Civitas Resources, Inc. reported its first quarter 2024 financial and operating results. A webcast and conference call is planned for 9 a.m. MT (11 a.m. ET) on Friday, May 3, 2024. Participation details are available in this release, and supplemental materials can be accessed on the Company's website, www.civitasresources.com.
Additional Highlights
Civitas closed its previously-announced acquisition of certain oil and gas assets in the Midland Basin from Vencer Energy, LLC ("Vencer Energy") in January 2024 and assumed operatorship ahead of schedule in April. The Company assumed operatorship of its Delaware Basin assets in February 2024.
As a result of operational efficiencies achieved in the Permian Basin, Civitas drilled three net miles (1.5 wells) and completed six net miles (3 wells) more than planned in the first quarter.
The Company recently executed agreements to divest two non-core DJ Basin asset packages for $215 million, with total divestment proceeds now exceeding the $300 million target announced in June of last year. The assets have combined production of approximately 7 MBoe/d (~5 MBoe/d full year 2024 impact based on anticipated closing) and approximately 82,400 net operated acres. The divested acreage primarily represented Civitas' long-dated future development in its northeast extension area.
The Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of $1.50 per share ($0.50 per share base and $1.00 per share variable) to be paid on June 26 to shareholders of record as of June 12, 2024.
Share repurchases during the quarter totaled $67 million, or 1,028,468 shares at an average repurchase price of $65.08 per share.
“Civitas is off to a great start this year with strong performance across our portfolio,” said CEO Chris Doyle. “This quarter was the first reporting period that all our new businesses were together, and our results highlight just the beginning of Civitas' bright future ahead. In the Permian, our execution is already unlocking value through improved cycle times and cost reductions, and in the DJ, performance continues to exceed expectations. We surpassed our goal to sell $300 million in non-core assets, and we will use the proceeds to strengthen our balance sheet and support our shareholder return program. Civitas is well positioned to create future value for our shareholders through the execution of our strategic principles: maximizing free cash flow, enhancing our strong balance sheet, returning cash to owners, and leading in ESG.”
First Quarter 2024 Financial and Operating Results
Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids ("NGL") sales for the first quarter of 2024 were $1.3 billion, up 18% from the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily related to 19% higher sales volumes and slightly lower realized commodity pricing. Crude oil accounted for 81% of total revenue for the first quarter of 2024.
Sales volume for the first quarter 2024 were higher than expected at 336 MBoe/d, which benefited from continued strong well performance and accelerated turn-in-line ("TIL") timing. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, Permian Basin volumes were 58% higher, while DJ Basin volumes were slightly lower. The increase in Permian Basin sales volumes was primarily related to the inclusion of the Vencer Energy assets, following the closing of the acquisition on January 2, 2024. First quarter DJ Basin gas volumes were benefited by late 2023 TILs commencing production in the core of Wattenberg, while oil volumes were impacted by 1.6 MBbl/d as a result of DJ Basin barrels produced but not sold due to a new pipeline takeaway agreement and associated linefill requirements. Oil represented nearly 47% of total Company first quarter volumes, consistent with expectations.
In the first quarter of 2024, differentials for the Company's crude oil and natural gas sales volumes averaged negative $1.36 per barrel and $0.63 per thousand cubic feet, respectively. The Company's crude oil realization was in line with expectation for the quarter, while its natural gas differential was better than expectation as a result of strong Colorado Intrastate Gas pricing, which reflected local seasonal demand. NGL realizations per barrel represented 29% of West Texas Intermediate crude oil in the first quarter of 2024.
Realized hedging losses totaled $11 million for the first quarter of 2024, primarily a result of the Company's crude oil hedges during a period of strengthening oil prices. The Company has recently added additional crude oil, natural gas and basis hedges (Waha and CIG) to reduce revenue volatility. A complete listing of derivative positions can be found in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024.
Total cash operating expense per Boe, including lease operating expense, gathering, transportation and processing expenses, midstream operating expense, as well as cash general and administrative (a non-GAAP measure(1)), for the first quarter of 2024 was $9.19, in the lower half of the Company's annual guidance. Lease operating expenses during the quarter benefited from the achievement of ongoing field-level synergies and optimization of chemicals in the Permian Basin.
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization averaged $15.29 per Boe during the first quarter. Exploration expense for the quarter totaled $12 million and was primarily related to the acquisition of seismic data in the Permian Basin.
As a result of the Vencer Energy acquisition that closed in January 2024, the Company recorded $23 million in transaction costs associated with legal, advisor and other associated costs. Civitas' first quarter effective income tax rate of 16.6% was impacted by deferred tax benefits from state apportionment changes as a result of the Vencer Energy asset acquisition.
As of the end of the first quarter, Civitas' financial liquidity was $1.5 billion, consisting of cash on hand and available borrowing capacity on the Company's credit facility. The Company's borrowings on its revolving credit facility was reduced $350 million from the end of 2023.
First Quarter 2024 Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures for the quarter totaled 33% of the Company's full-year 2024 expected capital. Investments in the first quarter were slightly higher than planned based primarily on accelerated drilling and completion activity in the Permian Basin and certain long-lead item purchases. In the Permian Basin, the Company drilled, completed, and turned to sales 39, 51, and 39 gross operated wells, respectively, during the quarter. In the DJ Basin, the Company drilled, completed, and turned to sales 37, 22, and 11 gross operated wells.
The Company's full-year 2024 budget is unchanged at $1.8 - $2.1 billion. Capital expenditures are anticipated to trend lower throughout the year, with an estimated 60-65% of full-year capital to be invested in the first half of the year.
Asset Divestments
The Company recently executed agreements to divest two non-core DJ Basin asset packages totaling combined production of nearly 7 MBoe/d (40% oil) and 82,400 net operated acres, for approximately $215 million. The first of these two asset packages, which closed in late March 2024, consisted primarily of non-operated production located throughout the DJ Basin. The second asset sale package included both production and operated acreage, and the transaction is expected to close at the end of May 2024. Including non-operated acreage sold in late 2023, total asset sales from the divestment program now exceed $300 million. Annual EBITDA from the divested assets is estimated to be approximately $70 million at $75 oil.
Civitas reiterated its full-year 2024 sales volume outlook of 325 - 345 MBoe/d, with outperformance in the first quarter and an enhanced outlook for the remainder of the year offsetting the full-year impact from asset sales, which is estimated at 5 MBoe/d. The Company expects second quarter 2024 sales volumes (both oil and total equivalent) to be broadly flat with first quarter levels, before increasing in the second half of the year.
Webcast / Conference Call Information
The Company plans to host a webcast and conference call to discuss these results at 9 a.m. MT (11 a.m. ET) on Friday, May 3, 2024. The webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.civitasresources.com. The dial-in number for the call is 888-510-2535, with passcode 4872770.