Exhibit 99.1
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FOR RELEASE | | FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT |
October 29, 2008 | | Scott Schroeder (281) 589-4993 |
Cabot Oil & Gas Continues Record Pace
HOUSTON, October 29, 2008—Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today announced that for the third consecutive quarter, the Company established new highs versus comparable historical quarters (excluding selected items – see page 7 of this release). For the third quarter ended September 30, 2008, Cabot reported net income of $67.0 million, or $0.65 per share, and $60.1 million, or $0.58 per share after removing gains in the quarter related to stock compensation and unrealized hedge gains. This compares to a reported net income figure last year of $35.5 million, or $0.37 per share, and a selected items figure of $39.5 million, or $0.41 per share, after removing expenses for an impairment and stock compensation.
“While the last three months in the market have felt negative, the fundamentals around Cabot’s operation are strong, and we continue to execute our plan,” said Dan O. Dinges, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That effort has resulted in another extremely successful financial quarter, together with positive operational results.”
The Company has created new third quarter benchmarks with cash flow from operations rising to $148.3 million versus $86.8 million in last year’s third quarter. Discretionary cash flow totaled $161.0 million versus $121.7 million in last year’s third quarter. “At a time in the business cycle when cash is king, we are pleased to be able to generate high levels of cash flow to fund our operating plan,” commented Dinges.
Driving these results were higher realized prices and higher natural gas production levels. Realized natural gas prices grew 27 percent between comparable third quarters, reaching $8.66 per Mcf for 2008. Crude oil realizations also increased, moving higher to $99.34 per barrel, or by 40 percent between comparable third quarters. Production levels experienced double digit growth driven by an increase in natural gas production, primarily from the Company’s Gulf Coast region. Oil volumes were essentially flat when comparing third quarters.
“We closed our east Texas acquisition in August giving us incremental production volumes above our original expectations, with some of this increment offset by hurricane impacts related to Gustav and Ike,” said Dinges.
On the expense side, there was a general increase in levels between comparable quarters, due to continued inflationary pressures, higher prices and the inclusion of the acquired properties (that drove up the DD&A rate). Lower exploration expense, no impairments and lower stock compensation did offset some of the increases.
Year-to-Date
For 2008 and 2007 year-to-date periods, the reported net income figures were $167.6 million, or $1.68 per share, and $125.4 million, or $1.29 per share, respectively. The nine month net income results, after removal of selected items, were $187 million for net income, or $1.87 earnings per share for 2008, which compares favorably with the income reported in the nine months last year of $128.4 million, or $1.33 per share.
Cash flow from operations for the year-to-date period reached $424.7 million versus $328.6 million last year, while the discretionary cash flow comparison year-to-date was $446.5 million versus $341 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Again, the significant up-tick in prices, together with increased volumes brought the better results. Natural gas prices increased 21 percent, while oil prices were up 53 percent between year-to-date 2008 and 2007 periods. Equivalent production volumes were nine percent higher during these same comparable periods.
Balance Sheet
“Clearly a topic on everyone’s mind is the balance sheet and the Company’s underlying liquidity levels,” stated Dinges. Cabot Oil & Gas ended the quarter with approximately $47 million in cash and $165 million of capacity on its revolving credit facility. With debt totaling $820 million, the Company still has a 33 percent debt to capitalization ratio.
Conference Call
Listen in live to Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation’s third quarter financial and operating results discussion with financial analysts on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. CDT) atwww.cabotog.com. A teleconference replay will also be available at (800) 642-1687, (U.S./Canada) or (706) 645-9291 (International), pass code 66519033. The replay will be available through Saturday, November 1, 2008. The latest financial guidance, including the Company’s hedge positions, along with a replay of the web cast, which will be archived for one year, are available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website atwww.cabotog.com.
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Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas is a leading independent natural gas producer with substantial interests in the Gulf Coast, including Texas and Louisiana; the West, with the Rocky Mountains and Mid-Continent; the East and in Canada. For additional information, visit the Company’s Internet homepage atwww.cabotog.com.
The statements regarding future financial performance and results and the other statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, market factors, the market price (including regional basis differentials) of natural gas and oil, results of future drilling and marketing activity, future production and costs, and other factors detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 4
OPERATING DATA
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| | Quarter Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
PRODUCED NATURAL GAS (Bcf) & OIL (MBbl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural Gas | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
East | | | 6.4 | | | | 6.2 | | | | 18.3 | | | | 18.2 | |
Gulf Coast | | | 9.3 | | | | 6.8 | | | | 24.4 | | | | 19.7 | |
West | | | 6.5 | | | | 6.6 | | | | 20.0 | | | | 19.4 | |
Canada | | | 0.8 | | | | 1.0 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 3.0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 23.0 | | | | 20.6 | | | | 66.1 | | | | 60.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Crude/Condensate/Ngl | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
East | | | 5 | | | | 7 | | | | 17 | | | | 20 | |
Gulf Coast | | | 152 | | | | 154 | | | | 432 | | | | 463 | |
West | | | 44 | | | | 50 | | | | 123 | | | | 140 | |
Canada | | | 6 | | | | 4 | | | | 17 | | | | 14 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 207 | | | | 215 | | | | 589 | | | | 637 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equivalent Production (Bcfe) | | | 24.2 | | | | 21.9 | | | | 69.6 | | | | 64.1 | |
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PRICES | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Produced Gas Sales Price ($/Mcf) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
East | | $ | 8.44 | | | $ | 7.37 | | | $ | 8.78 | | | $ | 7.76 | |
Gulf Coast | | $ | 9.82 | | | $ | 7.82 | | | $ | 9.53 | | | $ | 7.95 | |
West | | $ | 7.37 | | | $ | 5.47 | | | $ | 7.58 | | | $ | 6.00 | |
Canada | | $ | 7.60 | | | $ | 4.95 | | | $ | 7.84 | | | $ | 5.63 | |
Total(1) | | $ | 8.66 | | | $ | 6.80 | | | $ | 8.64 | | | $ | 7.15 | |
Average Crude/Condensate Price ($/Bbl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
East | | $ | 106.23 | | | $ | 68.12 | | | $ | 104.63 | | | $ | 60.78 | |
Gulf Coast | | $ | 95.28 | | | $ | 71.16 | | | $ | 90.58 | | | $ | 62.27 | |
West | | $ | 112.24 | | | $ | 70.85 | | | $ | 109.60 | | | $ | 62.81 | |
Canada | | $ | 100.46 | | | $ | 63.47 | | | $ | 92.03 | | | $ | 54.97 | |
Total (1) | | $ | 99.34 | | | $ | 70.85 | | | $ | 94.93 | | | $ | 62.17 | |
| | | | |
WELLS DRILLED | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 132 | | | | 137 | | | | 333 | | | | 359 | |
Net | | | 115 | | | | 110 | | | | 277 | | | | 313 | |
Gross Success Rate | | | 99 | % | | | 98 | % | | | 99 | % | | | 98 | % |
(1) | These realized prices include the realized impact of derivative instrument settlements. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2008 | | | 2007 | | 2008 | | | 2007 |
Realized Impacts to Gas Pricing | | $ | (0.30 | ) | | $ | 1.40 | | $ | (0.42 | ) | | $ | 0.99 |
Realized Impacts to Oil Pricing | | $ | (15.39 | ) | | $ | — | | $ | (15.05 | ) | | $ | 0.29 |
CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 5
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2008 | | 2007 |
Operating Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural Gas Production | | $ | 200,279 | | | $ | 140,300 | | | $ | 569,527 | | $ | 431,178 |
Brokered Natural Gas | | | 23,855 | | | | 15,179 | | | | 86,663 | | | 66,357 |
Crude Oil and Condensate | | | 20,002 | | | | 15,084 | | | | 55,089 | | | 39,289 |
Other | | | 684 | | | | 285 | | | | 2,046 | | | 1,429 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 244,820 | | | | 170,848 | | | | 713,325 | | | 538,253 |
| | | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brokered Natural Gas Cost | | | 20,891 | | | | 13,223 | | | | 75,321 | | | 57,973 |
Direct Operations—Field and Pipeline | | | 24,974 | | | | 20,996 | | | | 65,101 | | | 57,131 |
Exploration | | | 6,413 | | | | 8,766 | | | | 18,764 | | | 21,243 |
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization | | | 57,407 | | | | 43,585 | | | | 152,075 | | | 121,551 |
Impairment of Oil & Gas Properties | | | — | | | | 4,614 | | | | — | | | 4,614 |
General and Administrative (excluding Stock-Based Compensation) | | | 9,486 | | | | 7,831 | | | | 31,265 | | | 28,380 |
Stock-Based Compensation(1) | | | (9,695 | ) | | | 1,884 | | | | 29,576 | | | 12,580 |
Taxes Other Than Income | | | 20,627 | | | | 14,379 | | | | 56,749 | | | 42,123 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 130,103 | | | | 115,278 | | | | 428,851 | | | 345,595 |
| | | | |
Gain / (Loss) on Sale of Assets(2) | | | — | | | | (49 | ) | | | 401 | | | 12,293 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from Operations | | | 114,717 | | | | 55,521 | | | | 284,875 | | | 204,951 |
Interest Expense and Other | | | 10,486 | | | | 3,921 | | | | 22,684 | | | 11,464 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income Before Income Taxes | | | 104,231 | | | | 51,600 | | | | 262,191 | | | 193,487 |
Income Tax Expense | | | 37,241 | | | | 16,147 | | | | 94,601 | | | 68,111 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 66,990 | | | $ | 35,453 | | | $ | 167,590 | | $ | 125,376 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Earnings Per Share—Basic | | $ | 0.65 | | | $ | 0.37 | | | $ | 1.68 | | $ | 1.29 |
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding | | | 103,351 | | | | 97,068 | | | | 99,858 | | | 96,899 |
(1) | Includes the impact of the Company’s performance share awards and restricted stock amortization as well as expense related to stock options and stock appreciation rights. Also includes expense for the Supplemental Employee Incentive Plan which commenced in January 2008. |
(2) | Gain / (Loss) on Sale of Assets is primarily related to post-closing transactions associated with the sale in the third quarter of 2006 of offshore and certain south Louisiana properties. |
CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 6
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)
(In thousands)
| | | | | | |
| | September 30, 2008 | | December 31, 2007 |
Assets | | | | | | |
Current Assets | | $ | 430,494 | | $ | 221,413 |
Property, Equipment and Other Assets | | | 3,023,400 | | | 1,939,334 |
Deferred Income Taxes | | | 84,212 | | | 47,847 |
| | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 3,538,106 | | $ | 2,208,594 |
| | | | | | |
| | |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | | |
Current Liabilities | | $ | 318,034 | | $ | 252,266 |
Long-Term Debt, excluding Current Maturities | | | 800,000 | | | 330,000 |
Deferred Income Taxes | | | 674,007 | | | 481,770 |
Other Liabilities | | | 75,047 | | | 74,301 |
Stockholders’ Equity | | | 1,671,018 | | | 1,070,257 |
| | | | | | |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | $ | 3,538,106 | | $ | 2,208,594 |
| | | | | | |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
Cash Flows From Operating Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 66,990 | | | $ | 35,453 | | | $ | 167,590 | | | $ | 125,376 | |
Unrealized (Gain) / Loss on Derivatives | | | (1,260 | ) | | | — | | | | 1,649 | | | | — | |
Impairment of Oil & Gas Properties | | | — | | | | 4,614 | | | | — | | | | 4,614 | |
Income Charges Not Requiring Cash | | | 47,948 | | | | 45,511 | | | | 162,446 | | | | 135,094 | |
(Gain) / Loss on Sale of Assets | | | — | | | | 49 | | | | (401 | ) | | | (12,293 | ) |
Deferred Income Tax Expense | | | 40,944 | | | | 27,318 | | | | 96,459 | | | | 66,930 | |
Changes in Assets and Liabilities | | | (1,707 | ) | | | (34,148 | ) | | | (10,768 | ) | | | (5,548 | ) |
Stock-Based Compensation Tax Benefit | | | (11,011 | ) | | | (811 | ) | | | (11,011 | ) | | | (6,857 | ) |
Exploration Expense | | | 6,413 | | | | 8,766 | | | | 18,764 | | | | 21,243 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Cash Provided by Operations | | | 148,317 | | | | 86,752 | | | | 424,728 | | | | 328,559 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cash Flows From Investing Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital Expenditures | | | (791,728 | ) | | | (145,032 | ) | | | (1,164,339 | ) | | | (416,963 | ) |
Proceeds from Sale of Assets | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | 1,150 | | | | 5,826 | |
Exploration Expense | | | (6,413 | ) | | | (8,766 | ) | | | (18,764 | ) | | | (21,243 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Cash Used in Investing | | | (798,141 | ) | | | (153,797 | ) | | | (1,181,953 | ) | | | (432,380 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cash Flows From Financing Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sale of Common Stock Proceeds | | | 122 | | | | 7 | | | | 316,229 | | | | 2,314 | |
Net Increase in Debt | | | 555,000 | | | | 60,000 | | | | 470,000 | | | | 75,000 | |
Capitalized Debt Issuance Costs | | | (2,166 | ) | | | — | | | | (2,166 | ) | | | — | |
Stock-Based Compensation Tax Benefit | | | 11,011 | | | | 811 | | | | 11,011 | | | | 6,857 | |
Dividends Paid | | | (3,100 | ) | | | (2,913 | ) | | | (8,973 | ) | | | (7,753 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Cash Provided by Financing | | | 560,867 | | | | 57,905 | | | | 786,101 | | | | 76,418 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Net Increase / (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents | | $ | (88,957 | ) | | $ | (9,140 | ) | | $ | 28,876 | | | $ | (27,403 | ) |
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CABOT OIL & GAS RESULTS — Page 7
Selected Item Review and Reconciliation of Net Income and Earnings Per Share
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2008 | | | 2007 | | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
As Reported—Net Income | | $ | 66,990 | | | $ | 35,453 | | $ | 167,590 | | | $ | 125,376 | |
Reversal of Selected Items, Net of Tax: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Impairment of Oil & Gas Properties | | | — | | | | 2,870 | | | — | | | | 2,870 | |
(Gain) / Loss on Sale of Assets | | | — | | | | 30 | | | (253 | ) | | | (7,647 | ) |
Stock-Based Compensation Expense | | | (6,098 | ) | | | 1,172 | | | 18,625 | | | | 7,825 | |
Unrealized (Gain) / Loss on Derivatives(1) | | | (793 | ) | | | — | | | 1,040 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income Excluding Selected Items | | $ | 60,099 | | | $ | 39,525 | | $ | 187,002 | | | $ | 128,424 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As Reported—Net Earnings Per Share | | $ | 0.65 | | | $ | 0.37 | | $ | 1.68 | | | $ | 1.29 | |
Per Share Impact of Reversing Selected Items | | | (0.07 | ) | | | 0.04 | | | 0.19 | | | | 0.04 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Earnings Per Share Including Reversal of Selected Items | | $ | 0.58 | | | $ | 0.41 | | $ | 1.87 | | | $ | 1.33 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding | | | 103,351 | | | | 97,068 | | | 99,858 | | | | 96,899 | |
(1) | This unrealized gain / (loss) is included in Natural Gas Production Revenues in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and represents the mark to market change related to a portion of a derivative not designated as a hedge in the second quarter of 2008. |
Discretionary Cash Flow Calculation and Reconciliation
(In thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
Discretionary Cash Flow | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As Reported—Net Income | | $ | 66,990 | | | $ | 35,453 | | | $ | 167,590 | | | $ | 125,376 | |
Plus / (Less): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized (Gain) / Loss on Derivatives | | | (1,260 | ) | | | — | | | | 1,649 | | | | — | |
Impairment of Oil & Gas Properties | | | — | | | | 4,614 | | | | — | | | | 4,614 | |
Income Charges Not Requiring Cash | | | 47,948 | | | | 45,511 | | | | 162,446 | | | | 135,094 | |
(Gain) / Loss on Sale of Assets | | | — | | | | 49 | | | | (401 | ) | | | (12,293 | ) |
Deferred Income Tax Expense | | | 40,944 | | | | 27,318 | | | | 96,459 | | | | 66,930 | |
Exploration Expense | | | 6,413 | | | | 8,766 | | | | 18,764 | | | | 21,243 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Discretionary Cash Flow | | | 161,035 | | | | 121,711 | | | | 446,507 | | | | 340,964 | |
Changes in Assets and Liabilities | | | (1,707 | ) | | | (34,148 | ) | | | (10,768 | ) | | | (5,548 | ) |
Stock-Based Compensation Tax Benefit | | | (11,011 | ) | | | (811 | ) | | | (11,011 | ) | | | (6,857 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Cash Provided by Operations | | $ | 148,317 | | | $ | 86,752 | | | $ | 424,728 | | | $ | 328,559 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Debt Reconciliation
(In thousands)
| | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, 2008 | | | December 31, 2007 | |
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt | | $ | 20,000 | | | $ | 20,000 | |
Long-Term Debt | | | 800,000 | | | | 330,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Debt | | $ | 820,000 | | | $ | 350,000 | |
Stockholders’ Equity | | | 1,671,018 | | | | 1,070,257 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Capitalization | | $ | 2,491,018 | | | $ | 1,420,257 | |
| | |
Total Debt | | $ | 820,000 | | | $ | 350,000 | |
Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents | | | (47,374 | ) | | | (18,498 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Debt | | $ | 772,626 | | | $ | 331,502 | |
| | |
Net Debt | | $ | 772,626 | | | $ | 331,502 | |
Stockholders’ Equity | | | 1,671,018 | | | | 1,070,257 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Adjusted Capitalization | | $ | 2,443,644 | | | $ | 1,401,759 | |
| | |
Total Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio | | | 32.9 | % | | | 24.6 | % |
Less: Impact of Cash and Cash Equivalents | | | 1.3 | % | | | 1.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Debt to Adjusted Capitalization Ratio | | | 31.6 | % | | | 23.6 | % |