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Ring Energy, Inc., First Quarter 2023 Results

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   |    Friday,May 12,2023

Ring Energy, Inc., announced first quarter 2023 results.

Highlights

  • Grew first quarter 2023 sales volumes 2% to a record 18,292 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("Boe/d") (69% oil) from 17,856 Boe/d (68% oil) for the fourth quarter of 2022;
    • First quarter 2023 sales volumes were at the high-end of the Company's guidance range of 17,800 to 18,300 Boe/d;
  • Reported net income of $32.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2023, versus net income of $14.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted share' in the fourth quarter of 2022;
    • First quarter 2023 included a gain on derivative contracts of $9.5 million while fourth quarter 2022 included a loss on derivative contracts of $19.3 million;
  • Increased Adjusted Net Income1 by 15% to $25.0 million, or $0.14 per share, for the first quarter of 2023 from $21.8 million, or $0.13 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2022;
  • Generated record Adjusted EBITDA1 of $58.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, which was 4% higher than the previous record set in the fourth quarter of 2022 of $56.3 million;
  • Delivered Free Cash Flow1 of $10.5 million and record Cash Flow from Operations1 of $49.4 million in the first quarter of 2023;
    • Remained cash flow positive for the 14th consecutive quarter;
  • Ended first quarter 2023 with liquidity of $179.0 million and a Leverage Ratio2 of 1.65x;
    • Under the terms of the Stronghold property acquisition (the "Stronghold Transaction") that closed on August 31, 2022, Ring made the final deferred purchase price payment of $15.0 million during the first quarter of 2023 and a payment of $3.5 million for post-closing adjustments;
  • Commenced its 2023 development program in January, including drilling and completing four horizontal ("Hz") wells in the Northwest Shelf ("NWS") and three vertical wells in the Central Basin Platform ("CBP"), as well as performed six recompletions in the CBP;
  • Provided guidance for the second quarter and reiterated its full year 2023 outlook for sales volumes, operating expenses and capital spending;
    • Expects second quarter 2023 sales volumes of 17,900 to 18,400 Boe/d and full year 2023 sales volumes of 17,800 to 18,800 Boe/d; and
  • Entered into agreements in April 2023 with certain holders of the Company's outstanding warrants for the early exercise of an aggregate of 14.5 million warrants to purchase a like amount of common shares at a reduced exercise price of $0.62 per share (original exercise price of $0.80 per share) that resulted in gross cash proceeds of approximately $9.0 million. Following the full exercise, approximately 78,200 warrants to purchase shares of Ring Common Stock remained outstanding.
Ring Energy reported operational and financial results for the first quarter of 2023. In addition, the Company provided second quarter guidance and reiterated its full year 2023 outlook.

Mr. Paul D. McKinney, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our first quarter operational and financial results mark a positive start to 2023. Supported by the benefits of the Stronghold Transaction executed in the second half of 2022 and the continued performance of our legacy assets, we delivered record sales volumes during the first quarter and generated record Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow from Operations, despite a decrease in realized oil and natural gas pricing."

Mr. McKinney continued, "Our immediate focus is on the efficient execution of our 2023 capital spending program and maximizing our Free Cash Flow to pay down debt. During the first quarter, we drilled and completed seven wells and recompleted six wells and the collective results were at the high end of our production guidance for the period. We intend to remain focused and disciplined in this regard for the rest of the year, prioritizing capital to high rate-of-return drilling and recompletion projects, which should allow us to maintain or slightly grow our production over fourth quarter 2022 levels. We believe targeting excess Free Cash Flow to pay down debt will drive long-term value for our stockholders."

Mr. McKinney concluded, "Looking forward, we are committed to positioning the Company to return capital to stockholders and our efforts, both short-term and long, are planned with this in mind. We have in the past shared our belief that our stock will be more appealing to a wider cross-section of the investment community with greater size and scale. We have also said that our absolute debt level justifies our continued focus on improving the balance sheet. These two beliefs drive our strategic focus on pursuing accretive, balance sheet enhancing acquisitions and maximizing Free Cash Flow through our organic capital spending plans and current budget. The Stronghold acquisition is an example of the transformational impact a strategic transaction can have on improving per-share metrics and the balance sheet. Our recent announcement concerning the accelerated exercise of outstanding warrants is another transaction supporting this strategy. By simplifying and enhancing our capital structure through those transactions, we increased the Company's public float, accelerated debt pay-down, and we believe trading liquidity in our stock should improve. So the bottom line is this, we believe staying the course with our sense of urgency, our resolve, and our commitment to our value focused, proven strategy better prepares the Company to manage the risks and uncertainties associated with the price volatility our industry experiences and will generate sustainable and competitive returns for our stockholders."

Financial Overview

For the first quarter of 2023, the Company reported net income of $32.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, which included a $10.1 million before tax non-cash unrealized commodity derivative gain and $1.9 million in before tax share-based compensation. Excluding the estimated after-tax impact of the adjustments, the Company's Adjusted Net Income was $25.0 million, or $0.14 per share. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company reported net income of $14.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, which included a $5.4 million before tax non-cash unrealized commodity derivative loss, $2.2 million for before tax share-based compensation, and $1.0 million in before tax transaction related costs for the Stronghold Transaction ("Transaction Costs") that closed on August 31, 2022. Excluding the estimated after-tax impact of these adjustments, the Company's Adjusted Net Income for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $21.8 million, or $0.13 per share. For the first quarter of 2022, Ring reported net income of $7.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, which included a $13.5 million before tax non-cash unrealized commodity derivative loss, and $1.5 million in before tax share-based compensation. Excluding the estimated after-tax impact of these adjustments, Adjusted Net Income in the first quarter of 2022 was $22.3 million, or $0.22 per share.

Adjusted EBITDA was $58.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, up 4% from $56.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, and 65% higher than $35.6 million for the first quarter of 2022.

Free Cash Flow for the first quarter of 2023 was $10.5 million, which was 92% higher than $5.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. First quarter 2023 Free Cash Flow decreased 16% from $12.6 million for the first quarter of 2022 primarily due to higher capital spending, lower realized pricing, and higher interest expense, which was partially offset by increased sales volumes.

Cash Flow from Operations was $49.4 million for the first quarter of 2023 compared to $47.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 and $32.3 million for the first quarter of 2022.

Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, and Cash Flow from Operations are non-GAAP financial measures, which are described in more detail and reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measures, in the tables shown later in this release under "Non-GAAP Information.

Sales Volumes, Prices and Revenues

As a result of the Stronghold Transaction, beginning July 1, 2022, the Company began reporting revenues on a three-stream basis, separately reporting oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids ("NGLs") sales. For periods prior to July 1, 2022, sales and reserve volumes, prices, and revenues for NGLs were included in natural gas.

Sales volumes for the first quarter of 2023 were 18,292 Boe/d (69% oil, 16% natural gas and 15% NGLs), or 1,646,306 Boe, compared to 17,856 Boe/d (68% oil, 17% natural gas and 15% NGLs), or 1,642,715 Boe, for the fourth quarter of 2022, and 8,870 Boe/d (85% oil and 15% natural gas), or 798,262 Boe, in the first quarter of 2022. First quarter 2023 sales volumes were comprised of 1,139,413 barrels ("Bbls") of oil, 1,601,407 thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") of natural gas and 239,992 Bbls of NGLs.

For the first quarter of 2023, the Company realized an average sales price of $73.36 per barrel of crude oil, $0.66 per Mcf for natural gas and $14.30 per barrel of NGLs. The combined average realized sales price for the period was $53.50 per Boe, down 12% versus $60.69 per Boe for the fourth quarter of 2022, and down 37% from $85.41 per Boe in the first quarter of 2022. The average oil price differential the Company experienced from NYMEX WTI futures pricing in the first quarter of 2023 was a negative $2.67 per barrel of crude oil, while the average natural gas price differential from NYMEX futures pricing was a negative $2.08 per Mcf.

Revenues were $88.1 million for the first quarter of 2023 compared to $99.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 and $68.2 million for the first quarter of 2022. The 12% decrease in first quarter 2023 revenues from the fourth quarter of 2022 was driven by lower realized pricing, partially offset by higher sales volumes.

Lease Operating Expense ("LOE")

LOE, which includes expensed workovers and facilities maintenance, was $17.5 million, or $10.61 per Boe, in the first quarter of 2023 versus $17.4 million, or $10.60 per Boe, in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $9.0 million, or $11.22 per Boe, for the first quarter of 2022.

Gathering, Transportation and Processing ("GTP") Costs

As previously disclosed, due to a contractual change effective May 1, 2022, the Company no longer maintains ownership and control of natural gas through processing. As a result, GTP costs are now reflected as a reduction to the natural gas sales price and not as an expense item.

Ad Valorem Taxes

Ad valorem taxes were $1.01 per Boe for the first quarter of 2023 compared to $0.96 per Boe in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $1.19 per Boe for the first quarter of 2022.

Production Taxes

Production taxes were $2.68 per Boe in the first quarter of 2023 compared to $3.16 per Boe in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $4.03 per Boe in first quarter of 2022. Production taxes ranged between 4.7% to 5.2% of revenue for all three periods.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization ("DD&A") and Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion

DD&A was $12.92 per Boe in the first quarter of 2023 versus $12.71 per Boe for the fourth quarter of 2022 and $12.25 per Boe in the first quarter of 2022. Asset retirement obligation accretion was $0.22 per Boe in the first quarter of 2023 compared to $0.22 per Boe for the fourth quarter of 2022 and $0.24 per Boe in the first quarter of 2022.

Operating Lease Expense

Operating lease expense was $113,138 for both the first quarter of 2023 and fourth quarter of 2022 and $83,590 in the first quarter of 2022. These expenses are primarily associated with the Company's office leases.

General and Administrative Expenses ("G&A")

G&A, excluding non-cash share-based compensation, was $5.2 million ($3.15 per Boe), for the first quarter of 2023 versus $6.1 million ($3.74 per Boe) for the fourth quarter of 2022 and $4.0 million ($5.01 per Boe) for the first quarter of 2022. The fourth quarter of 2022 included Transaction Costs of $1.0 million. Adjusting for Transaction Costs, fourth quarter 2022 G&A, excluding non-cash share-based compensation, was $3.14 per Boe.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $10.4 million in the first quarter of 2023 versus $9.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 and $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2022. Interest expense increased from the fourth quarter of 2022 primarily due to a higher interest rate on the Company's revolving credit facility.

Derivative (Loss) Gain

In the first quarter of 2023, Ring recorded a net gain of $9.5 million on its commodity derivative contracts, including a realized $0.6 million cash commodity derivative loss and an unrealized $10.1 million non-cash commodity derivative gain. This compared to a net loss of $19.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, including a realized $13.9 million cash commodity derivative loss and an unrealized $5.4 million non-cash commodity derivative loss, and a net loss on commodity derivative contracts of $27.6 million in the first quarter of 2022, including a realized $14.1 million cash commodity derivative loss and an unrealized $13.5 million non-cash commodity derivative loss.

A summary listing of the Company's outstanding derivative positions at March 31, 2023 is included in the tables shown later in this release.

For the remainder (April through December) of 2023, the Company has approximately 1.4 million barrels of oil (approximately 41% of oil sales guidance midpoint) hedged and approximately 1.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas (approximately 38% of natural gas sales guidance midpoint) hedged.

Income Tax

The Company recorded a non-cash income tax provision of $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2023 versus a non-cash income tax provision of $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a non-cash income tax provision of $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2022.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Total liquidity at the end of the first quarter of 2023 was $179.0 million, a 5% decrease from December 31, 2022 and a 151% increase from March 31, 2022. Liquidity at March 31, 2023 consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $1.7 million and $177.2 million of availability under Ring's revolving credit facility, which includes a reduction of $0.8 million for letters of credit. On March 31, 2023, the Company had $422.0 million in borrowings outstanding on its revolving credit facility that has a current borrowing base of $600.0 million. During the first quarter of 2023, Ring made a final deferred payment of $15.0 million under the terms of the Stronghold Transaction, along with a payment of $3.5 million for post closing adjustments. The Company is targeting further debt reduction during 2023 dependent on market conditions, the timing of capital spending and other considerations.

In April 2023, Ring entered into agreements with certain holders of the Company's outstanding warrants for the early exercise of an aggregate of 14.5 million warrants for a like amount of common shares at a reduced exercise price of $0.62 per share (original exercise price of $0.80 per share) that resulted in gross cash proceeds of $9.0 million. Following the full exercise, approximately 78,200 warrants to purchase shares of Ring Common Stock remained outstanding.

Capital Expenditures

During the first quarter of 2023, capital expenditures on an accrual basis were $38.9 million as compared to Ring's guidance of $36 million to $40 million. The Company drilled and completed two 1-mile Hz wells in the NWS, each with a 100% working interest ("WI"), and drilled and completed two 1.5-mile wells in the NWS, one with a WI of 99.8% and the other with a WI of 75.4%. Ring also drilled and completed three vertical wells in the CBP, each with a WI of 100%. Finally, the Company performed six vertical well recompletions in the CBP, each with a WI of 100%. Also included in first quarter 2023 capital spending were costs for capital workovers, infrastructure upgrades, and leasing costs.

2023 Capital Investment, Sales Volumes, and Operating Expense Guidance

For full year 2023, Ring expects total capital spending of $135 million to $170 million that includes a balanced and capital efficient combination of drilling Hz wells on legacy acreage and vertical wells on the recently acquired CBP assets, as well as performing recompletions. Additionally, the full year capital spending program includes funds for targeted capital workovers, infrastructure upgrades, leasing costs, and non-operated drilling, completion, and capital workovers.

All projects and estimates are based on assumed WTI oil prices of $70 to $90 per barrel and Henry Hub prices of $2 to $3 per Mcf. As in the past, Ring has designed its spending program with flexibility to respond to changes in commodity prices and other market conditions as appropriate.

Based on the $152.5 million mid-point of spending guidance, the Company expects the following estimated allocation of capital investment, including:

  • 70% for drilling, completion, and related infrastructure;
  • 22% for recompletions and capital workovers; and
  • 8% for land, environmental, social and governance ("ESG") and non-operated capital.

The Company remains squarely focused on continuing to generate Free Cash Flow in 2023. All 2023 planned capital expenditures will be fully funded by cash on hand and cash from operations, and excess Free Cash Flow is currently targeted for further debt reduction.

Supported by a full year of production from the Stronghold Transaction, its targeted development program and continued focus on operational excellence, the Company currently forecasts full year 2023 sales volumes of 17,800 to 18,800 Boe/d (68% oil, 17% natural gas, 15% NGLs), compared with full year 2022 average sales volumes of 18,292 Boe/d (69% oil, 31% natural gas & NGLs). Assuming the mid-point of its full year 2023 sales volumes guidance, Ring expects a 48% increase from full year 2022 and a 2.5% increase from the fourth quarter of 2022.

The guidance in the table below represents the Company's current good faith estimate of the range of likely future results for the full year and second quarter of 2023. Guidance could be affected by the factors discussed below in the "Safe Harbor Statement" section.

 


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