crk-20210216
0000023194FALSE00000231942021-02-162021-02-16

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): February 16, 2021
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Nevada001-0326294-1667468
(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 classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.50 (per share)CRKNew 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 February 16, 2021, Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") announced financial results for the three months and twelve months ended December 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. The non-GAAP financial measures 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




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: February 16, 2021By:/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS
Roland O. Burns
President and Chief Financial Officer

Document

Exhibit 99.1
https://cdn.kscope.io/45c69e2168ac419d89b8a08e43496b47-box1a.jpg
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
FOURTH QUARTER 2020 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS
FRISCO, TEXAS, February 16, 2021 – Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") (NYSE: CRK) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020.
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
For the fourth quarter of 2020, Comstock reported net income available to common stockholders of $77.5 million or $0.30 per diluted share. The quarter results included a $80.2 million unrealized gain on the mark-to-market value of the Company's derivative financial instruments that are held to hedge oil and natural gas prices. The adjusted net income available to common stockholders excluding the unrealized gain on the hedge contracts and other non-recurring items for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $34.6 million or $0.14 per diluted share.
Comstock produced 109.0 billion cubic feet ("Bcf") of natural gas and 0.3 million barrels ("Bbls") of oil or 111.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent ("Bcfe") in the fourth quarter of 2020. Natural gas production averaged 1.2 million cubic feet ("MMcf") per day, an increase of 6% over natural gas production in the third quarter of 2020. Oil production in the fourth quarter of 2020 averaged 3,694 Bbls of oil per day as compared to 3,851 Bbls per day produced in the third quarter of 2020.
Comstock's average realized natural gas price in the fourth quarter of 2020, including realized hedging gains, was $2.40 per Mcf as compared to $2.30 per Mcf realized in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $1.95 per Mcf realized in the third quarter of 2020. The Company's average realized oil price in the fourth quarter of 2020, including realized hedging gains, was $44.47 per Bbl as compared to $50.36 per Bbl in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $33.52 per Bbl in the third quarter of 2020. Oil and gas sales were $276.8 million (including realized hedging gains) in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to $308.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Adjusted EBITDAX, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, exploration expense and other noncash expenses was $210.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to adjusted EBITDAX of $234.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company's operating cash flow generated in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $154.6 million as compared to $187.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.



Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2020
For the year ended December 31, 2020, Comstock reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $83.4 million or $0.39 per diluted share. The loss was primarily due to a $124.5 million unrealized loss related to the mark-to-market valuation of derivative financial instruments. Adjusted net income available to common stockholders excluding the unrealized loss on hedges and other non-recurring items for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $49.6 million or $0.23 per diluted share.
Comstock produced 450.8 Bcf of natural gas and 1.5 million Bbls of oil or 459.9 Bcfe for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to 292.8 Bcf of natural gas, 2.7 million Bbls of oil or 308.9 Bcfe for the year ended December 31, 2019. Natural gas production averaged 1.2 MMcf per day in 2020, an increase of 54% over natural gas production in 2019. Oil production averaged 4,120 Bbls of oil per day in 2020 compared to 7,356 Bbls of oil per day in 2019. Comstock's average realized natural gas price, including realized hedging gains, was $2.07 per Mcf for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to $2.35 per Mcf realized for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company's average realized oil price in 2020, including realized hedging gains, was $40.88 per barrel as compared to $49.64 per barrel in 2019. Oil and gas sales were $993.1 million, including realized hedging gains, for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to oil and gas sales of $821.4 million in 2019. Adjusted EBITDAX of $722.2 million in 2020 was 18% higher than adjusted EBITDAX of $613.6 million in 2019. The Company's operating cash flow generated for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $521.2 million increased 11% over operating cash flow of $468.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Drilling Results
Comstock spent $483.6 million during 2020 for drilling and development activities in 2020. Comstock also spent $7.9 million on leasing activity. $476.9 million was spent to develop its Haynesville and Bossier shale properties, comprised of $436.1 million on drilling and completing wells and an additional $40.8 million on other development activity. Comstock drilled 55 (46.1 net) operated horizontal Haynesville shale wells during the year ended December 31, 2020, which had an average lateral length of 9,247 feet. Comstock also participated in 16 (1.3 net) non-operated Haynesville shale wells in 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Comstock turned 76 (43.7 net) Haynesville shale wells to sales and currently expects to turn 14 (13.0 net) operated wells to sales in the first quarter of 2021.
Since its last operational update, Comstock completed an additional 20 (17.7 net) Haynesville shale wells. The average initial production rate of these wells was 24 MMcf per day and had an average completed lateral length of 9,288 feet.
2020 Proved Oil & Gas Reserves
Comstock also announced that proved natural gas and oil reserves as of December 31, 2020 were estimated at 5.6 trillion cubic feet ("Tcf") of natural gas and 11.0 million Bbls of oil, or 5.6 Tcfe as compared to total proved reserves of 5.4 Tcfe as of December 31, 2019. The reserve estimates were determined under the SEC guidelines and were audited by the Company's independent reserve engineering firms. The 5.6 Tcfe of proved reserves at December 31, 2020 were 36% developed and 97% were operated by Comstock. The present value, using a 10% discount rate, or the future net cash flows before income taxes of the proved reserves (the "PV-10 Value") was approximately $2.0 billion, using average first of month 2020 prices of $1.99 per Mcf of natural gas and $39.57 per Bbl of oil. The PV-10 Value was impacted by the much lower oil and gas prices required under the SEC methodology. The natural gas and oil prices used in determining the December 31, 2020 proved reserves estimates were 23% lower for natural gas and 29% lower for oil as compared to prices used at December 31, 2019. The PV-10 Value



using NYMEX reference prices of $2.75 per Mcf for natural gas and $50.00 per barrel for oil less the Company’s differentials would have been $4.4 billion.
The following table reflects the changes in the proved reserve estimates since the end of 2019:
Oil
(MMBbls)
Natural Gas
(Bcf)
Total
(Bcfe)
Proved Reserves:
Proved Reserves at December 31, 201916.7 5,341.5 5,442.0 
Production(1.5)(450.8)(459.9)
Extensions and discoveries— 365.7 365.7 
Revisions:
Price(2.9)(68.2)(85.3)
Performance and Other(1.3)374.7 366.4 
Proved Reserves at December 31, 202011.0 5,562.9 5,628.9 
Despite the low prices used to determine proved reserves, Comstock replaced 159% of its 2020 production excluding price revisions and 141% including them. Based on the 2020 proved reserve additions, Comstock’s "all-in" finding costs were approximately $0.66 per Mcfe excluding price-related revisions ($0.75 per Mcfe including price-related revisions).
2021 Drilling Budget
The Company currently plans to spend approximately $510 million to $550 million in 2021 on drilling and completion activities primarily focused on development of its Haynesville/Bossier shale properties and $7 million to $10 million on its leasing program. Under its current operating plan, Comstock expects to drill 62 (51.0 net) and complete 58 (50.5 net) operated horizontal wells utilizing five to six rigs during 2021.
Other Matters
Comstock has planned a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Central Time on February 17, 2021, to discuss the fourth quarter of 2020 operational and financial results. Investors wishing to participate should visit the Company's website at www.comstockresources.com for a live webcast or dial 844-776-7840 (international dial-in use 661-378-9538) and provide access code 8399473 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.com. The 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 February 17, 2021 and will continue until 1:00 p.m. February 24, 2021. To hear the replay, call 855-859-2056 (404-537-3406) if calling from outside the US). The conference call access code is 8399473.




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 a leading independent natural gas producer with operations focused on the development of the Haynesville shale in North Louisiana and East Texas. The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CRK.






COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended December 31,Twelve Months Ended December 31,
2020201920202019
Revenues:
Natural gas sales$261,424 $260,206 $809,399 $635,795 
Oil sales13,347 29,042 48,796 132,894 
Total oil and gas sales274,771 289,248 858,195 768,689 
Operating expenses:
Production and ad valorem taxes9,199 12,999 36,967 35,702 
Gathering and transportation29,159 29,957 106,582 71,303 
Lease operating23,342 26,285 102,452 80,762 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization104,284 111,842 417,112 276,526 
General and administrative6,049 6,484 32,040 29,244 
Exploration— — 27 241 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets(1)— (17)25 
Total operating expenses172,032 187,567 695,163 493,803 
Operating income102,739 101,681 163,032 274,886 
Other income (expenses):
Gain from derivative financial instruments81,929 19,790 9,951 51,735 
Other income287 282 1,080 622 
Transaction costs— 90 — (41,010)
Interest expense(66,065)(54,107)(234,829)(161,541)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt— — (861)— 
Total other income (expenses)16,151 (33,945)(224,659)(150,194)
Income (loss) before income taxes118,890 67,736 (61,627)124,692 
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes(36,967)(12,620)9,210 (27,803)
Net income (loss)81,923 55,116 (52,417)96,889 
Preferred stock dividends and accretion(4,400)(14,287)(30,996)(22,415)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders$77,523 $40,829 $(83,413)$74,474 
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic$0.34 $0.22 $(0.39)$0.52 
Diluted$0.30 $0.19 $(0.39)$0.52 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic231,377 187,280 215,194 142,750 
Diluted275,127 284,100 215,194 187,378 








COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

As of
December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$30,272$18,532
Accounts receivable145,786180,341
Derivative financial instruments8,91375,304
Income taxes receivable5,109
Other current assets14,83910,399
Total current assets199,810289,685
Property and equipment, net4,084,5504,008,803
Goodwill335,897335,897
Income taxes receivable5,109
Derivative financial instruments66113,888
Operating lease right-of-use assets3,0253,509
Other assets40231
$4,623,983$4,657,122
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable$259,284$252,994
Accrued costs133,019137,166
Operating leases2,2841,994
Derivative financial instruments47,005222
Total current liabilities441,592392,376
Long-term debt2,517,1492,500,132
Deferred income taxes200,583211,772
Derivative financial instruments2,3644,220
Long-term operating leases7401,515
Asset retirement obligation19,29018,151
Other non-current liabilities4926,351
Total liabilities3,182,2103,134,517
Mezzanine Equity:
Preferred stock175,000379,583
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock116,20695,003
Additional paid-in capital1,095,384909,423
Accumulated earnings55,183138,596
Total stockholders' equity1,266,7731,143,022
$4,623,983$4,657,122






COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
OPERATING RESULTS
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

Three Months Ended December 31,Twelve Months Ended December 31,
2020201920202019
Gas production (MMcf)109,013 121,521 450,836 292,834 
Oil production (Mbbls)340 577 1,508 2,685 
Total production (MMcfe)111,052 124,980 459,883 308,944 
Natural gas sales$261,424 $260,206 $809,399 $635,795 
Natural gas hedging settlements (1)
240 19,302 122,036 52,297 
Total natural gas including hedging261,664 279,508 931,435 688,092 
Oil sales13,347 29,042 48,796 132,894 
Oil hedging settlements (1)
1,767 — 12,849 387 
Total oil including hedging15,114 29,042 61,645 133,281 
Total oil and gas sales including hedging$276,778 $308,550 $993,080 $821,373 
Average gas price (per Mcf)$2.40 $2.14 $1.80 $2.17 
Average gas price including hedging (per Mcf)$2.40 $2.30 $2.07 $2.35 
Average oil price (per barrel)$39.27 $50.36 $32.36 $49.49 
Average oil price including hedging (per barrel)$44.47 $50.36 $40.88 $49.64 
Average price (per Mcfe)$2.47 $2.31 $1.87 $2.49 
Average price including hedging (per Mcfe)$2.49 $2.47 $2.16 $2.66 
Production and ad valorem taxes$9,199 $12,999 $36,967 $35,702 
Gathering and transportation$29,159 $29,957 $106,582 $71,303 
Lease operating$23,342 $26,285 $102,452 $80,762 
Production and ad valorem taxes (per Mcfe)$0.09 $0.10 $0.08 $0.11 
Gathering and transportation (per Mcfe)$0.26 $0.24 $0.23 $0.23 
Lease operating (per Mcfe)$0.21 $0.21 $0.22 $0.27 
Oil and Gas Capital Expenditures:
Acquisitions$— $41,828 $— $2,097,451 
Exploratory leasehold6,492 — 7,949 — 
Development leasehold5,659 890 13,022 7,603 
Development drilling and completion155,691 150,960 436,074 493,625 
Other development8,062 3,121 34,525 9,339 
Total$175,904 $196,799 $491,570 $2,608,018 
(1)Included in gain from derivative financial instruments in operating results.






COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended
December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
2020201920202019
ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS) TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders$77,523 $40,829 $(83,413)$74,474 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets(1)— (17)25 
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative financial instruments(80,158)(488)124,545 949 
Loss on early extinguishment of debt— — 861 — 
Non-cash interest amortization from adjusting debt assumed in
acquisition to fair value
5,811 5,065 22,112 9,143 
Non-cash accretion from adjusting preferred stock issued in
acquisition to fair value
— 4,583 5,417 4,583 
Impairment of unevaluated oil and gas properties— — 27 — 
Transaction costs— (90)— 41,010 
Covey Park July 2019 hedging settlements— — — 4,574 
Adjusted benefit (provision) for income taxes31,408 (836)(19,930)(12,420)
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders (1)
$34,583 $49,063 $49,602 $122,338 
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders per diluted share$0.14 $0.22 $0.23 $0.77 

ADJUSTED EBITDAX:
Net income (loss)$81,923 $55,116 $(52,417)$96,889 
Interest expense66,065 54,107 234,829 161,541 
Income taxes36,967 12,620 (9,210)27,803 
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization104,284 111,842 417,112 276,526 
Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments(80,158)(488)124,545 949 
Exploration— — 27 241 
Stock-based compensation1,730 1,661 6,464 4,020 
Loss on early extinguishment of debt— — 861 — 
Transaction costs— (90)— 41,010 
Covey Park July 2019 hedging settlements— — — 4,574 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets(1)— (17)25 
Total Adjusted EBITDAX (2)
$210,810 $234,768 $722,194 $613,578 
(1)Adjusted net income available to common stockholders is presented because of its acceptance by investors and by Comstock management as an indicator of the Company's profitability excluding non-cash unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments and other unusual items.
(2)Adjusted EBITDAX is presented in the earnings release because management believes that adjusted 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.






COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands)

Three Months Ended December 31,Twelve Months Ended December 31,
2020201920202019
OPERATING CASH FLOW:
Net income (loss)$81,923 $55,116 $(52,417)$96,889 
Reconciling items:
Deferred income taxes37,034 12,821 (9,409)28,026 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization104,284 111,842 417,112 276,526 
Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments
(80,158)(488)124,545 949 
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs9,807 7,068 34,038 16,274 
Stock-based compensation1,730 1,661 6,464 4,020 
Loss on early extinguishment of debt— — 861 — 
Transaction costs— (90)— 41,010 
Covey Park July 2019 hedging settlements— — — 4,574 
Exploration— — 27 — 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets(1)— (17)25 
Operating cash flow (1)
$154,619 $187,930 $521,204 $468,293 
Net cash provided by operating activities$185,746 $168,431 $575,701 $451,237 
Transaction costs— (90)— 41,010 
Covey Park July 2019 hedging settlements— — — 4,574 
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable44,827 45,184 (34,555)(3,220)
Increase (decrease) in other current assets1,272 (2,686)(7,019)(9,823)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses(77,226)(22,909)(12,923)(15,485)
Operating cash flow (1)
$154,619 $187,930 $521,204 $468,293 
(1)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 which excludes changes to other working capital accounts.