Veren Announces Q3 2024 Results & Updated Outlook

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CALGARY, AB, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Veren Inc. ("Veren" or the "Company") (TSX: VRN) (NYSE: VRN) is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, revised 2024 guidance, 2025 budget and updated five-year outlook.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Generated third quarter excess cash flow of $114 million, with full year 2024 excess cash flow expected to total $625 million.

  • Returned $290 million to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases year-to-date, including $85 million in third quarter.

  • Entered into a strategic infrastructure transaction, directing $400 million of net cash proceeds to debt reduction.

  • Expect year-end net debt of $2.5 billion, or 1.1x debt to funds flow, reflecting $1.3 billion of total debt reduction in 2024.

  • Production results from Gold Creek West pad in the Alberta Montney rank in the top one percent of wells in North America.

  • Disciplined and returns-focused 2025 budget expected to generate excess cash flow of $575 million to $775 million.

"We continue to be excited about the quality of the resource and excess cash flow deliverability of our Kaybob Duvernay and Alberta Montney assets," said Craig Bryksa, President and CEO of Veren. "We have successfully enhanced our drilling efficiencies since entering each of these plays and are making adjustments to our completions design in the Alberta Montney to further enhance deliverability and returns. Under our disciplined and returns-focused budget for 2025 and five-year plan, we expect to generate significant excess cash flow and returns for shareholders."

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Adjusted funds flow totaled $548.3 million during third quarter 2024, or $0.89 per share diluted, driven by a strong operating netback of $34.09 per boe.

  • For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, development capital expenditures, which included drilling and development, facilities and seismic costs, totaled $395.9 million.

  • Veren's net debt as at September 30, 2024 was $3.0 billion. During the quarter, the Company announced a strategic transaction related to the sale of certain infrastructure assets in the Alberta Montney to Pembina Gas Infrastructure ("PGI"), which included net cash proceeds of $400 million. Subsequent to the quarter, Veren successfully closed the transaction and directed all proceeds toward its balance sheet. The Company now expects its net debt to be $2.5 billion by year-end 2024.

  • Subsequent to the quarter, Veren successfully renewed and extended its unsecured, covenant-based credit facilities with a maturity date of November 2028. The Company also elected to cancel its $400 million unsecured syndicated credit facility, decreasing the size of its combined facilities to $2.4 billion. Veren currently has an unutilized credit capacity of $1.5 billion.

  • The Company continues to hedge a portion of its production as part of its ongoing commodity marketing and diversification program. Veren has hedged 50 percent of its oil and liquids production and 30 percent of its natural gas production for the remainder of 2024, net of royalty interest. In the first half of 2025, Veren has hedged 35 percent of its oil and liquids production and over 30 percent of its natural gas production, net of royalty interest. The Company has also diversified its pricing exposure for natural gas, resulting in the majority of its production through 2026 receiving a combination of fixed prices and pricing related to major U.S. markets.

  • Veren reported net income of $277.2 million, or $0.45 per share diluted, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.