May 5, 2025 4:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE: CTRA) (“Coterra” or the “Company”) today reported first-quarter 2025 financial and operating results and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share. Additionally, the Company provided second-quarter production and capital guidance and updated full-year 2025 guidance.
Tom Jorden, Chairman, CEO and President of Coterra, noted, “The company’s top-tier balance sheet, diversified portfolio of high-quality oil and natural gas-focused assets and low reinvestment rate position Coterra to prosper throughout cyclical commodity price environments.”
“As our industry faces macroeconomic uncertainty and oil price headwinds, we believe it is prudent to reduce oil-directed activity at this time. As such, we are lowering Permian investment in 2025 and now expect to average seven Permian rigs during the second half of the year, down 30% from our original guidance of ten. As planned, we added two natural gas-focused rigs in the Marcellus in April and may keep this activity running for the balance of 2025. These decisions to reduce and reallocate capital bolster free cash flow in 2025, allow for a conservative investment ratio at lower commodity prices, and allow us to maintain our oil production guidance while slightly increasing our natural gas and BOE volumes for 2025. Additionally, these actions support free cash flow upside over the medium and long-term while generating attractive full-cycle returns in each of our operating regions in the current environment.”
Mr. Jorden continued, “Due to the short-term nature of our service contracts and limited marketing commitments, Coterra maintains significant flexibility to adjust our capital investment and maintains a series of activity off-ramps in 2025 that could further reduce activity and investment should fundamentals warrant. The Company remains committed to further reducing debt in 2025 to ensure we maintain one of the best balance sheets in our industry.”
Key Takeaways & UpdatesFor the first quarter of 2025, total barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) production, natural gas production, and oil production were all above the midpoint of guidance, and capital expenditures (non-GAAP) were below the midpoint of guidance.
Raising BOE and natural gas production guidance at the midpoint and maintaining full-year 2025 oil production midpoint guidance.
Lowering 2025 capital budget range to $2.0 to $2.3 billion, driven by less oil-directed activity partially offset by higher natural gas-directed activity. The Company’s reinvestment rate (non-GAAP), which is capital expenditures (non-GAAP) as a percentage of Discretionary Cash Flow, at recent strip prices, is expected to remain conservative at approximately 50% in 2025.Reducing 2025 Permian activity to seven rigs from our original plan of ten rigs during the second half of 2025 and reducing total Permian capital by approximately $150 million.
Added two Marcellus rigs in April, as planned. We now expect to keep both rigs running into the second half of 2025, adding an incremental $50 million of capital to our 2025 Marcellus program. We also maintain an option to keep the second rig running through year-end, which could add an incremental $50 million of capital in the year. We expect to make this decision during the third quarter.
Expected 2025 Free Cash Flow to total $2.1 billion, at recent strip prices, which we expect will be used to fund our dividend, reduce debt and execute share repurchases.
First-quarter 2025 direct shareholder returns totaled approximately 30% of Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP), which included our declared dividend of $0.22, or approximately $168 million, and $24 million of share repurchases (cash basis, excluding 1% excise tax). Additionally, the Company repaid $250 million of term loans bringing total returns to 67% of Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP). In 2025, Coterra remains committed to reducing leverage and executing opportunistic share repurchases.
First-Quarter 2025 HighlightsNet Income (GAAP) totaled $516 million, or $0.68 per share. Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) was $608 million, or $0.80 per share.
Cash Flow From Operating Activities (GAAP) totaled $1,144 million. Discretionary Cash Flow (non-GAAP) totaled $1,135 million. Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) totaled $663 million.
Cash paid for capital expenditures for drilling, completion and other fixed asset additions (GAAP) totaled $472 million. Incurred capital expenditures from drilling, completion and other fixed asset additions (non-GAAP) totaled $552 million, in the lower half of our guidance range of $525 to $625 million.
Unit operating cost (reflecting costs from direct operations, transportation, production taxes and G&A) totaled $9.97 per Boe.
Total equivalent production of 747 MBoepd (thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day), near the high-end of guidance (710 to 750 MBoepd).Oil production averaged 141.2 MBopd (thousand barrels of oil per day), approximately 2% above the midpoint of our guidance range (134 to 144 MBopd).
Natural gas production averaged 3,044 MMcfpd (million cubic feet of gas per day), exceeding the high end of guidance (2,850 to 3,000 MMcfpd).
NGLs production averaged 98.3 MBopd.
Realized average prices:Oil was $69.73 per Bbl (barrel), excluding the effect of commodity derivatives, and $69.30 per Bbl, including the effect of commodity derivatives.
Natural Gas was $3.28 per Mcf (thousand cubic feet), excluding the effect of commodity derivatives, and $3.21 per Mcf, including the effect of commodity derivatives.
NGLs were $23.23 per Bbl.
Closed the Franklin Mountain Energy and Avant Natural Resources acquisitions in late January.
Shareholder Return HighlightsCommon Dividend: On May 5, 2025, Coterra’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share, equating to a 3.4% annualized yield, based on the Company’s $25.67 closing share price on May 2, 2025. The dividend will be paid on May 29, 2025 to holders of record on May 15, 2025.
Share Repurchases: During the quarter, the Company repurchased 0.9 million shares for $24 million at a weighted-average price of approximately $27.54 per share, leaving $1.1 billion remaining as of March 31, 2025 on its $2.0 billion share repurchase authorization.
Shareholder Return: During the quarter, direct shareholder returns amounted to approximately $192 million, comprised of approximately $168 million of declared dividends and $24 million of share repurchases. The Company also repaid $250 million of debt during the quarter.
Reiterate Shareholder Return Strategy: Coterra expects to return 50% or greater of annual Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) to shareholders through the cycles via its base dividend and share repurchases. However, in 2025, after payment of its base dividend, the Company is prioritizing debt reduction as it looks to retire the outstanding $750 million term loans, which mature in 2027 and 2028.
Guidance UpdatesLowered 2025 capital expenditures range (non-GAAP) to $2.0 to $2.3 billion, down from $2.1 to $2.4 billion.After closing our recent acquisitions in January, we exited the first quarter with 13 rigs in the Permian. Our original plan called for ten rigs in the second half of 2025, but we now plan to operate seven rigs in the second half of the year.
Announcing second-quarter 2025 total equivalent production of 710 to 760 MBoepd, oil production of 147 to 157 MBopd, natural gas production of 2,700 to 2,850 MMcfpd, and capital expenditures (non-GAAP) of $575 to $650 million.
Estimate 2025 Discretionary Cash Flow (non-GAAP) of approximately $4.3 billion and 2025 Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) of approximately $2.1 billion, at approximately $63 per bbl WTI and $3.70 per mmbtu (metric million British thermal unit) annual average NYMEX assumptions.
For more details on annual and second quarter 2025 guidance, see 2025 Guidance Section in the tables below.
Strong Financial Position
In conjunction with the closing of the Franklin Mountain Energy and Avant Natural Resources acquisitions in late January, Coterra issued $1.0 billion of new debt through its term loan agreements. Subsequently, Coterra paid down $250 million of the term loans prior to the end of the first quarter, leaving $750 million of term loan debt outstanding. As of March 31, 2025, Coterra had total debt outstanding of $4.25 billion (principal balance). The Company exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $186 million, and no debt outstanding under its $2.0 billion revolving credit facility, resulting in total liquidity of approximately $2.19 billion. Coterra’s Net Debt to trailing twelve-month Adjusted Pro Forma EBITDAX ratio (non-GAAP) at March 31, 2025 was 0.9x, pro forma the Franklin and Avant acquisitions. The Company remains committed to near-term debt reduction.
See “Supplemental non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for descriptions of the above non-GAAP measures as well as reconciliations of these measures to the associated GAAP measures.
Committed to Sustainability and ESG Leadership
Coterra is committed to environmental stewardship, sustainable practices, and strong corporate governance. The Company’s sustainability report can be found under “ESG” on www.coterra.com. Coterra published its 2024 Sustainability report on August 1, 2024.
First-Quarter 2025 Conference Call
Coterra will host a conference call tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 9:00 AM CT (10:00 AM ET), to discuss first-quarter 2025 financial and operating results.
Conference Call Information
Date: May 6, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM ET
Dial-in (for callers in the U.S. and Canada): (800) 715-9871
International dial-in: +1 (646) 307-1963
Conference ID: 4309719
The live audio webcast and related earnings presentation can be accessed on the “Events & Presentations” page under the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at www.coterra.com. The webcast will be archived and available at the same location after the conclusion of the live event.
About Coterra Energy
Coterra is a premier exploration and production company based in Houston, Texas with operations focused in the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale, and Anadarko Basin. We strive to be a leading energy producer, delivering sustainable returns through the efficient and responsible development of our diversified asset base. Learn more about us at www.coterra.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Coterra’s current views about future events. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about returns to shareholders, enhanced shareholder value, reserves estimates, future financial and operating performance, and goals and commitment to sustainability and ESG leadership, strategic pursuits and goals, and other statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release. The words “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “budget,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “possible,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “strategy,” “outlook”, “guide” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. We can provide no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas; changes in U.S. and international economic policy (including tariffs and retaliatory tariffs and the impacts thereof); cost increases; the effect of future regulatory or legislative actions; actions by, or disputes among or between, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producer countries; market factors; market prices (including geographic basis differentials) of oil and natural gas; impacts of inflation; labor shortages and economic disruption, (geopolitical disruptions such as the war in Ukraine or conflict in the Middle East or further escalation thereof); determination of reserves estimates, adjustments or revisions, including factors impacting such determination such as commodity prices, well performance, results of future drilling and marketing activities (including seismicity and similar data), operating expenses and completion of Coterra’s annual PUD reserves process, as well as the impact on our financial statements resulting therefrom; the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves; the ability to replace reserves; environmental risks; drilling and operating risks; exploration and development risks; competition; the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals; the impact of public health crises, including pandemics and epidemics and any related company or governmental policies or actions, financial condition and results of operations; and other risks inherent in Coterra’s businesses. In addition, the declaration and payment of any future dividends, whether regular base quarterly dividends, variable dividends or special dividends, will depend on Coterra’s financial results, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by Coterra’s Board. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Coterra’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, which are available on Coterra’s website at www.coterra.com.
Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Coterra does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.