CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CHK) today reported second quarter 2024 financial and operating results.

    --  Net cash provided by operating activities of $209 million
    --  Net loss of $227 million, or $1.73 per fully diluted share; adjusted net
        income((1)) of $1 million, or $0.01 per share
    --  Adjusted EBITDAX((1)) of $358 million
    --  Quarterly base dividend of $0.575 per common share to be paid in
        September 2024, 14th straight quarter paying a dividend
    --  Produced approximately 2.75 bcf/d net (100% natural gas); building
        productive capacity with 75 combined DUCs and deferred TILs at the end
        of the quarter
    --  Lowered 2024 Capital and Production Expense guidance ~4% and ~8%
        respectively, primarily due to improved operational efficiency and
        year-over-year deflation


     (1) Definitions of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are included at the end of this news release.

Nick Dell'Osso, Chesapeake's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We continue to execute our business as we prudently manage current market conditions and prepare for our pending combination with Southwestern. We remain focused on operational improvements and enhancing capital efficiency. The efforts of our team have positioned us to lower our 2024 capital and production expense guidance by $50 million and approximately 8%, respectively. Importantly, we expect these improvements will be durable through cycles, positioning us to lower our breakeven costs while we build productive capacity to more efficiently reach consumers when demand recovers."

Shareholder Returns Update

Chesapeake plans to pay its base dividend of $0.575 per share on September 5, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2024.

Inclusive of the dividend payable on September 5, 2024, Chesapeake has returned approximately $3.5 billion to shareholders since 2021 through dividends and share repurchases.

Operations Update

Chesapeake's net production in the second quarter was approximately 2.75 bcfe per day (100% natural gas), utilizing an average of eight rigs to drill 30 wells and place four wells on production while building an inventory of five drilled but uncompleted ("DUCs") wells and 24 deferred turn in lines ("TILs"). Chesapeake is currently operating seven rigs and two completion crews, having dropped an additional rig in the Marcellus earlier in July.

Given continued weak market dynamics, the company is executing its previously disclosed plan to defer completions and new well TILs, building short-cycle, capital-efficient productive capacity, which can be activated when supply and demand imbalances correct. At the end of the second quarter, the company had 29 DUCs, excluding working inventory, and 46 deferred TILs. For the full-year, the company expects to drill 95 -- 115 wells and place 30 -- 40 wells on production, which is consistent with previous guidance.

Chesapeake continues to deliver improved capital efficiency primarily driven by the positive impact of longer laterals, optimized well designs, enhanced saltwater disposal techniques and capturing market deflation. As a result, the company is lowering full-year 2024 capital guidance $50 million to $1.2 to $1.3 billion and production expense guidance $0.02 to $0.21 to $0.26 per mcf.

ESG Update

The company issued its 2023 Sustainability Report, marking Chesapeake's 12th consecutive year reporting on its environmental, social, and governance performance and its resilience in a lower carbon future. The Report can be accessed on Chesapeake's website at chk.com under the "sustainability" section and reflects the company's commitment to transparency and enhanced disclosures.

Conference Call Information

Chesapeake plans to conduct a conference call to discuss its recent financial and operating results at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. The telephone number to access the conference call is 1-888-317-6003 or 1-412-317-6061 for international callers. The passcode is 4204243.

Financial Statements, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and 2024 Guidance and Outlook Projections

Reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure used in this news release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are provided below. Additional detail on the company's 2024 second quarter financial and operational results, along with non-GAAP measures that adjust for items typically excluded by certain securities analysts, are available on the company's website. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures. Management's updated guidance for 2024 can be found on the company's website at www.chk.com.

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CHK) is powered by dedicated and innovative employees who are focused on discovering and responsibly developing our leading positions in top U.S. natural gas plays. With a goal to achieve net zero GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2035, Chesapeake is committed to safely answering the call for affordable, reliable, lower carbon energy.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include our current expectations or forecasts of future events, including matters relating to the pending merger with Southwestern Energy Company ("Southwestern"), armed conflict and instability in Europe and the Middle East, along with the effects of the current global economic environment, and the impact of each on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, the potential effects of our bankruptcy plan of reorganization on our operations, management, and employees, actions by, or disputes among or between, members of OPEC+ and other foreign oil-exporting countries, market factors, market prices, our ability to meet debt service requirements, our ability to continue to pay cash dividends, the amount and timing of any cash dividends and our ESG initiatives. Forward-looking and other statements in this release regarding our environmental, social and other sustainability plans and goals are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors or required to be disclosed in our filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking environmental, social and sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business, financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "expect," "could," "may," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "ability," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," "estimate," "forecast," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "opportunity" or "strategy." The absence of such words or expressions does not necessarily mean the statements are not forward-looking.

Although we believe the expectations and forecasts reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. No assurance can be given that such forward-looking statements will be correct or achieved or that the assumptions are accurate or will not change over time. Particular uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements include:

    --  conservation measures and technological advances could reduce demand for
        natural gas and oil;
    --  negative public perceptions of our industry;
    --  competition in the natural gas and oil exploration and production
        industry;
    --  the volatility of natural gas, oil and NGL prices, which are affected by
        general economic and business conditions, as well as increased demand
        for (and availability of) alternative fuels and electric vehicles;
    --  risks from regional epidemics or pandemics and related economic turmoil,
        including supply chain constraints;
    --  write-downs of our natural gas and oil asset carrying values due to low
        commodity prices;
    --  significant capital expenditures are required to replace our reserves
        and conduct our business;
    --  our ability to replace reserves and sustain production;
    --  uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of natural gas, oil and
        NGL reserves and projecting future rates of production and the amount
        and timing of development expenditures;
    --  drilling and operating risks and resulting liabilities;
    --  our ability to generate profits or achieve targeted results in drilling
        and well operations;
    --  leasehold terms expiring before production can be established;
    --  risks from our commodity price risk management activities;
    --  uncertainties, risks and costs associated with natural gas and oil
        operations;
    --  our need to secure adequate supplies of water for our drilling
        operations and to dispose of or recycle the water used;
    --  pipeline and gathering system capacity constraints and transportation
        interruptions;
    --  our plans to participate in the LNG export industry;
    --  terrorist activities and/or cyber-attacks adversely impacting our
        operations;
    --  risks from failure to protect personal information and data and
        compliance with data privacy and security laws and regulations;
    --  disruption of our business by natural or human causes beyond our
        control;
    --  a deterioration in general economic, business or industry conditions;
    --  the impact of inflation and commodity price volatility, including as a
        result of armed conflict and instability in Europe and the Middle East,
        along with the effects of the current global economic environment, on
        our business, financial condition, employees, contractors, vendors and
        the global demand for natural gas and oil and on U.S. and global
        financial markets;
    --  our inability to access the capital markets on favorable terms;
    --  the limitations on our financial flexibility due to our level of
        indebtedness and restrictive covenants from our indebtedness;
    --  our actual financial results after emergence from bankruptcy may not be
        comparable to our historical financial information;
    --  risks related to acquisitions or dispositions, or potential acquisitions
        or dispositions, including risks related to the pending merger with
        Southwestern, such as the occurrence of any event, change or other
        circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger
        agreement; the risk that we or Southwestern may be unable to obtain
        governmental and regulatory approvals required for the proposed
        transaction, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay
        the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause
        the parties to abandon the merger; the risk that the parties may not be
        able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely
        manner or at all; risks related to limitation on our ability to pursue
        alternatives to the merger; risks related to change in control or other
        provisions in certain agreements that may be triggered upon completion
        of the merger; risks related to the merger agreement's restrictions on
        business activities prior to the effective time of the merger; risks
        related to loss of management personnel, other key employees, customers,
        suppliers, vendors, landlords, joint venture partners and other business
        partners following the merger; risks related to disruption of management
        time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction;
        the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction
        could have adverse effects on the market price of our common stock or
        Southwestern's common stock; the risk of any unexpected costs or
        expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the risk of any
        litigation relating to the proposed transaction; the risk that problems
        may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of the companies,
        which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively
        and efficiently as expected; and the risk that the combined company may
        be unable to achieve synergies or other anticipated benefits of the
        proposed transaction or it may take longer than expected to achieve
        those synergies or benefits;
    --  our ability to achieve and maintain ESG certifications, goals and
        commitments;
    --  legislative, regulatory and ESG initiatives, addressing environmental
        concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate
        change or further regulating hydraulic fracturing, methane emissions,
        flaring or water disposal;
    --  federal and state tax proposals affecting our industry;
    --  risks related to an annual limitation on the utilization of our tax
        attributes, which is expected to be triggered upon completion of the
        merger, as well as trading in our common stock, additional issuances of
        common stock, and certain other stock transactions, which could lead to
        an additional, potentially more restrictive, annual limitation; and
    --  other factors that are described under Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I
        of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release, which speak only as of the filing date, and we undertake no obligation to update this information. We urge you to carefully review and consider the disclosures in this release and our filings with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business.



              
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)





              
                ($ in millions, except per share data)            June 30, 2024 December 31, 2023



              
                Assets



              Current assets:



              Cash and cash equivalents                                             $1,019             $1,079



              Restricted cash                                                           76                 74



              Accounts receivable, net                                                 350                593



              Derivative assets                                                        361                637



              Other current assets                                                     207                226



              Total current assets                                                   2,013              2,609



              Property and equipment:



              Natural gas and oil properties, successful efforts method



              Proved natural gas and oil properties                                 12,105             11,468



              Unproved properties                                                    1,800              1,806



              Other property and equipment                                             512                497



              Total property and equipment                                          14,417             13,771



              Less: accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization           (4,413)           (3,674)



              Total property and equipment, net                                     10,004             10,097



              Long-term derivative assets                                               19                 74



              Deferred income tax assets                                               995                933



              Other long-term assets                                                   577                663



              
                Total assets                                            $13,608            $14,376





              
                Liabilities and stockholders' equity



              Current liabilities:



              Accounts payable                                                        $274               $425



              Accrued interest                                                          39                 39



              Derivative liabilities                                                     7                  3



              Other current liabilities                                                611                847



              Total current liabilities                                                931              1,314



              Long-term debt, net                                                    2,021              2,028



              Long-term derivative liabilities                                           3                  9



              Asset retirement obligations, net of current portion                     264                265



              Other long-term liabilities                                               19                 31



              Total liabilities                                                      3,238              3,647



              Contingencies and commitments



              Stockholders' equity:



              Common stock, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares                          1                  1
    authorized: 131,252,107 and 130,789,936 shares issued



              Additional paid-in capital                                             5,768              5,754



              Retained earnings                                                      4,601              4,974



              Total stockholders' equity                                            10,370             10,729



              
                Total liabilities and stockholders' equity              $13,608            $14,376



     
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)




                                                                                       Three Months Ended June 30,              Six Months Ended June 30,


                                                                                  2024       2023                 2024     2023



     
                ($ in millions, except per share data)



     
                Revenues and other:



     Natural gas, oil and NGL                                                    $378       $649                 $967   $2,102



     Marketing                                                                    136        611                  448    1,263



     Natural gas and oil derivatives                                             (11)       159                  161    1,089



     Gains on sales of assets                                                       2        472                   10      807



     Total revenues and other                                                     505      1,891                1,586    5,261



     
                Operating expenses:



     Production                                                                    49         89                  108      220



     Gathering, processing and transportation                                     154        207                  327      471



     Severance and ad valorem taxes                                                18         40                   47      109



     Exploration                                                                    3          8                    5       15



     Marketing                                                                    141        611                  464    1,262



     General and administrative                                                    47         31                   94       66



     Separation and other termination costs                                        23          3                   23        3



     Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                     348        376                  747      766



     Other operating expense, net                                                  16          9                   33       12



     Total operating expenses                                                     799      1,374                1,848    2,924



     
                Income (loss) from operations                                 (294)       517                (262)   2,337



     
                Other income (expense):



     Interest expense                                                            (20)      (22)                (39)    (59)



     Losses on purchases, exchanges or extinguishments of debt                    (2)                           (2)



     Other income                                                                  21         23                   41       33



     Total other income (expense)                                                 (1)         1                         (26)



     
                Income (loss) before income taxes                             (295)       518                (262)   2,311



     Income tax expense (benefit)                                                (68)       127                 (61)     531



     
                Net income (loss)                                            $(227)      $391               $(201)  $1,780



     
                Earnings (loss) per common share:



     Basic                                                                    $(1.73)     $2.93              $(1.53)  $13.27



     Diluted                                                                  $(1.73)     $2.73              $(1.53)  $12.36



     
                Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):



     Basic                                                                    131,168    133,514              131,030  134,125



     Diluted                                                                  131,168    143,267              131,030  144,007



     
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)




                                                                                                      Three Months Ended June 30,                  Six Months Ended June 30,



     
                ($ in millions)                                                               2024           2023                 2024       2023



     
                Cash flows from operating activities:



     Net income (loss)                                                                        $(227)          $391               $(201)    $1,780



     Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:



     Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                                    348            376                  747        766



     Deferred income tax expense (benefit)                                                      (68)            21                 (61)       399



     Derivative (gains) losses, net                                                               11          (159)               (161)   (1,089)



     Cash receipts (payments) on derivative settlements, net                                     260            236                  488       (49)



     Share-based compensation                                                                     10              9                   19         16



     Gains on sales of assets                                                                    (2)         (472)                (10)     (807)



     Losses on purchases, exchanges or extinguishments of debt                                     2                                  2



     Other                                                                                         6             17                  (7)        29



     Changes in assets and liabilities                                                         (131)            96                 (55)       359



     Net cash provided by operating activities                                                   209            515                  761      1,404



     
                Cash flows from investing activities:



     Capital expenditures                                                                      (302)         (530)               (723)   (1,027)



     Receipts of deferred consideration                                                           56                                116



     Contributions to investments                                                               (26)          (49)                (45)      (88)



     Proceeds from divestitures of property and equipment                                          6          1,032                   12      1,963



     Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                                       (266)           453                (640)       848



     
                Cash flows from financing activities:



     Proceeds from Credit Facility                                                                             125                          1,125



     Payments on Credit Facility                                                                             (125)                       (2,175)



     Funds held for transition services                                                                         97                             97



     Proceeds from warrant exercise                                                                1                                  1



     Debt issuance and other financing costs                                                     (4)                               (4)



     Cash paid to repurchase and retire common stock                                                         (127)                         (181)



     Cash paid for common stock dividends                                                       (99)         (160)               (176)     (335)



     Net cash used in financing activities                                                     (102)         (190)               (179)   (1,469)



     Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash                     (159)           778                 (58)       783



     Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period                           1,254            197                1,153        192



     Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period                                $1,095           $975               $1,095       $975





     Cash and cash equivalents                                                                $1,019           $903               $1,019       $903



     Restricted cash                                                                              76             72                   76         72



     Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash                                         $1,095           $975               $1,095       $975



     
                NATURAL GAS, OIL AND NGL PRODUCTION AND AVERAGE SALES PRICES (unaudited)




                                                                                                                                         
         
       Three Months Ended June 30, 2024


                                                                                                         Natural Gas                       Oil                                                   NGL                    Total


                                                                                            MMcf per day   
             
     $/Mcf  MBbl per day   
       
             $/Bbl                    MBbl per day     
     
     $/Bbl MMcfe per day   
     
     $/Mcfe



     Marcellus                                                                                    1,554                 1.35                                                                                            1,554          1.35



     Haynesville                                                                                  1,191                 1.70                                                                                            1,191          1.70



     Total                                                                                        2,745                 1.51                                                                                            2,745          1.51





     Average NYMEX Price                                                                                               1.89



     Average Realized Price (including realized derivatives)                                                           2.51                                                                                                          2.51


                                                                                                           
           
       Three Months Ended June 30, 2023


                                                                           Natural Gas                         Oil                                                   NGL                         Total


                                                              MMcf per day   
             
     $/Mcf  MBbl per day     
       
             $/Bbl                    MBbl per day     
     
     $/Bbl      MMcfe per day       
     
     $/Mcfe



     Marcellus                                                      1,830                 1.51                                                                                                   1,830              1.51



     Haynesville                                                    1,590                 1.77                                                                                                   1,590              1.77



     Eagle Ford                                                        85                 2.32             15                    76.39                               10          23.67                 233              6.73



     Total                                                          3,505                 1.65             15                    76.39                               10          23.67               3,653              1.97





     Average NYMEX Price                                                                 2.10                                  73.78



     Average Realized Price (including realized derivatives)                             2.36                                  84.58                                          23.67                                 2.67


                                                                                                            
         
       Six Months Ended June 30, 2024


                                                                           Natural Gas                        Oil                                                 NGL                    Total


                                                              MMcf per day   
             
     $/Mcf  MBbl per day    
       
            $/Bbl                   MBbl per day     
     
     $/Bbl MMcfe per day   
     
     $/Mcfe



     Marcellus                                                      1,637                 1.71                                                                                           1,637          1.71



     Haynesville                                                    1,334                 1.88                                                                                           1,334          1.88



     Total                                                          2,971                 1.79                                                                                           2,971          1.79





     Average NYMEX Price                                                                 2.07



     Average Realized Price (including realized derivatives)                             2.69                                                                                                         2.69


                                                                                                            
          
       Six Months Ended June 30, 2023


                                                                           Natural Gas                         Oil                                                 NGL                         Total


                                                              MMcf per day   
             
     $/Mcf  MBbl per day     
       
            $/Bbl                   MBbl per day     
     
     $/Bbl      MMcfe per day       
     
     $/Mcfe



     Marcellus                                                      1,901                 2.52                                                                                                 1,901              2.52



     Haynesville                                                    1,570                 2.32                                                                                                 1,570              2.32



     Eagle Ford                                                       106                 2.11             34                   76.72                              13          25.54                 389              8.19



     Total                                                          3,577                 2.42             34                   76.72                              13          25.54               3,860              3.01





     Average NYMEX Price                                                                 2.76                                 74.96



     Average Realized Price (including realized derivatives)                             2.55                                 70.67                                         25.54                                 3.08



     
                CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ACCRUED (unaudited)




                                                                 Three Months Ended June 30,          Six Months Ended June 30,


                                                            2024           2023              2024   2023



     
                ($ in millions)



     Drilling and completion capital expenditures:



     Marcellus                                              $93           $115              $198   $233



     Haynesville                                            131            254               326    513



     Eagle Ford                                                            90                     213



     Total drilling and completion capital expenditures     224            459               524    959



     Non-drilling and completion - field                     39             28                74     52



     Non-drilling and completion - corporate                 30             18                49     38



     Total capital expenditures                            $293           $505              $647 $1,049

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

As a supplement to the financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, Chesapeake's quarterly earnings releases contain certain financial measures that are not prepared or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, Adjusted EBITDAX, Free Cash Flow, Adjusted Free Cash Flow and Net Debt. A reconciliation of each financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is included in the tables below. Management believes these adjusted financial measures are a meaningful adjunct to earnings and cash flows calculated in accordance with GAAP because (a) management uses these financial measures to evaluate the company's trends and performance, (b) these financial measures are comparable to estimates provided by certain securities analysts, and (c) items excluded generally are one-time items or items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated. Accordingly, any guidance provided by the company generally excludes information regarding these types of items.

Chesapeake's definitions of each non-GAAP measure presented herein are provided below. Because not all companies or securities analysts use identical calculations, Chesapeake's non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies or securities analysts.

Adjusted Net Income: Adjusted Net Income is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives, (gains) losses on sales of assets, and certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results, less a tax effect using applicable rates. Chesapeake believes that Adjusted Net Income facilitates comparisons of the company's period-over-period performance, which many investors use in making investment decisions and evaluating operational trends and performance. Adjusted Net Income should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) as presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share is defined as diluted earnings (loss) per common share adjusted to exclude the per diluted share amounts attributed to unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives, (gains) losses on sales of assets, and certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results, less a tax effect using applicable rates. Chesapeake believes that Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share facilitates comparisons of the company's period-over-period performance, which many investors use in making investment decisions and evaluating operational trends and performance. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, earnings (loss) per common share as presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDAX: Adjusted EBITDAX is defined as net income (loss) before interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, exploration expense, unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives, separation and other termination costs, (gains) losses on sales of assets, and certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results. Adjusted EBITDAX is presented as it provides investors an indication of the company's ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and service or incur debt. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) as presented in accordance with GAAP.

Free Cash Flow: Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow is a liquidity measure that provides investors additional information regarding the company's ability to service or incur debt and return cash to shareholders. Free Cash Flow should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, or any other measure of liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow: Adjusted Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash capital expenditures and cash contributions to investments, adjusted to exclude certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a liquidity measure that provides investors additional information regarding the company's ability to service or incur debt and return cash to shareholders and is used to determine Chesapeake's quarterly variable dividend. Adjusted Free Cash Flow should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, or any other measure of liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

Net Debt: Net Debt is defined as GAAP total debt excluding premiums, discounts, and deferred issuance costs less cash and cash equivalents. Net Debt is useful to investors as a widely understood measure of liquidity and leverage, but this measure should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt presented in accordance with GAAP.



     
                RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME (unaudited)




                                                                                                 Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,



     
                ($ in millions)                                                          2024               2023             2024       2023



     
                Net income (loss) (GAAP)                                               $(227)              $391           $(201)    $1,780





     
                Adjustments:



     Unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives                           262                 78              329    (1,041)



     Separation and other termination costs                                                  23                  3               23          3



     Gains on sales of assets                                                               (2)             (472)            (10)     (807)



     Other operating expense, net                                                            16                  8               35         15



     Losses on purchases, exchanges or extinguishments of debt                                2                                  2



     Other                                                                                  (5)               (9)            (13)      (15)



     Tax effect of adjustments(a)                                                          (68)                93             (84)       427



     
                Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)                                             $1                $92              $81       $362



     (a) The three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023 include a tax effect attributed to the reconciling
          adjustments using a statutory rate of 23%.



     
                RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (unaudited)




                                                                                                                                        Three Months Ended June 30,             Six Months Ended June 30,



     
                ($/share)                                                                                                       2024             2023                2024      2023



     
                Earnings (loss) per common share (GAAP)                                                                      $(1.73)           $2.93             $(1.53)   $13.27



     Effect of dilutive securities                                                                                                              (0.20)                      (0.91)



     Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (GAAP)                                                                           $(1.73)           $2.73             $(1.53)   $12.36





     
                Adjustments:



     Unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives                                                                 1.99             0.54                2.51    (7.24)



     Separation and other termination costs                                                                                       0.17             0.02                0.17      0.02



     Gains on sales of assets                                                                                                   (0.01)          (3.30)             (0.08)   (5.60)



     Other operating expense, net                                                                                                 0.13             0.06                0.27      0.11



     Losses on purchases, exchanges or extinguishments of debt                                                                    0.01                                0.01



     Other                                                                                                                      (0.03)          (0.06)             (0.10)   (0.11)



     Tax effect of adjustments(a)                                                                                               (0.52)            0.65              (0.64)     2.97



     Effect of dilutive securities                                                                                                                                 (0.04)



     
                Adjusted diluted earnings per common share (Non-GAAP)                                                          $0.01            $0.64               $0.57     $2.51



     (a) The three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023 include a tax effect attributed to the reconciling
          adjustments using a statutory rate of 23%.



     
                RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED EBITDAX (unaudited)




                                                                                              Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,


                                                                                         2024               2023             2024      2023



     
                ($ in millions)



     
                Net income (loss) (GAAP)                                            $(227)              $391           $(201)   $1,780





     
                Adjustments:



     Interest expense                                                                     20                 22               39        59



     Income tax expense (benefit)                                                       (68)               127             (61)      531



     Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                            348                376              747       766



     Exploration                                                                           3                  8                5        15



     Unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives                        262                 78              329   (1,041)



     Separation and other termination costs                                               23                  3               23         3



     Gains on sales of assets                                                            (2)             (472)            (10)    (807)



     Other operating expense, net                                                         16                  8               35        15



     Losses on purchases, exchanges or extinguishments of debt                             2                                  2



     Other                                                                              (19)              (17)            (42)     (23)



     
                Adjusted EBITDAX (Non-GAAP)                                           $358               $524             $866    $1,298



     
                RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW (unaudited)




                                                                                                                             Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,


                                                                                                                        2024               2023             2024       2023



     
                ($ in millions)



     
                Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)                                                     $209               $515             $761     $1,404



     Cash capital expenditures                                                                                        (302)             (530)           (723)   (1,027)



     
                Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)                                                                            (93)              (15)              38        377



     Cash contributions to investments                                                                                 (26)              (49)            (45)      (88)



     Free cash flow associated with divested assets(a)                                                                                   (26)                     (138)



     
                Adjusted free cash flow (Non-GAAP)                                                                 $(119)             $(90)            $(7)      $151



     (a) In March and April of 2023, we closed two divestitures of certain Eagle Ford assets. Due to the structure
          of these transactions, both of which had an effective date of October 1, 2022, the cash generated by
          these assets was delivered to the respective buyers through a reduction in the proceeds we received at
          the closing of each transaction.



     
                RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DEBT TO NET DEBT (unaudited)





     
                ($ in millions)                                      June 30, 2024



     
                Total debt (GAAP)                                           $2,021



     Premiums and issuance costs on debt                                        (71)



     
                Principal amount of debt                                     1,950



     Cash and cash equivalents                                               (1,019)



     
                Net debt (Non-GAAP)                                           $931


                     INVESTOR CONTACT:                MEDIA CONTACT:                             CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION



     Chris Ayres                      Brooke Coe                      6100 North Western Avenue


     (405) 935-8870                   (405) 935-8878                
     P.O. Box 18496


     ir@chk.com                       media@chk.com                 
     Oklahoma City, OK 73154

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SOURCE Chesapeake Energy Corporation