.

Financial Results for 1H20

For the first six months of 2020, Comstock reported net loss available to common stockholders of $30.0 million or $0.15 per share. Net income available to common stockholders as adjusted to exclude certain items not related to normal operating activities for the first six months of 2020 was $28.0 million or $0.14 per diluted share. These items included $49.1 million in unrealized hedging losses, $10.7 million in non-cash interest amortization resulting from adjusting debt assumed in the Covey Park acquisition to fair value; $5.4 million of non-cash accretion resulting from adjusting the preferred stock issued in connection with the Covey Park acquisition to fair value and $0.9 million for a loss on early extinguishment of debt.

Comstock produced 239.3 Bcf of natural gas and 813,637 barrels of oil or 244.1 Bcfe in the first six months of 2020. Natural gas production averaged 1,315 MMcf per day, an increase of 221% over natural gas production in the first six months of 2019. Oil production in the first six months of 2020 decreased to 4,471 barrels of oil per day from 8,313 barrels per day produced in first six months of 2019. 19% of the Company's net oil production was shut-in or curtailed in the first six months of 2020.

Comstock's average realized natural gas price in the first six months of 2020, including realized hedging gains, decreased to $1.96 per Mcf as compared to $2.55 per Mcf realized in the first six months of 2019. The Company's average realized oil price in the first six months of 2020, including realized hedging gains, decreased to $42.59 per barrel as compared to $48.71 per barrel in the first six months of 2019. Oil and gas sales were $504.1 million (including realized hedging gains) in the first six months of 2020 as compared to sales of $262.3 million in the first six months of 2019. EBITDAX of $363.7 million in the first six months of 2020 increased by 91% over EBITDAX of $190.2 million for the first six months of 2019. The Company's operating cash flow generated in the first six months of 2020 of $273.4 million increased 100% over operating cash flow of $137.0 million in the first six months of 2019.

Drilling Results

Total expenditures during the first six months of 2020 for drilling and development activities were $205.2 million, including $74.7 million spent in the second quarter. Comstock spent $201.3 million to develop its Haynesville and Bossier shale properties, comprised of $183.5 million on drilling and completing wells and an additional $17.8 million on other development activity. Comstock drilled 26 (20.1 net) horizontal operated Haynesville shale wells during the first six months of 2020, which had an average lateral length of approximately 8,996 feet. Comstock also participated in 12 (1.0 net) non-operated Haynesville shale wells in the first six months of 2020. During the first six months of 2020, Comstock turned 36 (17.3 net) Haynesville shale wells to sales.

Since its last operational update, Comstock has not put any new Haynesville Shale wells on production. In April, Comstock released its completion crews in order to delay new production coming on line during the summer months given the expectations for low natural gas prices. As a result of the low activity in the second quarter, Comstock currently has 35 (18.9 net) wells drilled but not completed. Completion activity has been resumed in the third quarter and Comstock currently expects to turn approximately 25.0 net wells to sales in the last six months of 2020.