Jones Energy, Inc. Announces 2018 Third Quarter Financial and Operating Results

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jones Energy, Inc. (NYSE: JONE) (“Jones Energy” or “the Company”) today announced financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and initial fourth quarter 2018 guidance. Jones Energy also plans to host a conference call tomorrow morning to discuss the quarter and provide a Company update.

Highlights:

• Average daily net production for third quarter 2018 of 21.8 MBoe/d, at the high end of guidance. Oil production of 5.6 MBbl/d within the range of guidance.
  
  
• Merge HBP drilling expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2018, with all HBP wells online by year-end 2018.
  
  
• Malinda 2H, the Company’s first operated Marmaton well achieves peak IP-30 of 582 Boe/d (3-stream, 62% oil, 77% liquids).
  
  
• Net loss for the third quarter of 2018 of $35.4 million, or a net loss of $7.16 per share, non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $33.5 million, or a non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $6.77 per share, and EBITDAX of $20.0 million.¹  This EBITDAX was negatively impacted by $16.1 million of hedge-related losses.

Financial Results
Total operating revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2018 were $59.7 million as compared to $44.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017.  Total revenues including current period settlements of matured derivative contracts were $43.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to $66.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017.  

Total operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 were $66.0 million as compared to $68.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of $35.4 million, of which a net loss of $35.0 million, or $7.16 per share, is attributable to common shareholders. This compares to a net loss of $83.0 million, of which a net loss of $66.8 million, or $18.27 per share, was attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Excluding hedge losses and certain other items that the Company does not view as indicative of its ongoing financial performance, the Company had adjusted net loss for the third quarter 2018 of $33.5 million, or adjusted net loss of $6.77 per share attributable to common shareholders, as compared to adjusted net loss of $10.9 million, or a loss of $2.53 per share attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and exploration expense (“EBITDAX”) for the third quarter of 2018 of $20.0 million was negatively impacted by $16.1 million of current period settlements of matured derivative contracts. This compares to third quarter 2017 EBITDAX of $47.1 million.  

Reverse Stock Split
During the third quarter of 2018 Jones Energy’s Board of Directors approved and implemented a 1-for-20 reverse stock split for the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock, which had previously been approved by common stockholder vote at the Company’s Annual Meeting in May 2018. The reverse stock split became effective September 7, 2018 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. The shares of Class A common stock continued trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) without interruption and began trading on a split-adjusted basis on September 10, 2018. As a result of its implementation, Jones Energy cured its previously announced stock price deficiency with the NYSE on September 21, 2018.

Preferred Dividend Update

On July 17, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a contingent dividend on the Company’s 8.0% Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (“Preferred Stock”), payable in Class A common stock on August 15, 2018 to holders of record as of August 1, 2018. It was announced on August 15, 2018 that the Dividend Valuation Price did not meet the required Floor Price², and the dividend was not paid. The right to receive that dividend accrued for holders of Preferred Stock.

On October 15, 2018 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a contingent dividend on the Preferred Stock under the same terms, payable in Class A common stock on November 15, 2018 to holders of record as of November 1, 2018, including the requirement that the Dividend Valuation Price of the stock must meet the required Floor Price, which has been adjusted for the Company’s 1-for-20 reverse stock split, in order to be paid. If the dividend is not paid, the Company will have used three of its five permitted dividend non-payments without penalty and the right to receive the dividend will again accrue for holders of Preferred Stock.

Operating Results

During the third quarter of 2018 Jones Energy produced 2.0 MMBoe, or 21,750 Boe/d, which was at the high end of guidance, supported by natural gas and NGL outperformance. Third quarter oil volumes of 5,587 Bbls/d were within Company guidance. A breakout of third quarter production is shown in the table below.

Merge

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company spud three wells and completed three wells in the Merge. Of the three wells completed, two were Meramec and one was a Woodford.  Third quarter Merge production of 7,837 Boe/d reflects the Company’s slowdown in activity and is indicative of having fewer completions during the quarter as compared to the first two quarters of 2018. The Company currently has three wells, including its remaining two HBP operated wells, in various stages of completion which are expected to be placed online during the fourth quarter.

Western Anadarko Basin (WAB)

During the quarter, the Company completed two wells, including its first operated Marmaton well in Ochiltree County, the Malinda 2H, which began flowback in early August. The Malinda 2H achieved a peak three-stream IP30 rate of 582 Boe/d, consisting of 62% oil and 77% liquids. The Company is encouraged by these strong early production rates and will continue to selectively drill additional Marmaton targets.

During the third quarter of 2018, Jones Energy also spud two wells in the WAB (one Cleveland, one Marmaton). The Company anticipates completing both wells during the fourth quarter. Jones Energy had one rig working during the third quarter but expects to have limited WAB activity during the fourth quarter of 2018. 

Capital Expenditures
During the third quarter of 2018, the Company spent $43.6 million on capital expenditures, of which $36.4 million, or 84% of total capital expenditures, was related to drilling and completion (“D&C”) capital. Operated D&C capital expenditures was $30.9 million and third-party non-operated D&C capital expenditures was $5.5 million. The remaining $7.2 million of capital expenditures for the quarter was related to leasing and maintenance. Capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2018 totaled $154.1 million, of which year-to-date third party non-operated drilling and completion capital was $22.6 million.

Initial 2018 Fourth Quarter Guidance
Jones Energy is announcing projected average daily production of 19,400 to 20,400 Boe/d for the fourth quarter of 2018. The Company is focused on completing its HBP Merge program, which includes two of the three completions that are anticipated during the fourth quarter. These completions are expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s production during the fourth quarter but should meaningfully contribute to production in early 2019. Jones Energy expects limited WAB activity for the remainder of the year. As a result of the anticipated fourth quarter Merge completion activity and increased working interest capital in wells drilled prior to the quarter, expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2018 are anticipated to be between $38 million and $43 million. A table has been provided below with production guidance by category. 

Liquidity and Hedging

As of September 30, 2018, Jones Energy had approximately $94 million in cash. As previously announced, the Company continues to explore strategic alternatives and debt reduction initiatives, including the potential divestment of certain noncore assets and further borrowing as permitted under the Company’s indentures.

The following table summarizes Jones Energy’s net commodity derivative contracts outstanding as of October 31, 2018:

Conference Call Details

Jones Energy will host a conference call for investors and analysts to discuss the quarter and provide a Company update on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. CT).  The conference call can be accessed via webcast through the Investor Relations section of Jones Energy’s website, www.jonesenergy.com, or by dialing (833) 231-8272 (for domestic U.S.) or (647) 689-4117 (International) and entering conference code 9194999.  If you are not able to participate in the conference call, the webcast replay and a downloadable audio file will be available shortly following the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.jonesenergy.com.

About Jones Energy

Jones Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties in the Anadarko basin of Oklahoma and Texas. Additional information about Jones Energy may be found on the Company’s website at: www.jonesenergy.com.

Investor Contact:
Page Portas
512-493-4834
Investor Relations Associate
ir@jonesenergy.com

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¹Adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per share and EBITDAX are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. For additional information, including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations” below.

² As defined in the Certificate of Designations for the Preferred Stock and as adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of the Company, updated guidance regarding the Company’s plans for the fourth quarter of 2018, our expectations regarding our liability management and strategic alternative efforts, our ability to complete our Merge HBP program during 2018, well performance, and projections regarding total production, average daily production, percentage liquids, operating expenses, production and ad valorem taxes as a percentage of revenue, cash G&A expenses. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current economic and market conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, changes in oil and natural gas prices, actual well performance, weather and environmental conditions, our ability to comply with the covenants in our debt agreements, the timing and amount of planned capital expenditures, availability of funding for planned capital expenditures, availability and method of funding of acquisitions and divestitures, or the ability to integrate any acquisitions, uncertainties in estimating proved reserves and forecasting production results, operational factors affecting the commencement or maintenance of producing wells, the condition of the capital markets generally, as well as the Company’s ability to access them, the proximity to and capacity of transportation facilities, and uncertainties regarding environmental regulations or litigation and other legal or regulatory developments affecting the Company’s business and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as described in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Jones Energy, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

Jones Energy, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

Jones Energy, Inc.
Selected Financial and Operating Statistics

The following table sets forth summary data regarding revenues, production volumes, average prices and average production costs associated with our sale of oil and natural gas for the periods indicated:

Jones Energy, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow Data (Unaudited)

Jones Energy, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

EBITDAX is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies.

We define EBITDAX as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, exploration expense, gains and losses from derivatives less the current period settlements of matured derivative contracts, and the other items described below. EBITDAX is not a measure of net income as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Management believes EBITDAX is useful because it allows them to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period and against our peers without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. We exclude the items listed above from net income in arriving at EBITDAX because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. EBITDAX has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of our liquidity. Certain items excluded from EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historical costs of depreciable assets. Our presentation of EBITDAX should not be construed as an inference that our results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items and should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP. Our computations of EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income (loss) as determined in accordance with GAAP to EBITDAX for the periods indicated:

Jones Energy, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

Adjusted net income (loss) is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. We define adjusted net income (loss) as net income excluding the impact of certain non-cash items including gains or losses on commodity derivative instruments not yet settled, impairment of oil and gas properties, non-cash compensation expense, and the other items described below. We believe adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted earnings (loss) per share are useful to investors because they provide readers with a more meaningful measure of our profitability before recording certain items for which the timing or amount cannot be reasonably determined. However, these measures are provided in addition to, not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) as determined in accordance with GAAP to adjusted net income (loss) for the periods indicated:

Jones Energy, Inc. 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

Adjusted earnings (loss) per share is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. We define adjusted earnings (loss) per share as earnings (loss) per share plus that portion of the components of adjusted net income (loss) allocated to the controlling interests divided by weighted average shares outstanding. We believe adjusted earnings (loss) per share is useful to investors because it provides readers with a more meaningful measure of our profitability before recording certain items for which the timing or amount cannot be reasonably determined. However, these measures are provided in addition to, not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table provides a reconciliation of earnings (loss) per share to adjusted earnings (loss) per share for the period indicated: