crk-8k_20200331.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  May 7, 2020

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

STATE OF NEVADA

001-03262

94-1667468

(State or other
jurisdiction incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

5300 Town and Country Boulevard

Suite 500

Frisco, Texas 75034

(Address of principal executive offices)

(972) 668-8800

(Registrant's Telephone No.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.50 (per share)

CRK

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.


Item 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On May 6, 2020, Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2020. A copy of the press release announcing Comstock's earnings and operating results for these periods and other matters is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The earnings press release contains financial measures that are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Comstock has provided reconciliations within the earnings release of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Operating cash flow is presented in the earnings release because management believes it to be useful to investors as a common alternative measure of cash flows. EBITDAX is presented in the earnings release because management believes that EBITDAX, which represents Comstock's results from operations before interest, income taxes, and certain non-cash items, including depreciation, depletion and amortization and exploration expense, is a common alternative measure of operating performance used by certain investors and financial analysts. The non-GAAP financial measures described above should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP that are presented in the earnings release.

 

The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Exhibit 99.1

Press Release dated May 6, 2020.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated: May 7, 2020

By:

/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS

 

 

Roland O. Burns

 

 

President and Chief Financial Officer

 

crk-ex991_6.htm

Exhibit 99.1

5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500

Frisco, Texas 75034

Telephone: (972) 668-8834

Contact: Ron Mills

VP of Finance and Investor Relations

Web Site:  www.comstockresources.com

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. REPORTS

FIRST QUARTER 2020 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

 

FRISCO, TEXAS, May 6, 2020 – Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") (NYSE: CRK) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. On July 16, 2019, Comstock completed the acquisition of Covey Park Energy LLC ("Covey Park"). The Company's financial results include the results of operations of Covey Park in the first quarter of 2020.

 

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

For the first quarter of 2020, Comstock reported net income available to common stockholders of $30.0 million or $0.15 per diluted share. Net income available to common stockholders as adjusted to exclude certain items not related to normal operating activities for the first quarter of 2020 was $23.6 million or $0.12 per diluted share. These items included $5.3 million in non-cash interest amortization resulting from adjusting debt assumed in the Covey Park acquisition to fair value; $2.5 million of non-cash accretion resulting from adjusting the preferred stock issued in connection with the Covey Park acquisition to fair value; and $16.5 million in unrealized hedging gains.  

Comstock produced 122.8 billion cubic feet ("Bcf") of natural gas and 454,495 barrels of oil or 125.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent ("Bcfe") in the first quarter of 2020. Natural gas production averaged 1,349 million cubic feet ("MMcf") per day, an increase of 270% over natural gas production in the first quarter of 2019. The growth in natural gas production was primarily attributable to the Covey Park acquisition and the successful results from Comstock's Haynesville shale drilling activities in 2019 and 2020. Oil production in the first quarter of 2020 decreased to 4,994 barrels of oil per day from 9,005 barrels per day produced in the first quarter of 2019 due primarily to expected production declines from the Bakken Shale properties acquired in 2018.  

Comstock's average realized natural gas price in the first quarter of 2020, including hedging, decreased to $2.04 per Mcf as compared to $2.87 per Mcf realized in the first quarter of 2019. The Company's average realized oil price in the first quarter of 2020, including hedging, increased to $46.31 per barrel as compared to $45.78 per barrel in the first quarter of 2019. Oil and gas sales were $271.3 million (including realized hedging gains) in the first quarter of 2020 as compared to sales of $132.3 million in the first quarter of 2019. EBITDAX, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, exploration expense and other noncash expenses, of $201.6 million in the first quarter of 2020 increased by 108% over EBITDAX of $96.9 million for the first quarter of 2019. The Company's operating cash flow generated in the first quarter of 2020 of $156.0 million increased 120% over operating cash flow of $70.8 million in the first quarter of 2019.


Drilling Results

 

Total expenditures in the first quarter of 2020 for drilling and development activities were $130.5 million. Comstock spent $128.3 million to develop its Haynesville and Bossier shale properties, including $122.1 million on drilling and completing wells and an additional $6.2 million on other development activity. Comstock drilled 13 (9.6 net) horizontal operated Haynesville shale wells during the first three months of 2020, which had an average lateral length of approximately 9,200 feet. Comstock also participated in 7 (0.4 net) non-operated Haynesville shale wells in the first quarter of 2020. During the first quarter of 2020, Comstock had 21 (11.5 net) Haynesville shale wells turn to sales and had 32 (13.5 net) wells in the process of being completed or waiting to be completed.

 

Since its last operational update, Comstock reported on an additional twenty Haynesville shale wells. The average initial production rate of these wells was 24 MMcf per day. The wells had completed lateral lengths ranging from 4,574 feet to 9,885 feet, with an average completed lateral length of 8,758 feet.  Each well was tested at initial production rates of 15 to 32 MMcf per day.

 

Other Matters

 

“Our natural gas operations in East Texas and North Louisiana have not been adversely impacted by COVID-19 virus pandemic”, stated M. Jay Allison, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “We have modified our procedures and practices to minimize unnecessary risk of exposure and prevent infection among our employees and our contractors. Our operations team has continued to execute on our drilling program with little disruption and production operations have not been impacted. While natural gas prices are expected to remain low in the near-term as we manage through an oversupplied market resulting from the winter heating season, we anticipate a much healthier supply and demand balance for natural gas later this year and in 2021. Our improved outlook for the natural gas markets is primarily driven by our expectation for significant declines in natural gas supply in 2020 and 2021 due to a continued reduction in natural gas directed drilling and completion activity and less associated gas production from reduced activity in oil basins driven by the very low oil prices post COVID-19.”

 

Following the end of the quarter, the Company completed its scheduled semi-annual borrowing base redetermination under its revolving bank credit facility, resulting in the bank group decreasing the borrowing base from $1.575 billion to $1.4 billion. The commitment level was reduced from $1.5 billion to $1.4 billion. The decrease is related to lowered oil and natural gas prices that the banks used to determine the borrowing base.

 

Comstock has planned a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Central Time on May 7, 2020, to discuss the first quarter of 2020 operational and financial results. Investors wishing to participate should visit the Company's website at www.comstockresources.com for a live web cast or dial 844-776-7840 (international dial-in use 661-378-9538) and provide access code 8355627 when prompted. If you are unable to participate in the original conference call, a web replay will be available approximately 24 hours following the completion of the call on Comstock's website at www.comstockresources.comThe web replay will be available for approximately one week. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT May 7, 2020 and will continue until 1:00 p.m. May 14, 2020. To hear the replay, call 855-859-2056 (404-537-3406 if calling from outside the US). The conference call access code is 8355627.

 

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual


results to differ materially from those described herein. Although the Company believes the expectations in such statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

 

Comstock Resources, Inc. is an independent energy company based in Frisco, Texas engaged in oil and gas acquisitions, exploration and development, and its assets are primarily located in Texas, Louisiana and North Dakota. The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CRK.

 



COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
OPERATING RESULTS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas sales

 

$

207,239

 

 

$

90,132

 

Oil sales

 

 

18,639

 

 

 

36,749

 

Total oil and gas sales

 

 

225,878

 

 

 

126,881

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production taxes

 

 

5,567

 

 

 

5,939

 

Gathering and transportation

 

 

28,411

 

 

 

7,430

 

Lease operating

 

 

28,712

 

 

 

14,885

 

Exploration

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

110,425

 

 

 

37,590

 

General and administrative

 

 

8,719

 

 

 

7,814

 

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

Total operating expenses

 

 

181,861

 

 

 

73,657

 

Operating income

 

 

44,017

 

 

 

53,224

 

Other income (expenses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (loss) from derivative financial instruments

 

 

61,899

 

 

 

(7,657

)

Other income

 

 

313

 

 

 

93

 

Interest expense

 

 

(52,810

)

 

 

(27,851

)

Total other income (expenses)

 

 

9,402

 

 

 

(35,415

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

53,419

 

 

 

17,809

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

(11,391

)

 

 

(4,234

)

Net income

 

 

42,028

 

 

 

13,575

 

Preferred stock dividends and accretion

 

 

(12,072

)

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

$

29,956

 

 

$

13,575

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.16

 

 

$

0.13

 

Diluted

 

$

0.15

 

 

$

0.13

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

188,916

 

 

 

105,457

 

Diluted

 

 

285,166

 

 

 

105,457

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
OPERATING RESULTS

(In thousands)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

OPERATING CASH FLOW:

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

42,028

 

 

$

13,575

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred and non-current income taxes

 

 

11,330

 

 

 

4,352

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

110,425

 

 

 

37,590

 

Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments

 

 

(16,483

)

 

 

13,045

 

Amortization of debt discount, premium and issuance costs

 

 

7,199

 

 

 

1,574

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

1,430

 

 

 

648

 

Exploration

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

Operating cash flow

 

 

155,956

 

 

 

70,783

 

Decrease in accounts receivable

 

 

54,297

 

 

 

10,783

 

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

 

 

(3,828

)

 

 

1,577

 

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

(56,306

)

 

 

(8,428

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

150,119

 

 

$

74,715

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDAX:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

42,028

 

 

$

13,575

 

Interest expense

 

 

52,810

 

 

 

27,851

 

Income taxes

 

 

11,391

 

 

 

4,234

 

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization

 

 

110,425

 

 

 

37,590

 

Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments

 

 

(16,483

)

 

 

13,045

 

Exploration

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

1,430

 

 

 

648

 

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

Total EBITDAX

 

$

201,628

 

 

$

96,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of

 

 

As of

 

BALANCE SHEET:

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

15,527

 

 

$

18,532

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

 

108,656

 

 

 

89,192

 

Other current assets

 

 

150,489

 

 

 

195,849

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

4,029,113

 

 

 

4,008,803

 

Other

 

 

339,956

 

 

 

344,746

 

Total assets

 

$

4,643,741

 

 

$

4,657,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

327,619

 

 

$

392,376

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

 

4,380

 

 

 

4,220

 

Long-term debt

 

 

2,507,284

 

 

 

2,500,132

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

223,104

 

 

 

211,772

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

 

18,613

 

 

 

18,151

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

6,265

 

 

 

7,866

 

Preferred stock

 

 

382,083

 

 

 

379,583

 

Stockholders' equity

 

 

1,174,393

 

 

 

1,143,022

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

4,643,741

 

 

$

4,657,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
REGIONAL OPERATING RESULTS

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

 

Haynesville

 

 

Bakken

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

Gas production (MMcf)

 

 

115,585

 

 

 

2,348

 

 

 

4,853

 

 

 

122,786

 

Oil production (Mbbls)

 

 

3

 

 

 

426

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

454

 

Total Production (MMcfe)

 

 

115,601

 

 

 

4,908

 

 

 

5,004

 

 

 

125,513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas sales

 

$

198,146

 

 

$

962

 

 

$

8,131

 

 

$

207,239

 

Natural gas hedging settlements (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43,005

 

Total natural gas including hedging

 

 

198,146

 

 

 

962

 

 

 

8,131

 

 

 

250,244

 

Oil sales

 

 

114

 

 

 

17,472

 

 

 

1,053

 

 

 

18,639

 

Oil hedging settlements (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,410

 

Total oil including hedging

 

 

114

 

 

 

17,472

 

 

 

1,053

 

 

 

21,049

 

Total oil and gas sales including hedging

 

$

198,260

 

 

$

18,434

 

 

$

9,184

 

 

$

271,293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average gas price (per Mcf)

 

$

1.71

 

 

$

0.41

 

 

$

1.68

 

 

$

1.69

 

Average gas price including hedging (per Mcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2.04

 

Average oil price (per barrel)

 

$

43.48

 

 

$

40.96

 

 

$

42.13

 

 

$

41.01

 

Average oil price including hedging (per barrel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

46.31

 

Average price (per Mcfe)

 

$

1.72

 

 

$

3.76

 

 

$

1.84

 

 

$

1.80

 

Average price including hedging (per Mcfe)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2.16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production taxes

 

$

3,011

 

 

$

1,902

 

 

$

654

 

 

$

5,567

 

Gathering and transportation

 

$

26,293

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,118

 

 

$

28,411

 

Lease operating

 

$

18,157

 

 

$

4,430

 

 

$

6,125

 

 

$

28,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production taxes (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.03

 

 

$

0.39

 

 

$

0.13

 

 

$

0.04

 

Gathering and transportation (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.23

 

 

$

 

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.23

 

Lease operating (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.15

 

 

$

0.90

 

 

$

1.23

 

 

$

0.23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Gas Capital Expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development leasehold

 

$

3,747

 

 

$

8

 

 

$

126

 

 

$

3,881

 

Development drilling and completion

 

 

122,058

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

122,058

 

Other development

 

 

2,481

 

 

 

1,264

 

 

 

816

 

 

 

4,561

 

Total

 

$

128,286

 

 

$

1,272

 

 

$

942

 

 

$

130,500

 

 

 

 

(a)Included in gain from derivative financial instruments in operating results.

 

 



COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
REGIONAL OPERATING RESULTS

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

 

 

Haynesville

 

 

Bakken

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

Gas production (MMcf)

 

 

31,364

 

 

 

768

 

 

 

1,017

 

 

 

33,149

 

Oil production (Mbbls)

 

 

 

 

 

799

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

810

 

Total Production (MMcfe)

 

 

31,364

 

 

 

5,562

 

 

 

1,086

 

 

 

38,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas sales

 

$

85,738

 

 

$

1,500

 

 

$

2,894

 

 

$

90,132

 

Natural gas hedging settlements (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,033

 

Total natural gas including hedging

 

 

85,738

 

 

 

1,500

 

 

 

2,894

 

 

 

95,165

 

Oil sales

 

 

4

 

 

 

36,147

 

 

 

598

 

 

 

36,749

 

Oil hedging settlements (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

355

 

Total oil including hedging

 

 

4

 

 

 

36,147

 

 

 

598

 

 

 

37,104

 

Total oil and gas sales including hedging

 

$

85,742

 

 

$

37,647

 

 

$

3,492

 

 

$

132,269

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average gas price (per Mcf)

 

$

2.73

 

 

$

1.95

 

 

$

2.85

 

 

$

2.72

 

Average gas price including hedging (per Mcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2.87

 

Average oil price (per barrel)

 

$

49.47

 

 

$

45.24

 

 

$

54.36

 

 

$

45.34

 

Average oil price including hedging (per barrel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

45.78

 

Average price (per Mcfe)

 

$

2.73

 

 

$

6.77

 

 

$

3.22

 

 

$

3.34

 

Average price including hedging (per Mcfe)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

3.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production taxes

 

$

1,732

 

 

$

4,073

 

 

$

134

 

 

$

5,939

 

Gathering and transportation

 

$

7,273

 

 

$

 

 

$

157

 

 

$

7,430

 

Lease operating

 

$

4,933

 

 

$

6,519

 

 

$

3,433

 

 

$

14,885

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production taxes (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.06

 

 

$

0.73

 

 

$

0.12

 

 

$

0.16

 

Gathering and transportation (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.23

 

 

$

 

 

$

0.14

 

 

$

0.20

 

Lease operating (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.15

 

 

$

1.17

 

 

$

3.17

 

 

$

0.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Gas Capital Expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development leasehold

 

$

1,857

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,857

 

Development drilling and completion

 

 

82,638

 

 

 

(953

)

 

 

5,648

 

 

 

87,333

 

Other development

 

 

3,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,279

 

Total

 

$

87,774

 

 

$

(953

)

 

$

5,648

 

 

$

92,469

 

 

 

(a)Included in gain from derivative financial instruments in operating results.