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Pioneer Natural Resources Second Quarter 2021 Results

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   |    Wednesday,August 04,2021

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. reported its Q2 2021 results.

Pioneer reported second quarter net income attributable to common stockholders of $380 million, or $1.54 per diluted share. These results include the effects of noncash mark-to-market adjustments and certain other unusual items. Excluding these items, non-GAAP adjusted income for the second quarter was $629 million, or $2.55 per diluted share. Cash flow from operating activities for the second quarter was $1.5 billion.

Highlights:

• Delivered strong second quarter free cash flow¹ of $616 million

• Accelerated and increased variable dividend program; future variable dividend payments² up to 75% of prior quarter's free cash flow after deducting the base dividend paid during the quarter

• Declared inaugural variable dividend of $1.51 per share to be paid during the third quarter; represents approximately 75% of second quarter free cash flow after deducting the base dividend paid in April

• Averaged second quarter oil production of 363 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBOPD), in the upper half of guidance

• Averaged second quarter production of 629 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOEPD), near the top end of guidance

CEO Scott D. Sheffield stated, "Pioneer delivered a strong quarter as we integrated DoublePoint operations into our asset base, while continuing to execute one of the most efficient capital programs in the industry.

"We are witnessing strong oil demand growth as the global macroeconomic environment continues to improve, with a corresponding improvement in commodity prices. As a result of the improved commodity price outlook, which is expected to further strengthen our balance sheet, we have accelerated and increased our variable dividend return framework with the declaration of our inaugural variable dividend.

"This inaugural variable dividend, combined with our base dividend, represents a significant return of capital to shareholders, with approximately 80% of our second quarter free cash flow being returned to shareholders. This announcement accelerates our long-term commitment to return capital to shareholders under our investment framework. Over the next six years, we expect to generate in excess of $23 billion of cumulative free cash flow¹ based on current commodity prices, creating a compelling and durable value proposition for our shareholders."

Financial Highlights

Pioneer maintains a strong balance sheet, with unrestricted cash on hand at the end of the second quarter of $93 million and net debt of $6.8 billion. The Company had $2.1 billion of liquidity as of June 30, 2021, comprised of $93 million of unrestricted cash and a $2.0 billion unsecured credit facility (undrawn as of June 30, 2021).

During the second quarter, the Company's drilling, completion and facilities capital expenditures totaled $883 million. The Company's total capital expenditures³, including water infrastructure, totaled $900 million.

Cash flow from operating activities during the second quarter was $1.5 billion, leading to free cash flow¹ of $616 million for the second quarter.

The rebound in global oil demand has led to higher commodity prices, further strengthening Pioneer's balance sheet and enabling the Company to accelerate its first variable dividend payment from the first quarter of 2022. The Company now expects to distribute a quarterly variable dividend of up to 75% of the prior quarter's free cash flow after deducting the base dividend paid during the quarter². In light of the improved outlook, the Board of Directors has declared Pioneer's inaugural variable dividend of $1.51 per share, or approximately $370 million being returned to shareholders, representing approximately 75% of the Company's second quarter free cash flow after deducting the base dividend distributed in April. The Company believes this differentiated return of capital strategy, which combines a base dividend with a substantial variable dividend, creates significant value for shareholders².

Pioneer continues to capture the expected annual synergies from the acquisition of Parsley Energy Inc. (Parsley) and DoublePoint Energy (DoublePoint), with expected combined annual synergies totaling $525 million and a PV-10 of greater than $3 billion over ten years. The Company is progressing on these synergies, with $160 million of annual interest savings and $115 million of general and administrative (G&A) savings between Parsley and DoublePoint being fully realized. The operational synergies related to both transactions continue to progress and are expected to be fully realized by year-end 2021.

Financial Results

For the second quarter of 2021, the average realized price for oil was $64.55 per barrel. The average realized price for natural gas liquids (NGLs) was $27.95 per barrel, and the average realized price for gas was $2.69 per thousand cubic feet. These prices exclude the effects of derivatives.

Production costs, including taxes, averaged $8.18 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) expense averaged $11.31 per BOE. Exploration and abandonment costs were $10 million. G&A expense was $75 million. Interest expense was $41 million. The net cash flow impact related to purchases and sales of oil and gas, including firm transportation, was a loss of $40 million, or a loss $53 million when including the cash flow impact from the Company's firm transportation marketing contracts that are accounted for as derivatives. Other expense was $47 million, or $14 million excluding unusual items⁴.

Operations Update

During the second quarter, Pioneer continued to deliver strong operational efficiency gains that enabled the Company to place 157 horizontal wells on production. Drilling and completion efficiencies continued to improve, with an increase of greater than 65% drilled feet per day and 75% completed feet per day when compared to 2017 averages. The Company continues to see benefits of utilizing simulfrac technology and now plans to run two simulfrac fleets during the second half of 2021. These efficiency and cost improvements in drilling and completions continue to benefit the Company's overall capital efficiency and dampen inflationary pressures. Additionally, Pioneer continues to upgrade the acquired Parsley and DoublePoint facilities to Pioneer's high operational and environmental standards.

2021 Outlook

The Company expects its 2021 drilling, completions and facilities capital budget to range between $2.95 billion to $3.25 billion. An additional $100 million and $50 million is budgeted for integration expenses related to the acquisition of Parsley and DoublePoint, respectively, resulting in a total 2021 capital budget³ range of $3.1 billion to $3.4 billion. The Company expects its capital program to be fully funded from forecasted 2021 cash flow⁵ of approximately $6.45 billion.

During 2021, the Company plans to operate an average of 22 to 24 horizontal drilling rigs in the Permian Basin, including a one-rig average program in the Delaware Basin and a three-rig average program in the southern Midland Basin joint venture area. The 2021 capital program is expected to place 470 to 510 wells on production. Pioneer expects 2021 oil production of 351 to 366 MBOPD and total production of 605 to 631 MBOEPD.

Pioneer's investment framework prioritizes free cash flow generation and return of capital to shareholders. This capital allocation strategy is intended to create long-term value by optimizing the reinvestment of cash flow to accelerate the Company's free cash flow profile. The Company expects its reinvestment rate to be between 50% to 60%, generating increased free cash flow. This investment framework is expected to deliver a mid-teens total annual return, inclusive of a strong and growing base dividend, a variable dividend and high-return oil growth of up to five percent. The Company believes this differentiated strategy positions Pioneer to be competitive across industries.

The Company's financial and derivative mark-to-market results and open derivatives positions are outlined in the attached schedules.

Third Quarter 2021 Guidance

Third quarter 2021 oil production is forecasted to average between 380 to 395 MBOPD and total production is expected to average between 660 to 685 MBOEPD. Production costs are expected to average $7.25 per BOE to $8.75 per BOE, with the increase primarily reflecting the impact of higher forecasted commodity prices on production taxes and gas and NGL processing fees. DD&A expense is expected to average $10.75 per BOE to $12.75 per BOE. Total exploration and abandonment expense is forecasted to be $10 million to $20 million. G&A expense is expected to be $67 million to $77 million. Interest expense is expected to be $39 million to $44 million. Other expense is forecasted to be $15 million to $30 million. Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations is expected to be $2 million to $5 million. The cash flow impact related to purchases and sales of oil and gas, including firm transportation, is expected to be a loss of $35 million to $65 million, based on forward oil price estimates for the quarter. The Company's effective income tax rate is expected to be between 22% to 27%. Cash income taxes are expected to be $5 million to $15 million, principally related to forecasted state income taxes.

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

Pioneer views sustainability as a multidisciplinary focus that balances economic growth, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The Company emphasizes developing natural resources in a manner that protects surrounding communities and preserves the environment.

Consistent with Pioneer's sustainable practices, the Company has incorporated greenhouse gas (GHG) and methane emission intensity reduction goals into its ESG strategy, with goals to reduce the Company's GHG emissions intensity by 25% and methane emissions intensity by 40% by 2030. These emission intensity reduction targets are aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures criteria for target setting.

In addition, the Company is building on its leadership position related to minimizing flaring and has formally adopted a goal to maintain the Company's flaring intensity to less than 1% of natural gas produced. Pioneer also plans to end routine flaring, as defined by the World Bank, by 2030 with an aspiration to reach this goal by 2025.

Socially, Pioneer maintains a proactive safety culture, supports a diverse workforce and inspires teamwork to drive innovation. The Board of Directors and its committees provide director-level oversight of these activities. These committees help to promote a culture of continuous improvement in the Company's diversity, equity and inclusion practices, along with the Company's safety and environmental practices. Consistent with the high priority placed on Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and ESG, the Board of Directors has increased the executive annual incentive compensation weighting for these metrics from 10% to 20% for 2021.

In addition to the increased weighting towards HSE and ESG metrics, Pioneer's executive incentive compensation continues to be aligned with shareholder interests. Beginning in 2021, return on capital employed (ROCE) has been included as an incentive compensation metric, along with cash return on capital invested (CROCI), which was added in 2020. These metrics have a combined weighting of 20%, while production and reserves goals previously included as incentive compensation metrics have been removed.

Pioneer has amended executive equity compensation as well, with the S&P 500 index being added into the total stockholder return (TSR) peer group for performance awards beginning in 2021, and for the second consecutive year, the long-term equity compensation for the Company's Chief Executive Officer will be 100% in performance awards, with 100% of such awards at risk based on performance relative to the TSR peer group. These updates to Pioneer's executive incentive and equity compensation programs demonstrate the Company's continuing commitment to aligning total executive compensation with the interests of our shareholders.vvv