In This Article:
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Dividend Yield: Just under 8%.
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Liquids Production: 9,367 barrels a day, up 3% from Q3 2023.
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Realized Price: $54.36 per BOE, 10% and 78% higher than Canadian royalty peers.
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Canadian Production: 9,075 BOE a day, impacted by gas volumes down 270 BOE a day from the prior quarter.
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U.S. Production: 5,533 BOE a day, near record levels.
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Funds from Operations: $56 million in the quarter.
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Dividends Paid: $41 million to shareholders.
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Net Debt: Reduced by $12 million to $187 million.
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Payout Ratio: 73%.
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Net Debt to Funds from Operations: 0.8x trailing funds from operations.
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Wells Drilled: 278 wells across North America, up 11% from Q3 last year.
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Net Wells in Canada: Increased by 41%.
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U.S. Drilling Activity: Gross and net drilling up 14% from Q3 2023.
Release Date: November 08, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
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Freehold Royalties Ltd (FRHLF) reported a 3% increase in liquids production compared to Q3 2023, highlighting growth in their core operations.
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The company boasts an attractive dividend yield of just under 8%, supported by a strategic oil-focused portfolio.
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Realized pricing for their oil was significantly higher than Canadian peers, driven by their Texas production in the Permian and Eagle Ford basins.
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Freehold Royalties Ltd (FRHLF) reduced net debt by $12 million, maintaining a strong balance sheet with a net debt to funds from operations ratio of 0.8x.
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The company has a diversified exposure to pricing markets across North America, which supports strong netbacks and cash flows.
Negative Points
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Gas production in Canada was impacted by weak AECO pricing, leading to production curtailments and deferred drilling activity.
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Despite strong oil production, the weak gas prices had a negligible impact on cash flow, indicating a reliance on oil for financial performance.
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The U.S. drilling activity remained relatively flat, with some operators like Marathon being less active in Q3.
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The company faces potential challenges from M&A activity, which could temper growth as acquirers slow down target activity.
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Freehold Royalties Ltd (FRHLF) is cautious about future drilling activity, which is largely dependent on overall commodity pricing.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Some of your top royalty payers have completed acquisitions recently. Have you observed any trends in activity post-consolidation, and have you incorporated any slowdown in activity into your outlook? A: Robert King, Chief Operating Officer, explained that in the U.S., Exxon has increased its activity on Freehold's lands post-acquisition, now representing 5% of production. In Canada, consolidation has led to new players bringing innovative approaches, particularly in Southeast Saskatchewan, which is seeing modest organic growth.