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8-K
false0000023194COMSTOCK RESOURCES INC00000231942024-05-012024-05-01

 

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 01, 2024

 

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Nevada

001-03262

94-1667468

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

5300 Town and Country Blvd.

Suite 500

 

Frisco, Texas

 

75034

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (972) 668-8800

 

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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 1, 2024, Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. 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 No.

Description

99.1

Press Release dated May 1, 2024

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date:

May 1, 2024

By:

/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS

 

 

 

Roland O. Burns
President and Chief Financial Officer

 
EX-99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

https://cdn.kscope.io/8dc3e19796237a4edee29b80290b5718-img15376905_0.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

FIRST QUARTER 2024 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

FRISCO, TEXAS, May 1, 2024 – Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") (NYSE: CRK) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Highlights of 2024's First Quarter

•
Continued weak natural gas prices weighed heavily on the first quarter results.
•
Natural gas and oil sales, including realized hedging gains, were $336 million.
•
Operating cash flow was $182 million or $0.65 per diluted share.
•
Adjusted EBITDAX for the quarter was $230 million.
•
Adjusted net loss was $8.5 million for the quarter.
•
Added $100.5 million of liquidity with a private placement equity offering to majority stockholder.
•
Solid results from the Haynesville shale drilling program with 14 (13.5 net) operated wells turned to sales since the Company's last update with an average initial production of 25 MMcf per day.
•
Added 198,000 net acres to Western Haynesville, increasing leasehold in the emerging play to over 450,000 net acres.
•
Latest four Western Haynesville wells were successful with initial production rates between 35 to 38 MMcf per day.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

Comstock's natural gas and oil sales in the first quarter of 2024 totaled $336.0 million (including realized hedging gains of $48.0 million). Operating cash flow (excluding changes in working capital) generated in the first quarter of 2024 was $182.0 million, and net loss available to common stockholders for the first quarter was $14.5 million or $0.05 per share. Net loss in the quarter included a pre-tax $8.7 million unrealized loss on hedging contracts held for risk management. Excluding this item, adjusted net loss for the first quarter of 2024 was $8.5 million, or $0.03 per share.

 

 

Comstock's production cost per Mcfe in the first quarter averaged $0.76 per Mcfe, which was comprised of $0.34 for gathering and transportation costs, $0.25 for lease operating costs, $0.13 for production and other taxes and $0.04 for cash general and administrative expenses. Comstock's unhedged operating margin was 63% in the first quarter of 2024 and 68% after hedging.

Drilling Results

Comstock drilled 16 (14.3 net) operated horizontal Haynesville/Bossier shale wells in the first quarter of 2024 which had an average lateral length of 9,845 feet. Comstock turned 18 (16.3 net) operated wells to sales in the first quarter of 2024.

Since its last operational update in February, Comstock has turned 14 (13.5 net) operated Haynesville/Bossier shale wells to sales. These wells had initial daily production rates that averaged 25 MMcf per day. The completed lateral length of these wells averaged 8,031 feet.

Included in the wells turned to sales were four more successful Western Haynesville wells – the Glass RT #1, the Harrison WA #1, the Farley GD #1 and the Ingram Martin #1. The Glass RT #1 well was drilled to a total vertical depth of 18,346 feet and has a 9,292 foot completed lateral. The well's initial production rate was 36 MMcf per day. The Harrison WA #1 well was drilled to a total vertical depth of 19,361 feet and has an 8,866 foot completed lateral. The well's initial production rate was 35 MMcf per day. The Farley GD #1 well was drilled to a total vertical depth of 18,700 feet and has a 9,837 foot completed lateral. The well's initial production rate was 38 MMcf per day. The Ingram Martin #1 well was drilled to a total vertical depth of 17,748 feet and has a 7,764 foot completed lateral. The well's initial production rate was 38 MMcf per day. All of these wells were completed in the Haynesville Shale formation.

Other

Comstock also announced that its bank group reaffirmed the $2.0 billion borrowing base under its $1.5 billion revolving credit facility on April 30, 2024.

Earnings Call Information

Comstock has planned a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Central Time on May 2, 2024, to discuss the first quarter 2024 operational and financial results. Investors wishing to listen should visit the Company's website at www.comstockresources.com for a live webcast. Investors wishing to participate in the conference call telephonically will need to register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI8bd2e2b2cbc74630942006 e39bfd6cb5. Upon registering to participate in the conference call, participants will receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN number to access the conference call. On the day of the call, please dial in at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure a timely connection to the call. The conference call will also be broadcast live in listen-only mode and can be accessed via the website URL: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/qf4tpuda.

If you are unable to participate in the original conference call, a web replay will be available for twelve months beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT on May 2, 2024. The replay of the conference can be accessed using the webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/qf4tpuda.

 

 

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. Information concerning the assumptions, uncertainties and risks that may affect the actual results can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at sec.gov.

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
March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas sales

 

$

287,083

 

 

$

378,032

 

Oil sales

 

 

876

 

 

 

1,942

 

Total natural gas and oil sales

 

 

287,959

 

 

 

379,974

 

Gas services

 

 

47,813

 

 

 

109,604

 

Total revenues

 

 

335,772

 

 

 

489,578

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

 

17,908

 

 

 

14,906

 

Gathering and transportation

 

 

47,099

 

 

 

45,574

 

Lease operating

 

 

35,072

 

 

 

34,830

 

Exploration

 

 

—

 

 

 

1,775

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

190,689

 

 

 

133,983

 

Gas services

 

 

48,680

 

 

 

101,295

 

General and administrative

 

 

9,171

 

 

 

12,368

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

(773

)

Total operating expenses

 

 

348,619

 

 

 

343,958

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(12,847

)

 

 

145,620

 

Other income (expenses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain from derivative financial instruments

 

 

39,307

 

 

 

66,409

 

Other income

 

 

331

 

 

 

460

 

Interest expense

 

 

(49,557

)

 

 

(38,270

)

Total other income (expenses)

 

 

(9,919

)

 

 

28,599

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(22,766

)

 

 

174,219

 

(Provision for) benefit from income taxes

 

 

8,292

 

 

 

(39,716

)

Net income (loss)

 

 

(14,474

)

 

 

134,503

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(1,847

)

 

 

—

 

Net income (loss) available to Comstock

 

$

(16,321

)

 

$

134,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.05

)

 

$

0.49

 

Diluted

 

$

(0.05

)

 

$

0.49

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

277,962

 

 

 

276,551

 

Diluted

 

 

277,962

 

 

 

276,551

 

Dividends per share

 

$

—

 

 

$

0.125

 

 

 

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

OPERATING RESULTS

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Natural gas production (MMcf)

 

 

139,443

 

 

 

127,067

 

Oil production (Mbbls)

 

 

12

 

 

 

27

 

Total production (MMcfe)

 

 

139,515

 

 

 

127,226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas sales

 

$

287,083

 

 

$

378,032

 

Natural gas hedging settlements (1)

 

 

47,995

 

 

 

10,383

 

Total natural gas including hedging

 

 

335,078

 

 

 

388,415

 

Oil sales

 

 

876

 

 

 

1,942

 

Total natural gas and oil sales including hedging

 

$

335,954

 

 

$

390,357

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average natural gas price (per Mcf)

 

$

2.06

 

 

$

2.98

 

Average natural gas price including hedging (per Mcf)

 

$

2.40

 

 

$

3.06

 

Average oil price (per barrel)

 

$

73.00

 

 

$

71.93

 

Average price (per Mcfe)

 

$

2.06

 

 

$

2.99

 

Average price including hedging (per Mcfe)

 

$

2.41

 

 

$

3.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

$

17,908

 

 

$

14,906

 

Gathering and transportation

 

 

47,099

 

 

 

45,574

 

Lease operating

 

 

35,072

 

 

 

34,830

 

Cash general and administrative (2)

 

 

5,755

 

 

 

10,321

 

Total production costs

 

$

105,834

 

 

$

105,631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production and ad valorem taxes (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.13

 

 

$

0.12

 

Gathering and transportation (per Mcfe)

 

 

0.34

 

 

 

0.36

 

Lease operating (per Mcfe)

 

 

0.25

 

 

 

0.27

 

Cash general and administrative (per Mcfe)

 

 

0.04

 

 

 

0.08

 

Total production costs (per Mcfe)

 

$

0.76

 

 

$

0.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unhedged operating margin

 

 

63

%

 

 

72

%

Hedged operating margin

 

 

68

%

 

 

73

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas services revenue

 

$

47,813

 

 

$

109,604

 

Gas services expenses

 

 

48,680

 

 

 

101,295

 

Gas services margin

 

$

(867

)

 

$

8,309

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas and Oil Capital Expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unproved property acquisitions

 

$

69,444

 

 

$

40,695

 

Total natural gas and oil properties acquisitions

 

$

69,444

 

 

$

40,695

 

Exploration and Development:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development leasehold

 

$

3,938

 

 

$

8,743

 

Exploratory drilling and completion

 

 

106,456

 

 

 

29,690

 

Development drilling and completion

 

 

145,793

 

 

 

280,176

 

Other development costs

 

 

37

 

 

 

6,097

 

Total exploration and development capital expenditures

 

$

256,224

 

 

$

324,706

 

 

(1)
Included in gain (loss) from derivative financial instruments in operating results.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation.

 

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

ADJUSTED NET INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(14,474

)

 

$

134,503

 

Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments

 

 

8,688

 

 

 

(56,026

)

Exploration expense

 

 

—

 

 

 

1,775

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

(773

)

Adjustment to income taxes

 

 

(2,752

)

 

 

12,528

 

Adjusted net income (loss)

 

$

(8,538

)

 

$

92,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted net income (loss) per share (2)

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

0.33

 

Diluted shares outstanding

 

 

277,962

 

 

 

276,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADJUSTED EBITDAX:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(14,474

)

 

$

134,503

 

Interest expense

 

 

49,557

 

 

 

38,270

 

Income taxes

 

 

(8,292

)

 

 

39,716

 

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization

 

 

190,689

 

 

 

133,983

 

Exploration

 

 

—

 

 

 

1,775

 

Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments

 

 

8,688

 

 

 

(56,026

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

3,415

 

 

 

2,046

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

(773

)

Total Adjusted EBITDAX (3)

 

$

229,583

 

 

$

293,494

 

 

(1)
Adjusted net income (loss) 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, gains and losses on sales of assets and other unusual items.
(2)
Adjusted net income (loss) per share is calculated to include the dilutive effects of unvested restricted stock pursuant to the two-class method and performance stock units and preferred stock pursuant to the treasury stock method.
(3)
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, unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments 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
March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

OPERATING CASH FLOW (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(14,474

)

 

$

134,503

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments

 

 

8,688

 

 

 

(56,026

)

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(8,287

)

 

 

39,180

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

190,689

 

 

 

133,983

 

Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs

 

 

1,984

 

 

 

1,997

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

3,415

 

 

 

2,046

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

(773

)

Operating cash flow

 

$

182,015

 

 

$

254,910

 

Decrease in accounts receivable

 

 

99,418

 

 

 

255,992

 

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

 

 

5,576

 

 

 

(1,514

)

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

(115,470

)

 

 

(123,024

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

171,539

 

 

$

386,364

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

FREE CASH FLOW (DEFICIT)(2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating cash flow

 

$

182,015

 

 

$

254,910

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration and development capital expenditures

 

 

(256,224

)

 

 

(324,706

)

Midstream capital expenditures

 

 

(5,298

)

 

 

(4,187

)

Other capital expenditures

 

 

(29

)

 

 

(356

)

Contributions from midstream partner

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

—

 

Free cash deficit from operations

 

$

(73,536

)

 

$

(74,339

)

Acquisitions

 

 

(69,444

)

 

 

(40,695

)

Proceeds from divestitures

 

 

—

 

 

 

130

 

Free cash deficit after acquisition and divestiture activity

 

$

(142,980

)

 

$

(114,904

)

 

(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.
(2)
Free cash flow (deficit) from operations and free cash flow (deficit) after acquisition and divestiture activity are presented in the earnings release because management believes them to be useful indicators of the Company's ability to internally fund acquisitions and debt maturities after exploration and development capital expenditures, midstream and other capital expenditures, contributions from its midstream partner, proved and unproved property acquisitions, and proceeds from divestiture of natural gas and oil properties.

 

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,
2024

 

 

December 31,
2023

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

6,420

 

 

$

16,669

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

132,012

 

 

 

231,430

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

 

141,821

 

 

 

126,775

 

Other current assets

 

 

77,811

 

 

 

86,619

 

Total current assets

 

 

358,064

 

 

 

461,493

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

5,525,553

 

 

 

5,384,771

 

Goodwill

 

 

335,897

 

 

 

335,897

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

97,728

 

 

 

71,462

 

 

 

$

6,317,242

 

 

$

6,253,623

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

440,956

 

 

$

523,260

 

Accrued costs

 

 

80,863

 

 

 

134,466

 

Operating leases

 

 

34,199

 

 

 

23,765

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

556,018

 

 

 

681,491

 

Long-term debt

 

 

2,702,375

 

 

 

2,640,391

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

461,748

 

 

 

470,035

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

 

23,734

 

 

 

—

 

Long-term operating leases

 

 

63,536

 

 

 

47,742

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

 

31,249

 

 

 

30,773

 

Total liabilities

 

 

3,838,660

 

 

 

3,870,432

 

Stockholders' Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

146,101

 

 

 

139,214

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

1,357,908

 

 

 

1,260,930

 

Accumulated earnings

 

 

941,949

 

 

 

958,270

 

Total stockholders' equity attributable to Comstock

 

 

2,445,958

 

 

 

2,358,414

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

32,624

 

 

 

24,777

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

2,478,582

 

 

 

2,383,191

 

 

 

$

6,317,242

 

 

$

6,253,623