Press Release

MIDLAND, Texas, Nov. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG) (“Diamondback” or the “Company”) today announced financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.

THIRD QUARTER 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

• Generated third quarter cash flow from operating activities of $542 million. Operating Cash Flow Before Working Capital Changes (as defined and reconciled below) was $434 million
• Generated third quarter Free Cash Flow (as defined and reconciled below) of $153 million
• Q3 2020 cash operating costs of $7.61 per BOE; including cash general and administrative ("G&A") expenses of $0.42 per BOE and lease operating expenses ("LOE") of $3.86 per BOE
• Declared Q3 2020 cash dividend of $0.375 per share payable on November 19, 2020; implies a 5.8% annualized yield based on the October 30, 2020 share closing price of $25.96
• Ended the third quarter with a net cash position of $68 million and had no borrowings outstanding on Diamondback's credit facility. Standalone liquidity of $2,068 million as of September 30, 2020
• Repurchased all $10 million in principal amount of the outstanding 2027 Energen Resources Corporation 7.35% Medium Term Notes
• Lowering LOE and G&A unit guidance by a combined $0.40 per BOE at the midpoint of each full year 2020 guidance range, implying estimate of total cash cost savings of over $43 million for the full year 2020
• Current drilling and completion costs in the Midland Basin are ~$450 per lateral foot, with an estimated additional $60 to $80 of equip cost per lateral foot
• Current drilling and completion costs in the Delaware Basin are between $600 and $700 per lateral foot, with an estimated additional $100 to $150 of equip costs per lateral foot
• Completed an average of over 3,300 lateral feet per day per completion crew in the Midland Basin using Simul-Frac technology during the quarter
• Flared 0.5% of net production in the third quarter, down 74% year over year. For the first nine months of 2020, flared 0.9% of net production, down 54% year over year
• Recycled 25.1% of water used for completion operations in the third quarter, up 24% year over year. For the first nine months of 2020, recycled 21.4% of water used for completion operations, up 53% year over year

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED THIRD QUARTER 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

• Q3 2020 average production of 170.0 MBO/d (287.3 MBOE/d)
• Q3 2020 cash capital expenditures of $281 million; Q3 2020 activity-based capital expenditures incurred of approximately $206 million
• Q3 2020 average realized hedged prices of $38.17 per barrel of oil, $12.09 per barrel of natural gas liquids and $0.95 per Mcf of natural gas, resulting in a total equivalent price of $26.22 per BOE
• Q3 2020 average unhedged realized prices of $38.75 per barrel of oil, $12.09 per barrel of natural gas liquids and $1.11 per Mcf of natural gas, resulting in a total equivalent price of $26.75 per BOE
• Drilled 32 gross operated horizontal wells and turned 41 wells to production in the third quarter

“Diamondback continued our trend of cost reductions in the third quarter, with LOE and G&A remaining near all-time lows and capital costs per lateral foot continuing to decline to new records. Our drilling and completion operations continue to become more efficient, and we are beginning to see the benefits from high-grading our development program after the downturn began earlier this year. We are on track to meet our fourth quarter average production target of between 170,000 and 175,000 barrels of oil per day and expect this to be the baseline for our development plan in 2021. We expect to execute on this maintenance capital plan with 25% - 35% less capital than 2020 which implies a reinvestment ratio of approximately 70% at $40 WTI,” stated Travis Stice, Chief Executive Officer of Diamondback.

Mr. Stice continued, “We still firmly believe that the concept of production growth should not be considered until commodity prices recover and global inventories return to normalized levels, and any form of material production growth will only magnify the issues our industry is fighting today. Therefore, Diamondback's investment framework and capital allocation philosophy at current oil prices remain very simple and have not changed: protect our base dividend, spend maintenance capital to hold oil production flat, and use excess Free Cash Flow to pay down debt. We operate in a cyclical business, and while this downturn has been as severe as any in industry history, Diamondback has the size, scale, balance sheet, asset quality and cost structure to weather a prolonged downturn and thrive in the inevitable upcycle.”

Mr. Stice continued, "Diamondback is committed to environmental stewardship and delivering best-in-class performance in reducing our carbon footprint. While owning and operating assets that are positioned on the low end of the global oil cost of supply curve is most important to our stockholders, we recognize it is also important to own and operate assets that are also positioned on the low end of the greenhouse gas emissions cost of supply curve. Diamondback supports public policies that eliminate routine flaring as long as those policies protect the safety of our operations and consider flaring contributions from all segments of the oil and gas industry. Upstream and midstream operators must continue to work together to address the flaring issue for our industry. Flaring was responsible for over 50% of Diamondback's Scope 1 emissions in 2019. With flaring per net BOE produced down 54% year to date, our Scope 1 emissions have materially declined this year, demonstrating our commitment to environmental responsibility."

OPERATIONS UPDATE

The tables below provide a summary of operational activity for the third quarter 2020.

During the third quarter of 2020, Diamondback drilled 22 gross horizontal wells in the Midland Basin and ten gross horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin. The Company turned 25 operated horizontal wells to production in the Midland Basin and 16 operated horizontal wells to production in the Delaware Basin. The average lateral length for the wells completed during the third quarter was 9,881 feet. Operated completions during the third quarter consisted of 16 Wolfcamp A wells, nine Middle Spraberry wells, six Lower Spraberry wells, five Wolfcamp B wells and five Second Bone Spring wells.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company drilled 183 gross horizontal wells and turned 136 operated horizontal wells to production. The average lateral length for wells completed during the first nine months of 2020 was 9,955 feet, and consisted of 67 Wolfcamp A wells, 17 Lower Spraberry wells, 17 Middle Spraberry wells, 16 Wolfcamp B wells, 11 Second Bone Spring wells, five Third Bone Spring wells and three Jo Mill wells.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Diamondback's third quarter 2020 net loss was $1,113 million, or $7.05 per diluted share. Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and reconciled below) was $98 million, or $0.62 per diluted share. Third quarter 2020 net loss includes a non-cash impairment charge of $1,451 million as a result of the lower SEC Pricing because of the sharp decline in commodity prices.

Third quarter 2020 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) was $496 million. Adjusted EBITDA net of non-controlling interest was $477 million.

Third quarter 2020 average unhedged realized prices were $38.75 per barrel of oil, $1.11 per Mcf of natural gas and $12.09 per barrel of natural gas liquids, resulting in a total equivalent unhedged price of $26.75/BOE.

Diamondback's cash operating costs for the third quarter of 2020 were $7.61 per BOE, including LOE of $3.86 per BOE, cash G&A expenses of $0.42 per BOE and production and ad valorem taxes and gathering and transportation expenses of $3.33 per BOE.

As of September 30, 2020, Diamondback had $68 million in standalone cash and no borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility, with approximately $2 billion available for future borrowing under the facility and $2,068 million of total liquidity.

During the third quarter of 2020, Diamondback spent $219 million on drilling and completion, $39 million on midstream, $16 million on infrastructure and $7 million on non-operated properties, for total capital expenditures of $281 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company spent $1,347 million on drilling and completion, $133 million on midstream, $96 million on infrastructure and $57 million on non-operated properties, for total capital expenditures of $1,633 million.

DIVIDEND DECLARATION

Diamondback announced today that the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.375 per common share for the third quarter of 2020 payable on November 19, 2020, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 12, 2020. Future dividends remain subject to review and approval at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors.

FULL YEAR 2020 GUIDANCE

Below is Diamondback's guidance for the full year 2020. Diamondback lowered its full year 2020 guidance for LOE to between $4.00 to $4.20 per BOE and cash G&A expense to between $0.45 to $0.55 per BOE. Diamondback also lowered its full year 2020 guidance for Depreciation, Depletion & Amortization ("D,D&A") to between $11.00 to $13.00 per BOE.

(a) Includes production taxes of 4.6% for crude oil and 7.5% for natural gas and NGLs and ad valorem taxes.

CONFERENCE CALL

Diamondback will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss its results for the third quarter of 2020 on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. CT. Participants should call (877) 440-7573 (United States/Canada) or (253) 237-1144 (International) and use the confirmation code 2493666. A telephonic replay will be available from 11:00 a.m. CT on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 through Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. CT. To access the replay, call (855) 859-2056 (United States/Canada) or (404) 537-3406 (International) and enter confirmation code 2493666. A live broadcast of the earnings conference call will also be available via the internet at www.diamondbackenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site. A replay will also be available on the website following the call.

About Diamondback Energy, Inc.

Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than historical facts, that address activities that Diamondback assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events, including the current adverse industry and macroeconomic conditions, depressed commodity prices, production levels, any potential regulatory actions that impose production limits in the Permian Basin, the impact and duration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, acquisitions and sales of assets, future dividends, production, drilling and capital expenditure plans, impact of impairment charges and effects of hedging arrangements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those expected by the management of Diamondback. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in Diamondback’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Diamondback undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

1. Bbl equivalents are calculated using a conversion rate of six Mcf per one Bbl.
2. The volumes presented are based on actual results and are not calculated using the rounded numbers in the table above.
3. Hedged prices reflect the effect of our commodity derivative transactions on our average sales prices. Our calculation of such effects includes realized gains and losses on cash settlements for matured commodity derivatives, which we do not designate for hedge accounting.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments, net, interest expense, net, depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, depreciation and interest expense related to equity method investments, impairment and abandonments related to equity method investments, (gain) loss on revaluation of investment, loss on extinguishment of debt, impairment of oil and natural gas properties, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, other non-cash transactions and provision for (benefit from) income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of net income as determined by United States’ generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful because the measure allows it to more effectively evaluate the Company’s operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. The Company adds the items listed above to net (loss) income in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within its industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets. The Company’s computation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in our credit facility or any of our other contracts.

The following tables present a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA to the GAAP financial measure of net income.

Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net loss adjusted for non-cash loss on derivative instruments, impairment and abandonments related to equity method investments, gain on revaluation of investments, loss on extinguishment of debt, impairment of oil and natural gas properties, other income and related income tax adjustments. The Company’s computation of adjusted net income may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in our credit facility or any of our other contracts.

The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted net income to net loss:

(1) Calculated using diluted shares (non-GAAP)

Operating cash flow before working capital changes, which is a non-GAAP financial measure representing net cash provided by operating activities as determined under GAAP without regard to changes in operating assets and liabilities. The Company believes operating cash flow before working capital changes is an accepted measure of an oil and natural gas company’s ability to generate cash used to fund exploration, development and acquisition activities and service debt or pay dividends. The Company also uses this measure because adjusted operating cash flow relates to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements that the Company may not control and may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred. This allows the Company to compare its operating performance with that of other companies without regard to financing methods and capital structure.

Additionally, the Company provides Free Cash Flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Free Cash Flow is cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital in excess of cash capital expenditures. The Company believes that Free Cash Flow is useful to investors as it provides a measure to compare both cash flow from operating activities and additions to oil and natural gas properties across periods on a consistent basis. These measures should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net cash provided by operating activities as an indicator of operating performance. The Company's computation of operating cash flow before working capital changes and Free Cash Flow may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following tables present a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to operating cash flow before working capital changes and to Free Cash Flow:

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DEBT TO NET DEBT

The Company defines net debt as total debt less cash and cash equivalents. Net debt should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management uses net debt to determine the Company's outstanding debt obligations that would not be readily satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. The Company believes this metric is useful to analysts and investors in determining the Company's leverage position because the Company has the ability to, and may decide to, use a portion of its cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt.

(a) Includes $191 million of debt which matures on September 1, 2021.
(b) Excludes debt issuance costs, discounts, and premiums.

DERIVATIVES

The Company now has a total of 162.2 thousand barrels of crude oil per day protected in the fourth quarter of 2020, with 95% of those hedges having unlimited downside protection as a swap, put or collar. The Company has an average of 88.9 thousand barrels of crude oil per day of hedge protection in 2021 through a combination of collars and swaps. These hedge positions are consolidated to include hedges in place at Viper Energy Partners LP (“Viper”).

As of October 30, 2020, the Company had the following outstanding consolidated derivative contracts, including derivative contracts at Viper. The Company’s derivative contracts are based upon reported settlement prices on commodity exchanges, with crude oil derivative settlements based on New York Mercantile Exchange West Texas Intermediate pricing and Crude Oil Brent pricing and with natural gas derivative settlements based on the New York Mercantile Exchange Henry Hub pricing. When aggregating multiple contracts, the weighted average contract price is disclosed.

(1) Includes of 5,000 BO/d of swaps in the first half of 2021 whereby the counterparty has the right to extend the hedge into the second half of 2021 at an average price of $51/Bbl
(2) Includes a deferred premium at a weighted-average price of $1.89/Bbl

Investor Contact:
Adam Lawlis
+1 432.221.7467
alawlis@diamondbackenergy.com

Source: Diamondback Energy, Inc.