CIVI - Civitas Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Results

2024 Outlook Focused on Free Cash Flow and Cash Returns to Shareholders;

Production Guidance Maintained with 7% Reduction in Capital

Civitas Resources, Inc. (NYSE: CIVI) (the "Company" or "Civitas") today reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2023 financial and operating results, as well as provided its 2024 outlook. A webcast and conference call to discuss the results is planned for 8:00 a.m. MT (10:00 a.m. ET), February 28, 2024. Participation details are available in this release, and supplemental materials can be accessed on the Company's website, www.civitasresources.com .

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Net income of $303 million and Adjusted EBITDAX ⁽¹⁾ of $763 million
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $843 million and free cash flow ⁽¹⁾ of $215 million
• Fixed-plus-variable dividend, to be paid in March 2024, of $1.45 per share
• Average sales of 279 thousand barrels of crude oil equivalent per day (“MBoe/d”), of which 47% was crude oil. DJ Basin production averaged 173 MBoe/d and Permian Basin production averaged 106 MBoe/d
• Divested $85 million of non-core DJ Basin acreage, primarily non-operated with minimal production; remain on-track to achieve $300 million divestment target by mid-year 2024
• Cash on hand at the end of the year of $1.1 billion includes proceeds from the Company's $1 billion senior notes issued in support of its financing for the Vencer Energy ("Vencer") acquisition, which closed in January 2024

Full Year 2023 Highlights

• Added significant scale and diversified the Company's asset base by acquiring approximately $7 billion in Permian Basin assets
  • Combined, the transactions added approximately 160 MBoe/d of production, 112,000 net acres and 1,200 high-value development locations through the acquisitions of Tap Rock Resources, LLC ("Tap Rock"), Hibernia Energy III, LLC ("Hibernia") and Vencer
• Met all key deliverables under the Company's 2023 business plan, delivering full-year production and capital investments within guidance
• Returned approximately $1 billion to shareholders through base and variable dividends, along with share repurchases, representing more than 16% of the Company's current market capitalization
• Reduced Civitas' total recordable incident rate in the DJ Basin by 4% as compared to 2022, while decreasing the occurrence of operated spills by 43%

⁽¹⁾ Non-GAAP financial measure; see attached reconciliation schedules at the end of this release.

“Civitas is a remarkably different company today. As our DJ Basin asset continues to outperform, we were successful in strategically expanding our portfolio over the last year by capturing accretive acquisitions that provide us with important scale and diversification in another world-class unconventional basin, the Permian. With a lengthened runway of high-return development opportunities, we are better positioned today to create sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders. Our 2024 outlook builds on the momentum we created over the last year as our premier asset base provides us with more flexibility in our capital allocation and higher certainty in our outcomes. Our focus in 2024 is clear: maximize free cash flow, return cash to owners, and maintain our strong balance sheet,” said CEO Chris Doyle.

2024 Outlook Optimized

The Company maintained its previously-provided 2024 production guidance and decreased its estimated 2024 capital expenditures by $150 million. The improvement in capital efficiency is primarily driven by optimized activity levels, enhanced well productivity, and reduced cycle times. Approximately 60% of total investments are planned to be allocated to the Permian Basin, with the remainder to the DJ Basin. The Company expects to drill and complete 130 to 150 gross wells in the Permian Basin and 90 to 110 gross wells in the DJ Basin. The majority of activity in the DJ Basin will be focused in the Watkins area, which is benefiting from higher well productivity. Capital expenditures and activity levels will be more weighted to the first half of the year, and production volumes are expected to increase modestly through the year.

The following table provides guidance for key items in 2024:

Note: Guidance is forward-looking information that is subject to considerable change and numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Additional guidance details are provided in the supplemental materials associated with today's earnings release and the upcoming webcast / conference call. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” below.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial and Operating Results

Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids ("NGL") sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $1.1 billion, up 9% from the third quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily related to 18% higher sales volumes, partially offset by 8% lower realized commodity pricing. Crude oil accounted for 83% of total revenue for the fourth quarter 2023.

As compared to the third quarter of 2023, DJ Basin sales volumes were up nearly 3% and Permian Basin volumes were higher by 58%. Fourth quarter 2023 Permian Basin sales volumes included a full quarter of production from the Tap Rock and Hibernia assets as compared to only two months included in the third quarter of 2023. Fourth quarter 2023 Permian Basin production was impacted by downtime primarily associated with facility upgrades in the Delaware, a higher oil-cut area of production for Civitas. Excluding this downtime, fourth quarter Permian Basin volumes would have been approximately 112 MBoe/d. The upgrades have been completed and the Company's Permian Basin December 2023 production averaged 120 MBoe/d, 50% of which was crude oil (does not include volumes from the Vencer transaction which closed in January 2024).

In the fourth quarter of 2023, differentials for the Company's crude oil and natural gas sales volumes averaged negative $0.98 per barrel and negative $0.92 per Mcf, respectively. As compared to the third quarter of 2023, the Company's crude oil differential improved and its natural gas differential weakened primarily as a result of increased exposure to Midland oil pricing and Waha natural gas pricing. NGL realizations per barrel represented 23% of West Texas Intermediate crude oil in the fourth quarter 2023 and were impacted by, amongst other factors, certain Permian Basin gathering, transportation, and processing ("GTP") costs recorded as a reduction to revenues instead of as operating expenses, based on contractual sales point.

The following table presents crude oil, natural gas, and NGL sales volumes by operating region as well as consolidated average sales prices for the periods presented:

Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter totaled $470 million, bringing full-year 2023 capital expenditures to $1,365 million. DJ Basin capital expenditures represented 40% of fourth quarter capital expenditures, with the Permian Basin accounting for the remaining 60%. In the Permian Basin, the Company drilled, completed, and turned to sales 27 gross (19.9 net), 25 gross (21.8 net), and 48 gross (41.7 net) operated wells, respectively, during the fourth quarter of 2023. In the DJ Basin, the Company drilled, completed, and turned to sales 22 gross (18.3 net), 21 gross (20.0 net), and 38 gross (30.4 net) operated wells, respectively, during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Total cash operating expense per Boe, including lease operating expense, GTP, midstream operating expense, as well as cash general and administrative (a non-GAAP measure ⁽²⁾ ), for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $9.58, lower than anticipated based on certain Permian Basin GTP costs being recorded as a reduction to revenues instead of as an operating expense.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a $30 million current tax benefit as the result of elections made and additional tax benefits recognized on the 2022 income tax returns. The majority of the benefit was received as cash in the fourth quarter, with the remainder received in early 2024.

As a result of the multiple Permian Basin transactions executed in 2023, the Company recorded $24 million of transaction costs in the fourth quarter of 2023.

⁽²⁾ Non-GAAP financial measure; see attached reconciliation schedules at the end of this release.

Dividend to be Paid in March

The Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $1.45 per share, payable on March 28, 2024 to shareholders of record as of March 15, 2024. The amount reflects the combination of the base dividend of $0.50 per share and a variable dividend of $0.95 per share. Additional details regarding the calculation of the variable dividend can be found in the Company's latest investor presentation located on its website.

2023 Proved Reserves and Costs Incurred

At December 31, 2023, the Company had proved reserves of 698 million Boe, a 68% increase from year-end 2022 reserves. The increase from 2022 was primarily driven by the addition of Permian Basin reserves associated with the Tap Rock and Hibernia acquisitions. Proved reserves at year-end 2023 do not include volumes from the Vencer acquisition that closed in January 2024.

The Company's year-end 2023 proved reserves were comprised of 273 million barrels of crude oil, 1,320 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and 205 million barrels of NGL. 78% of the total proved reserves are proved developed. The Company's proved reserves PV-10, utilizing Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") pricing, was $9.4 billion. Civitas' independent reserve engineering firm, Ryder Scott Company, LP., completed its estimate of the Company's year-end 2023 proved reserves in accordance with SEC guidelines using pricing of $78.22 per barrel for crude oil and $2.64 per million British Thermal Units for natural gas, which is down 16% and 58%, respectively from the prices used to determine year-end 2022 proved reserves. Please see Schedule 8 at the end of this release for information on SEC pricing and a reconciliation of PV-10 to the GAAP figure “Standardized Measure of Oil and Gas.”

A breakout of the Company's costs incurred are provided in the table below:

Proved Reserve Roll-Forward

Webcast / Conference Call Information

The Company plans to host a webcast and conference call to discuss these results at 8:00 a.m. MT (10:00 a.m. ET) on February 28, 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.

About Civitas Resources, Inc.

Civitas Resources, Inc. is an independent, domestic oil and gas producer focused on development of its premier assets in the Denver-Julesburg (“DJ”) and Permian Basins. Civitas has a proven business model combining capital discipline, a strong balance sheet, cash flow generation and sustainable cash returns to shareholders. Civitas employs leading ESG practices and is Colorado’s first carbon neutral oil and gas producer. For more information about Civitas, please visit www.civitasresources.com .

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this press release concerning future opportunities for Civitas, future financial performance and condition, guidance, and any other statements regarding Civitas’ future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, returns to shareholders, assumptions, or future events or performance that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical facts. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “ensure,” “expect,” “if,” “intend,” “estimate,” “probable,” “project,” “forecasts,” “predict,” “outlook,” “aim,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “plan,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions or other words of similar meaning, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s plans and expectations with respect to the future production and capital expenditures, and the effects of such on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, growth opportunities, reserve estimates and competitive position. The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, Civitas’ future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; the ability of Civitas to realize anticipated synergies related to Civitas' recent acquisitions in the timeframe expected or at all; changes in capital markets and the ability of Civitas to finance operations in the manner expected; the effects of commodity prices; the risks of oil and gas activities; and the fact that operating costs and business disruption may be greater than expected. Additionally, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated also include: declines or volatility in the prices we receive for our oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; general economic conditions, whether internationally, nationally, or in the regional and local market areas in which we do business, including any future economic downturn, the impact of continued or further inflation, disruption in the financial markets, and the availability of credit on acceptable terms; the Company’s ability to identify and select possible additional acquisition and disposition opportunities; the effects of disruption of our operations or excess supply of oil and natural gas due to world health events, and the actions by certain oil and natural gas producing countries, including Russia; the ability of our customers to meet their obligations to us; our access to capital on acceptable terms; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations, borrowings, or other sources to enable us to fully develop our undeveloped acreage positions; our ability to continue to pay dividends at their current level or at all; the presence or recoverability of estimated oil and natural gas reserves and the actual future sales volume rates and associated costs; uncertainties associated with estimates of proved oil and gas reserves; the possibility that the industry may be subject to future local, state, and federal regulatory or legislative actions (including additional taxes and changes in environmental, health and safety regulation and regulations addressing climate change); environmental, health and safety risks; seasonal weather conditions, as well as severe weather and other natural events caused by climate change; lease stipulations; drilling and operating risks, including the risks associated with the employment of horizontal drilling and completion techniques; our ability to acquire adequate supplies of water for drilling and completion operations; the availability of oilfield equipment, services, and personnel; exploration and development risks; operational interruption of centralized oil and natural gas processing facilities; competition in the oil and natural gas industry; management’s ability to execute our plans to meet our goals; unforeseen difficulties encountered in operating in new geographic areas; our ability to attract and retain key members of our senior management and key technical employees; our ability to maintain effective internal controls; access to adequate gathering systems and pipeline take-away capacity; our ability to secure adequate processing capacity for natural gas we produce, to secure adequate transportation for oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids we produce, and to sell the oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids at market prices; costs and other risks associated with perfecting title for mineral rights in some of our properties; political conditions in or affecting other producing countries, including conflicts in or relating to the Middle East (including the current events related to the Israel-Palestine conflict), South America, and Russia (including the current events involving Russia and Ukraine), and other sustained military campaigns or acts of terrorism or sabotage; the effects of any pandemic or other global health epidemic; other economic, competitive, governmental, legislative, regulatory, geopolitical, and technological factors that may negatively impact our businesses, operations, or pricing; and disruptions to our business due to acquisitions and other significant transactions. Expectations regarding business outlook, including changes in revenue, pricing, capital expenditures, cash flow generation, strategies for our operations, oil and natural gas market conditions, legal, economic, and regulatory conditions, and environmental matters are only forecasts regarding these matters.

Additional information concerning other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” sections in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at the time they were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

Schedule 4: Adjusted EBITDAX
(in thousands, unaudited)

Adjusted EBITDAX is a non-GAAP measure that represents earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, and amortization, exploration expense, and other non-cash and non-recurring charges. Adjusted EBITDAX excludes certain items that we believe affect the comparability of operating results and can exclude items that are generally non-recurring in nature or whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated. We present Adjusted EBITDAX because we believe it provides useful additional information to investors and analysts, as a performance measure, for analysis of our ability to internally generate funds for exploration, development, acquisitions, and to service debt. We are also subject to financial covenants under our revolving credit facility based on Adjusted EBITDAX ratios. In addition, Adjusted EBITDAX is widely used by professional research analysts and others in the valuation, comparison, and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, net cash provided by operating activities, or other profitability or liquidity measures prepared under GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDAX excludes some, but not all items that affect net income and may vary among companies, the Adjusted EBITDAX amounts presented may not be comparable to similar metrics of other companies.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net income to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDAX:

Schedule 5: Free Cash Flow
(in thousands, unaudited)

Free Cash Flow is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities and less exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas properties, changes in working capital related to capital expenditures, and purchases of carbon credits. We believe that Free Cash Flow provides additional information that may be useful to investors in evaluating our ability to generate cash from our existing crude oil and natural gas assets to fund future exploration and development activities and to return cash to stockholders. Free Cash Flow is a supplemental measure of liquidity and should not be viewed as a substitute for cash flows from operations because it excludes certain required cash expenditures.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net cash provided by operating activities to the non-GAAP financial measure of Free Cash Flow:

Schedule 6: Cash General and Administrative
(in thousands, unaudited)

Cash general and administrative is a non-GAAP measure that excludes stock-based compensation, that we believe affects the comparability of operating results as it is non-cash. Cash general and administrative is a non-GAAP measure that we include in our total cash operating expense per BOE. We believe it provides useful additional information to investors and analysts, as a performance measure, for analysis of our operations.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of general and administrative expense to the non-GAAP financial measure of cash general and administrative:

Schedule 7: Per Unit Cash Margins
(unaudited)

Per Unit Cash Margin before derivatives and Per Unit Cash Margin after derivatives are supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated as total sales, less total cash costs total, divided by total volumes, and total sales, less total cash costs, plus derivative cash settlements, divided by total volumes. Per Unit Cash Margin excludes certain items that we believe affect the comparability of operating results and can exclude items that are generally non-cash and/or non-recurring in nature. Per Unit Cash Margin is a non-GAAP measure that we present as we believe it provides useful additional information to investors and analysts, as a performance measure, for analysis of our ability to generate funds for exploration, development, acquisitions, return of capital, and to service debt. Per Unit Cash Margin should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, net cash provided by operating activities, or other profitability or liquidity measures prepared under GAAP. Because Per Unit Cash Margin excludes some, but not all items that affect per unit total operating income and may vary among other companies, the Per Unit Cash Margin amounts presented may not be comparable to similar metrics of other companies.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net cash provided by operating activities to the non-GAAP financial measure of Per Unit Cash Margin (in thousands unless specified otherwise):