Matador Resources Company Reports Record Second Quarter 2024 Results and Increases Full-Year 2024 Production Guidance

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Matador Resources Company (NYSE: MTDR) (“Matador” or the “Company”) today reported record financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2024. A short slide presentation summarizing the highlights of Matador’s second quarter 2024 earnings release is also included on the Company’s website at www.matadorresources.com on the Events and Presentations page under the Investor Relations tab.

Full-Year 2024 Guidance Update

Effective July 23, 2024, Matador increased its full-year 2024 guidance range for total oil and natural gas equivalent production, oil production and natural gas production as set forth in the table below. This increased production guidance does not yet include any expected production from Matador’s anticipated acquisition of a subsidiary of Ameredev II Parent, LLC (“Ameredev”). The Ameredev acquisition is expected to close late in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

Production	Prior Full-Year 2024 Guidance Range	New Full-Year 2024 Guidance Range(1)	Difference(2)
Total, BOE per day	153,000 to 159,000	158,500 to 163,500	+3.2%
Oil, Bbl per day	91,000 to 95,000	93,500 to 96,500	+2.2%
Natural Gas, MMcf per day	370.0 to 386.0	390.0 to 402.0	+4.8%

(1)	Does not include any production associated with the pending Ameredev acquisition that is expected to close late in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.
(2)	The midpoint of guidance provided on July 23, 2024 as compared to the midpoint of guidance provided on February 20, 2024.

For highlights of Matador’s second quarter 2024 operational and financial results, please see “Second Quarter 2024 Matador Operational and Financial Highlights” on page 4 of this earnings release. For comparisons of our second quarter 2024 operational and financial results to prior periods, please see “Operational and Financial Update” beginning on page 4 of this earnings release. For a description of certain selected financial and operating items, please see “Selected Financial and Operating Items” on page 9 of this earnings release.

Management Commentary

Joseph Wm. Foran, Matador’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, commented, “Matador’s second quarter of 2024 was one of the most important quarters in the company’s history. Matador not only achieved record production results and substantial cost savings but also entered into an agreement to complete our largest acquisition to date – the acquisition of Ameredev for $1.905 billion (subject to customary closing adjustments), which is expected to close late in the third quarter of 2024. When added to our usual brick-by-brick acquisition efforts, the Ameredev acquisition is expected to increase Matador’s acreage position in the core of the northern Delaware Basin to 191,900 net acres (see Slide A). We also anticipate that the Ameredev acquisition (once closed) will have the effect of adding significantly to our currently existing 10 to 15 years or more of high-quality inventory (see Slide B), continue our history of profitable and consistent growth at a measured pace (see Slide C) and increase our total proved reserves to over 600 million barrels of oil and natural gas equivalent (‘BOE’) (see Slide D). We are further encouraged that Matador’s stock has been the top performer among our peer group for the last month-and-a-half following the announcement of the proposed Ameredev acquisition (see Slide E). Given these developments, our Board, executive team and staff are increasingly excited about the outlook for the remainder of 2024 and beyond, as we continue to work together to build the value of Matador for our shareholders, staff, vendors, stakeholders and other friends from its original capitalization of $270,000 to its present market capitalization of approximately $8 billion.

Pending Ameredev Acquisition

“We believe Matador’s recent acquisitions of various oil and natural gas properties are unique and value-creating opportunities as Matador continues to build its asset base in the northern Delaware Basin. Ameredev, for example, comes with 33,500 net acres of high-quality rock, strong existing production expected to average 25,500 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2024, over 117 million BOE of reserves, high-quality inventory with 371 net locations and a complimentary investment in a midstream business with an approximate 19% equity interest in Piñon Midstream (see Slide F). The equity and debt securities offerings we completed earlier this year, together with the exceptional support of our bank group led by PNC Bank, have provided us with the financial flexibility and strength to acquire these and other high-quality assets. In fact, our careful management of the balance sheet has allowed us to end the second quarter of 2024 with only $95 million outstanding on our current $1.5 billion revolving credit agreement. We fully repaid the remaining outstanding balance in July 2024, and as of July 23, 2024 have no debt outstanding under our revolving credit agreement with our bank group.

“Matador expects Ameredev to continue operating its one drilling rig on its acreage prior to closing. Matador added a ninth drilling rig late in the second quarter of 2024 in order to help facilitate a smooth transition upon closing of the Ameredev acquisition. Until then, Matador’s ninth drilling rig will work on other Matador properties, and we will rely on Ameredev to operate its current drilling rig to drill its planned wells until closing. We are pleased that even though Matador added a ninth drilling rig late in the second quarter of 2024, we still expect Matador’s full-year 2024 drilling, completing and equipping (‘D/C/E’) capital expenditures to be between the midpoint and high end of our previously expected and announced range of $1.10 to $1.30 billion.

“Similar to the acquisition of Advance in 2023, our operations team expects to implement operational efficiencies such as ‘simul-frac’ and ‘trimul-frac’ completion operations, dual fuel technologies and other operational efficiencies on the Ameredev properties after closing. We anticipate providing additional detail regarding our expectations and plans for the remainder of 2024 on a combined basis with the Ameredev properties after the acquisition has closed. To this point, we have greatly appreciated the professional and continuous work of the Ameredev staff in administering and operating these properties until the anticipated closing of the acquisition, which is expected to occur late in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

Record Production and Wells Turned to Sales

“During the second quarter of 2024, Matador achieved record average total production of 160,305 BOE per day, which was 2% better than our expectation of an average of 157,250 BOE per day for the quarter. Matador’s record average oil production of 95,488 barrels of oil per day during the second quarter of 2024 was 3% better than our expected average of 93,000 barrels of oil per day for the quarter. The record production in the second quarter of 2024 does not include any production associated with the proposed Ameredev acquisition, as no production from Ameredev will be included in Matador’s results until after the expected closing of the acquisition late in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. Matador’s record production in the second quarter of 2024 was due in part to the record 47 gross (38.6 net) operated horizontal wells turned to sales during the second quarter of 2024, which was the most in Matador’s history. We successfully delivered strong well results throughout our asset areas in the northern Delaware Basin, including the 21 gross (19 net) Dagger Lake South wells in our Antelope Ridge asset area that were acquired as part of the Advance acquisition last year (see Slide G). These wells have exceeded our expectations with 24-hour initial production test results averaging 1,728 BOE per day (83% oil). We are pleased with the teamwork of our production and midstream teams that worked together to provide flow assurance by using the Pronto-to-San Mateo natural gas connector pipeline installed in the first quarter of this year. This connector allowed the Dagger Lake South wells and Margarita wells acquired in the Advance acquisition to produce without any constraints during the second quarter of 2024.

Continued Operational Efficiencies and Teamwork

“In addition to record production performance, Matador also achieved lower-than-expected costs during the second quarter of 2024. D/C/E capital expenditures during the second quarter of 2024 were $314.5 million, which was $25.5 million, or 8%, better than our expectation of $340 million for the quarter. Approximately $10 million of this capital expenditure savings represent operational efficiencies and cost savings while the remaining decrease is due to timing of operations. In addition, our operations team set 20 drilling records during the second quarter of 2024 that saved an estimated $6 million. We are pleased with the continued excellent execution by the operations team that has now set a total of almost 300 drilling records with an estimated savings of approximately $50 million since the inception of our 24-hour MaxCom Operations Center in 2018 (see Slide H).

“One example of the innovation and operational efficiencies by Matador’s teams is the drilling of U-Turn wells. We drilled our first two U-Turn wells in 2023 in our Wolf asset area. These two wells continue to exceed our expectations and are producing similar to traditional two-mile lateral wells but with better per-foot costs than typical one-mile wells. We expect to turn to sales five additional U-Turn wells during the second half of 2024 with drilling savings exceeding $3 million per U-Turn well, or $15 million in the aggregate, as compared to drilling ten one-mile lateral length wells (see Slide I). During the second quarter of 2024, we drilled and cased the first and second of these five additional U-Turn wells. Two additional U-Turn wells were being drilled as of June 30, 2024 and our fifth U-Turn well for 2024 was spud in early July. We are excited to continue drilling and completing U-Turn wells throughout our northern Delaware position as appropriate opportunities present themselves.

“Matador also successfully performed its first ‘trimul-frac’ completion during the second quarter of 2024. We estimate that ‘trimul-frac’ completions save approximately $350,000 per well as compared to conventional ‘zipper-frac’ operations. For the remainder of 2024, Matador expects to complete its second ‘trimul-frac’ completion next month and has identified its first ‘remote trimul-frac’ test later in the third quarter of 2024. Matador’s improved operational efficiencies, together with our expectation of an increasingly competitive oilfield services market in the second half of 2024, have enabled us to revise our full-year 2024 expected drilling and completion costs down to $960 per completed lateral foot, which is an 11% decrease as compared to full-year 2023 drilling and completion costs of $1,075 per completed lateral foot.

40th Annual Meeting and Looking Ahead

“Matador held its 40th Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 13, 2024. We were pleased to see so many of you there and appreciate your support as each of the proposals passed with nearly 90% support or better. Even though we are one of the top 10 oil and natural gas producers in New Mexico with a current market capitalization of approximately $8 billion, we still remember our humble beginnings over 40 years ago when Matador was founded with $270,000 from family and friends. Many of these original shareholders or their families remain shareholders today. We are grateful for their continued support as well as the support and friendship of all of our shareholders over these many years. The Board, management team and I would also like to especially thank our staff, shareholders, banks, bondholders and other friends, including our long-time vendors, that have helped us develop Matador into its present size and competence. We anticipate a strong finish to 2024 as we look forward to the various drilling and acquisition opportunities in front of us in 2025. Going forward under these circumstances, we like our chances to meet these targets.”

Second Quarter 2024 Matador Operational and Financial Highlights

(for comparisons to prior periods, please see the remainder of this press release)

• Average production of 160,305 BOE per day (95,488 barrels of oil per day)
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $592.9 million
• Adjusted free cash flow of $167.0 million
• Net income of $228.8 million, or $1.83 per diluted common share
• Adjusted net income of $255.9 million, or adjusted earnings of $2.05 per diluted common share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $578.1 million
• San Mateo net income of $38.3 million
• San Mateo Adjusted EBITDA of $58.0 million
• D/C/E capital expenditures of $314.5 million
• Midstream capital expenditures of $45.3 million

All references to Matador’s net income, adjusted net income, Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow reported throughout this earnings release are those values attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders after giving effect to any net income, adjusted net income, Adjusted EBITDA or adjusted free cash flow, respectively, attributable to third-party non-controlling interests, including in San Mateo Midstream, LLC (“San Mateo”). Matador owns 51% of San Mateo. For a definition of adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted common share, Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow and reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial metrics to their comparable GAAP metrics, please see “Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Operational and Financial Update

Second Quarter 2024 Record Oil, Natural Gas and Total Oil and Natural Gas Equivalent Production

Matador’s total oil and natural gas production averaged 160,305 BOE per day in the second quarter of 2024, which was a 7% sequential production increase from an average of 149,760 BOE per day in the first quarter of 2024 and a 23% year-over-year increase from an average of 130,683 BOE per day in the second quarter of 2023. Matador’s year-over-year increase in total average production is due not only to the Advance acquisition that closed in April 2023 but also to increased production from new wells drilled by Matador on its existing assets and undeveloped acreage. In fact, Matador’s total oil and natural gas production during the second quarter of 2024 exceeded Matador’s guidance expectations by 2% and grew sequentially by 7%. On a year-to-year basis, Matador grew its total oil and natural gas production by 23% as summarized in the table below.

Production	Q2 2024 Average Daily Volume	Q2 2024 Guidance Range(1)	Difference(2)	Sequential(3)	YoY(4)
Total, BOE per day	160,305	156,500 to 158,000	+2% Better than Guidance	+7%	+23%
Oil, Bbl per day	95,488	92,500 to 93,500	+3% Better than Guidance	+13%	+25%
Natural Gas, MMcf per day	388.9	384.0 to 387.0	+1% Better than Guidance	Flat	+19%

(1)	Production range previously projected, as provided on April 23, 2024.
(2)	As compared to midpoint of guidance provided on April 23, 2024.
(3)	Represents sequential percentage change from the first quarter of 2024.
(4)	Represents year-over-year percentage change from the second quarter of 2023.

Second Quarter 2024 Realized Commodity Prices

The following table summarizes Matador’s realized commodity prices during the second quarter of 2024, as compared to the first quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2023.

	Sequential (Q2 2024 vs. Q1 2024)						YoY (Q2 2024 vs. Q2 2023)
Realized Commodity Prices	Q2 2024		Q1 2024		Sequential Change(1)		Q2 2024		Q2 2023		YoY Change(2)
Oil Prices, per Bbl	$81.20		$77.58		+5%		$81.20		$73.46		+11%
Natural Gas Prices, per Mcf	$2.00		$2.96		-32%		$2.00		$2.61		-23%

(1)	Second quarter 2024 as compared to first quarter 2024.
(2)	Second quarter 2024 as compared to second quarter 2023.

Second Quarter 2024 Operating Expenses

Matador’s lease operating expenses (“LOE”) decreased 3% sequentially from $5.60 per BOE in the first quarter of 2024 to $5.42 per BOE in the second quarter of 2024. This decrease is due in part to increased production volumes in the second quarter of 2024, partially offset by increased compression and equipment rental expenses. The second quarter 2024 LOE of $5.42 per BOE was consistent with Matador’s expected full-year 2024 LOE range of $5.25 to $5.75 per BOE.

Matador’s general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses decreased 12% sequentially from $2.18 per BOE in the first quarter of 2024 to $1.91 per BOE in the second quarter of 2024, which was a record low for Matador. This decrease is due in part to increased production volumes and a decrease in the value of certain employee stock awards that are settled in cash, which are measured at each quarterly reporting period. The value of these cash-settled stock awards decreased due to the 11% decrease in Matador’s share price from $66.77 at the end of the first quarter of 2024 to $59.60 at the end of the second quarter of 2024. Matador expects full-year 2024 G&A expenses to be between the midpoint and the low end of its previous expected and announced range of $2.00 to $2.50 per BOE.

Second Quarter 2024 Capital Expenditures

Matador’s D/C/E capital expenditures of $314.5 million for the second quarter of 2024 were approximately $25 million lower than expected, of which approximately $10 million represents realized D/C/E capital expenditure cost savings. Midstream capital expenditures of $45.3 million for the second quarter of 2024 were below Matador’s expectations of $60 million in total midstream capital expenditures for the quarter, as approximately $15 million in capital expenditures was deferred due to the timing of Pronto’s midstream projects.

Q2 2024 Capital Expenditures ($ millions)	Actual	Guidance(1)	Difference vs. Guidance(2)
D/C/E	$314.5	$340.0	-8%
Midstream	$45.3	$60.0	-25%

(1)	Midpoint of guidance as provided on April 23, 2024.
(2)	As compared to the midpoint of guidance provided on April 23, 2024.

Midstream Update

San Mateo’s operations in the second quarter of 2024 were highlighted by better-than-expected operating and financial results. These strong results primarily reflect better-than-expected volumes delivered by third party customers into the San Mateo system. San Mateo’s net income of $38.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $58.0 million were each better than expected.

The table below sets forth San Mateo’s throughput volumes, as compared to the first quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2023.

	Sequential (Q2 2024 vs. Q1 2024)						YoY (Q2 2024 vs. Q2 2023)
San Mateo Throughput Volumes	Q2 2024		Q1 2024		Change(1)		Q2 2024		Q2 2023		Change(2)
Natural gas gathering, MMcf per day	393		425		-8%		393		331		+19%
Natural gas processing, MMcf per day	355		399		-11%		355		373		-5%
Oil gathering and transportation, Bbl per day	46,300		48,800		-5%		46,300		41,400		+12%
Produced water handling, Bbl per day	429,800		435,800		-1%		429,800		335,000		+28%

(1)	Second quarter 2024 as compared to first quarter 2024.
(2)	Second quarter 2024 as compared to second quarter 2023.

Third Quarter 2024 Estimates

Third Quarter 2024 Estimated Oil, Natural Gas and Total Oil Equivalent Production Growth

As noted in the table below, Matador anticipates its average daily oil equivalent production of 160,305 BOE per day in the second quarter of 2024 to grow by 2% to a midpoint of approximately 164,000 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2024.

	Q2 and Q3 2024 Production Comparison
Period	Average Daily Total Production, BOE per day	Average Daily Oil Production, Bbl per day	Average Daily Natural Gas Production, MMcf per day	% Oil
Q2 2024	160,305	95,488	388.9	60%
Q3 2024E	163,000 to 165,000	96,500 to 97,500	399.0 to 405.0	59%

Third Quarter 2024 Estimated Wells Turned to Sales

At July 23, 2024, Matador expects to turn to sales 32 gross (26.5 net) operated horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin during the third quarter of 2024, consisting of seven gross (7.0 net) wells in the Antelope Ridge asset area, ten gross (8.0 net) wells in the Arrowhead asset area, four gross (4.0 net) wells in the Ranger asset area and 11 gross (7.5 net) wells in the Rustler Breaks asset area.

Third Quarter 2024 Estimated Capital Expenditures

Matador is currently operating nine drilling rigs in the Delaware Basin and expects to operate nine drilling rigs for the remainder of 2024. Matador expects that this ninth drilling rig will add an incremental four gross (3.9 net) operated wells turned to sales in late December 2024, which is expected to add approximately 40,000 BOE to 2024 forecasted production. At July 23, 2024, Matador expects D/C/E capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2024 will be approximately $330 to $370 million, which is an 11% increase as compared to $314.5 million for the second quarter of 2024. Matador expects full-year 2024 D/C/E capital expenditures to be between the midpoint and the high end of its previous expected range of $1.10 to $1.30 billion. Matador estimates its proportionate share of midstream capital expenditures to be approximately $45 to $65 million in the third quarter of 2024, which is a 21% increase as compared to $45.3 million in the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to the timing of Pronto’s 2024 midstream projects. These capital expenditure estimates for the third quarter of 2024 do not include capital expenditures associated with the Ameredev properties.

Third Quarter 2024 Estimated Cash Taxes

Matador continues to expect to make cash tax payments of approximately 5 to 10% of pre-tax book net income for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company’s cash tax payments will be dependent upon a variety of factors that will impact taxable income that cannot be calculated at this time, including commodity prices, weather, allowable tax deductions and any state or federal legislative changes thereon, the Ameredev transaction and other acquisitions, activity of offset operators and pipeline restrictions as well as any deductions or tax credits generated and earned that would offset tax liabilities in 2024.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a live conference call on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to review its second quarter 2024 operational and financial results. To access the live conference call by phone, you can use the following link https://register.vevent.com/register/BI99e8d92f0e8649da9231bc26e8812ede and you will be provided with dial in details. To avoid delays, it is recommended that participants dial into the conference call 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

The live conference call will also be available through the Company’s website at www.matadorresources.com on the Events and Presentations page under the Investor Relations tab. The replay for the event will be available on the Company’s website at www.matadorresources.com on the Events and Presentations page under the Investor Relations tab for one year.

About Matador Resources Company

Matador is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with an emphasis on oil and natural gas shale and other unconventional plays. Its current operations are focused primarily on the oil and liquids-rich portion of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas.

Contacts

Mac Schmitz

Senior Vice President – Investor Relations

(972) 371-5225

investors@matadorresources.com

Read full story here