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NuVista Energy Ltd. Announces Strong Third Quarter 2024 Financial and Operating Results, LNG Agreement, 2025 Budget, and Enhanced Shareholder Return Strategy

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NuVista Energy Ltd.
NuVista Energy Ltd.

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuVista Energy Ltd. ("NuVista" or the "Company") (TSX: NVA) is pleased to announce strong financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and to provide an update on our operational performance. The quality and composition of our asset base consistently enables us to generate strong returns across commodity price cycles. Subsequent to the third quarter, our daily production has reached new record levels, as we continue to invest in new high-return wells and infrastructure projects to support our development plans. We also added LNG market access to our diversified natural gas portfolio and made significant progress on our return of capital to shareholders program through our normal course issuer bid (the “2024 NCIB”), while maintaining a financial position with low debt.

Financial Highlights

During the third quarter of 2024, NuVista:

  • Delivered adjusted funds flow(1) of $139.5 million ($0.68/share, basic(3)), and free adjusted funds flow(2) of $19.4 million. Adjusted funds flow and free adjusted funds flow remained strong relative to the second quarter, supported by condensate rich production and lower cash costs, despite softer commodity prices;

  • Generated net earnings of $59.8 million ($0.29/share, basic), resulting in year-to-date net earnings of $206.6 million ($1.00/share, basic);

  • Completed a well-executed capital expenditures(2) program, investing $118.4 million in well and facility activities including the drilling of 14 wells and completion of 12 wells in our condensate rich Wapiti Montney asset base. Year-to-date, the capital expenditures program has totaled $427.8 million, with 34 wells drilled and 38 wells completed, in addition to completing several infrastructure projects;

  • Added LNG sales to our natural gas diversification portfolio by gaining exposure to the Japan/Korea marker (“JKM”) through a netback agreement with Trafigura based on 21,000 MMbtu/d of LNG for a period of up to thirteen years commencing January 1, 2027;

  • Exited the quarter with $37.5 million drawn on our $450 million credit facility and net debt(1) of $261.9 million, maintaining a favorable net debt to annualized third quarter adjusted funds flow(1) ratio of 0.5x;

  • Repurchased and subsequently cancelled 816,800 common shares under its 2024 NCIB program at a weighted average price of $13.81 per share for a total cost of $11.3 million. Since the inception of our NCIB programs in 2022, NuVista has repurchased and subsequently cancelled 33.2 million common shares for an aggregate cost of $394.6 million or $11.89 per share; and

  • Recognized as part of the TSX30 for the third consecutive year. The TSX30 recognizes the thirty top-performing companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) over the prior three-year period (see www.tsx.com/tsx30). NuVista ranked a notable sixth place overall.