Matador Resources Company Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results and Increases Fourth Quarter Production Guidance

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Matador Resources Company (NYSE: MTDR) (“Matador” or the “Company”) today reported financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2023. A short slide presentation summarizing the highlights of Matador’s third quarter 2023 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.

Management Summary Comments

Joseph Wm. Foran, Matador’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, commented, “Matador achieved record results for the third quarter of 2023 due to the continued execution and teamwork by Matador’s staff, management team, Board of Directors, vendors, contractors and partners, among others. These results reflect our long-term approach to managing Matador’s business allowing for profitable growth at a measured pace, maintaining a strong balance sheet and returning value to our shareholders. We are pleased that this long-term approach is being increasingly recognized as Matador’s stock has been a top performer among our peer group over the last five years (see Slide A). In fact, Matador has significantly outperformed both the price of oil and the S&P Oil and Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index, or XOP Index, since our initial public offering in February 2012 and the acquisition of the Boros, Voni and Rodney Robinson leases from the Bureau of Land Management in 2018 (see Slide B).

Record Production and Better-Than-Expected Cost Savings in Third Quarter 2023

“The third quarter of 2023 was the best quarter of total production in Matador’s history, as we averaged more than 135,000 barrels of oil and natural gas equivalent (‘BOE’) per day. This record total production for the third quarter of 2023 was 3% better sequentially than our former total production record of 130,683 BOE per day in the second quarter of 2023. Notably, we also achieved record oil production during the third quarter of 2023 of 77,529 barrels per day, which was 2% better sequentially than our previous oil production record of 76,345 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2023. Matador also achieved record natural gas production during the third quarter of 2023 of 345.4 million cubic feet per day, which was 6% better sequentially than our prior natural gas production record of 326.0 million cubic feet per day in the second quarter of 2023. We achieved these record production results despite the challenges of bringing on the largest batch of wells in Matador’s history as well as challenges associated with maintenance, weather and potential midstream takeaway constraints.

“A portion of the natural gas from Matador’s wells in northern Lea County, New Mexico is being delivered to and processed by Pronto Midstream, LLC (“Pronto”), our wholly-owned midstream subsidiary, at its cryogenic natural gas processing plant named the ‘Marlan Plant’ in honor of our former director and advisor Marlan Downey. The Marlan Plant provides flow assurance for much of our acreage in northern Lea County, New Mexico as well as other producers and midstream companies in the area. Due in part to the natural gas production from Matador’s wells in northern Lea County, we are pleased to report that the Marlan Plant is now processing natural gas volumes up to its designed inlet capacity of 60 million cubic feet per day.

“In addition to record production during the third quarter, we also achieved better-than-expected drilling, completing and equipping (“D/C/E”) capital expenditures and midstream capital expenditures. Matador’s D/C/E capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2023 were approximately $4 million lower than expected. Midstream capital expenditures were approximately $48 million lower than expected for the third quarter of 2023. We currently expect full-year 2023 midstream capital expenditures of $135 million to $165 million as compared to our prior expectation of $150 million to $200 million. Approximately $10 million of this decrease is due to cost savings with the remainder due to the timing of our planned projects.

“Our record production and lower costs led to better-than-expected Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of $461.0 million for the third quarter of 2023 and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $144.6 million for the third quarter of 2023. We used a portion of this free cash flow to continue our long tradition of paying down debt and various brick-by-brick acquisitions, which have been instrumental in building our acreage position to over 150,000 net acres in the Delaware Basin (see Slide C). The Board and I thank and congratulate all the Matador staff that have worked on these transactions, which continue to provide significant value to Matador and its shareholders.

Increased Dividend and Continued Debt Repayment

“Matador was pleased to announce last week that our Board of Directors increased our fixed quarterly cash dividend from $0.15 per share, or $0.60 per share on an annual basis, to $0.20 per share, or $0.80 per share on an annual basis (see Slide D). This is the fourth increase in our fixed dividend since our Board initiated the dividend in the first quarter of 2021. Our ability to raise our dividend again evidences our increasing financial and operational strength.

“Matador was also pleased to announce last week that our bank group amended our credit agreement to increase the borrowing base by $250 million to $2.5 billion and increase the elected commitment by $75 million to $1.325 billion (see Slide E). In connection with the amendment, we welcomed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the newest member to our bank group. We value our lending relationships and are grateful for the support of each of our banks.

“The support of our banks was critical in connection with our Advance acquisition as we borrowed $700 million under Matador’s credit agreement. Since then, we have repaid $200 million of these borrowings leaving only $500 million outstanding under Matador’s credit agreement today. As of September 30, 2023, our leverage ratio was just under 1.0x. We expect our leverage ratio to remain 1.0x or less for the remainder of 2023 and anticipate being able to fully repay the borrowings under Matador’s credit agreement in 2024 at current commodity prices.

Horseshoe Well Update

“In October 2023, Matador turned to sales its first two ‘horseshoe’ wells in our Wolf asset area in Loving County, Texas (see Slide F). We are pleased to announce that these two horseshoe wells have 24-hour initial production test results of 2,477 BOE per day (51% oil) and 2,166 BOE per day (53% oil), respectively, and have high initial flowing casing pressures between 3,650 and 4,100 pounds per square inch. We are encouraged by the early initial production from the horseshoe wells, which is comparable to or better than traditional two-mile lateral wells drilled in the Wolf asset area. We estimate that we achieved approximately $10 million in cost savings by drilling two horseshoe two-mile lateral wells as compared to four one-mile lateral wells in this section.

Looking Forward to the Remainder of 2023 and Into 2024

“Matador expects to finish the year strong with continued production increases, cost efficiencies and debt repayment. We anticipate achieving the mid-to-high end of our full-year 2023 guidance range for total oil and natural gas equivalent production, oil production and natural gas production. We also expect lower capital expenditures for full-year 2023, primarily due to lower midstream capital expenditures of $25 million.

“For the fourth quarter of 2023, we now expect to produce an average of approximately 145,000 BOE per day, which is a 2% increase from our previous expectation of 143,000 BOE per day (see Slide G). In addition, we anticipate our oil production to average 86,750 barrels of oil per day at the midpoint of our guidance during the fourth quarter, which is a 1% increase from our previous expectation of 86,000 barrels of oil per day. In addition to the increased production during the fourth quarter of 2023, we also anticipate having 47 net wells in some stage of drilling or completion on December 31, 2023.

“We are currently operating seven drilling rigs and anticipate adding an eighth drilling rig in the first quarter of 2024. This additional drilling rig is expected to be a ‘super-spec’ drilling rig similar to our other seven drilling rigs. We are pleased with our extensive well inventory and continued capital and operating efficiencies that allow us to add this drilling rig. Special thanks go to our vendors and operational teams for helping achieve these efficiencies.

“Matador also continues to make progress with its midstream assets to increase the ‘flow assurance’ essential for its growing production volumes and third-party relationships in the Delaware Basin. We expect to connect Pronto’s natural gas system with the natural gas system owned by San Mateo Midstream, LLC (“San Mateo”), our midstream joint venture, in the first quarter of 2024. We also expect to connect Pronto’s natural gas system to our Advance acreage in the first quarter of 2024, which will allow us to directly deliver natural gas volumes from the Advance acreage to the Marlan Plant. In addition to these connections, we continue to move forward with our plans to expand our processing capacity by adding an additional cryogenic natural gas processing plant with a designed inlet capacity of 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and are evaluating whether to include a partner in building the processing plant. Matador has a history of successfully building midstream assets. We formed San Mateo in 2017 and have grown our midstream assets since then, both at San Mateo and Pronto, to include approximately 525 miles of oil, natural gas and water pipelines, 520 million cubic feet per day of designed natural gas processing capacity and over 475,000 barrels per day of designed water disposal capacity (see Slide H).

“Thanks again for your interest and support and thanks to the Board, the staff and our stakeholders for their extra efforts and teamwork to keep Matador growing.”

Third Quarter 2023 Matador Operational and Financial Highlights

(for comparisons to last year, please see the remainder of this press release)

• Average production of 135,096 BOE per day (77,529 barrels of oil per day)
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $461.0 million
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $144.6 million
• Net income of $263.7 million, or $2.20 per diluted common share
• Adjusted net income of $223.4 million, or adjusted earnings of $1.86 per diluted common share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $508.3 million
• San Mateo net income of $29.9 million
• San Mateo Adjusted EBITDA of $47.1 million
• D/C/E capital expenditures of $296.0 million
• Midstream capital expenditures of $41.7 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.

Full-Year 2023 Guidance Update

Effective October 24, 2023, Matador anticipates achieving the mid-to-high end of its full-year 2023 guidance range for total oil and natural gas equivalent production, oil production and natural gas production. Matador also expects lower capital expenditures for full-year 2023, primarily due to lower midstream capital expenditures of $25 million.

Operational and Financial Update

Third Quarter 2023 Oil, Natural Gas and Total Oil Equivalent Production Above Expectations

Matador’s average daily oil and natural gas production was 135,096 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2023, which was a 3% sequential increase from 130,683 BOE in the second quarter of 2023 and a 28% year-over-year increase from 105,214 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2022. Matador’s production for the third quarter of 2023 of 135,096 BOE per day exceeded its announced expectations for the quarter of a range from 129,500 to 131,500 BOE per day, as summarized in the table below. The primary drivers behind this outperformance were (i) better-than-expected production from our wells in Lea County, New Mexico, (ii) higher-than-expected production from non-operated assets, (iii) fewer shut-in wells than Matador had anticipated and (iv) certain land transactions that were expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023 but instead closed in the third quarter of 2023. In addition, the force majeure event experienced by a third-party midstream provider during the third quarter has been resolved.

Production	Q3 2023 Average Daily Volume	Q3 2023 Guidance Range (1)	Difference (2)	Sequential (3)	YoY (4)
Total, BOE per day	135,096	129,500 to 131,500	+4% Better than Guidance	+3%	+28%
Oil, Bbl per day	77,529	75,500 to 76,500	+2% Better than Guidance	+2%	+29%
Natural Gas, MMcf per day	345.4	324.0 to 330.0	+6% Better than Guidance	+6%	+28%
(1) Production range previously projected, as provided on July 25, 2023. (2) As compared to midpoint of guidance provided on July 25, 2023. (3) Represents sequential percentage change from the second quarter of 2023. (4) Represents year-over-year percentage change from the third quarter of 2022.

Third Quarter 2023 Realized Commodity Prices

The following table summarizes Matador’s realized commodity prices during the third quarter of 2023, as compared to the second quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2022.

	Sequential (Q3 2023 vs. Q2 2023)						YoY (Q3 2023 vs. Q3 2022)
Realized Commodity Prices	Q3 2023		Q2 2023		Sequential Change(1)		Q3 2023		Q3 2022		YoY Change(2)
Oil Prices, per Bbl	$82.49		$73.46		Up 12%		$82.49		$94.36		Down 13%
Natural Gas Prices, per Mcf	$3.56		$2.61		Up 36%		$3.56		$9.22		Down 61%
(1) Third quarter 2023 as compared to second quarter 2023. (2) Third quarter 2023 as compared to third quarter 2022.

Third Quarter 2023 Wells Turned to Sales

During the third quarter of 2023, Matador turned to sales 29 gross (26.1 net) operated horizontal wells with an average completed lateral length of approximately 10,700 feet. The table below provides a summary of Matador’s operated and non-operated activity in the third quarter of 2023. Matador had one additional net non-operated well turned to sales in the third quarter of 2023 than what it previously planned.

Third Quarter 2023 Quarterly Well Count
	Operated			Non-Operated			Total		Gross Operated and Non-Operated
Asset/Operating Area	Gross	Net		Gross	Net		Gross	Net	Well Completion Intervals
Western Antelope Ridge (Rodney Robinson)	—	—		—	—		—	—	No wells turned to sales in Q3 2023
Antelope Ridge	—	—		6	0.0		6	0.0	1-3BS-Carb, 1-WC A, 4-WC B
Arrowhead	—	—		14	1.3		14	1.3	7-2BS, 3-3BS, 4-WC A
Ranger	21	20.4		2	0.1		23	20.5	3-2BS-Carb, 8-2BS, 6-3BS-Carb, 3-3BS, 3-WC A
Rustler Breaks	8	5.7		2	0.2		10	5.9	3-1BS, 1-2BS, 4-WC A, 2-WC B
Stateline	—	—		—	—		—	—	No wells turned to sales in Q3 2023
Wolf/Jackson Trust	—	—		11	0.2		11	0.2	1- 3BS-Carb, 3-3BS, 6-WC A, 1-WC B
Delaware Basin	29	26.1		35	1.8		64	27.9
South Texas	—	—		—	—		—	—	No wells turned to sales in Q3 2023
Haynesville Shale	—	—		1	0.0		1	0.0	1-HV
Total	29	26.1		36	1.8		65	27.9
Note: WC = Wolfcamp; BS = Bone Spring; HV = Haynesville; For example, 1-3BS-Carb indicates one Third Bone Spring Carbonate completion and 1-WC A indicates one Wolfcamp A completion. Any “0.0” values in the table above suggest a net working interest of less than 5%, which does not round to 0.1.

Third Quarter 2023 Operating Expenses

Matador expected an increase to its lease operating expenses in the third quarter of 2023 as a result of the closing of the Advance acquisition in April. Matador was able to offset certain anticipated expense increases by targeting improvements in workover, supervision and repair and maintenance costs resulting in total lease operating expenses of $5.34 per BOE for the third quarter of 2023, which is a 4% sequential increase from $5.13 per BOE in the second quarter of 2023 and a 22% year-over-year increase from $4.38 per BOE in the third quarter of 2022. The third quarter 2023 lease operating expenses were consistent with Matador’s expected full-year 2023 lease operating expenses range of $5.00 to $5.50 per BOE.

Matador’s general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses increased 13% sequentially from $2.25 per BOE in the second quarter of 2023 to $2.55 per BOE in the third quarter of 2023. This increase is due in part to the value of employee stock awards that are settled in cash, which are remeasured at each quarterly reporting period. These cash-settled stock award amounts increased due to the fact that Matador’s share price increased 14% from $52.32 at the end of the second quarter of 2023 to $59.48 at end of the third quarter of 2023. Matador’s third quarter 2023 G&A expenses were better than expected. As a result, Matador is reducing its expected full-year 2023 G&A expenses by 9% from a range of $2.25 to $3.25 per BOE to a range of $2.25 to $2.75 per BOE.

During the third quarter of 2023, Matador’s plant and other midstream operating expenses, which include the costs to operate San Mateo’s and Pronto’s assets, were $2.48 per BOE, a 4% decrease from $2.58 per BOE in the second quarter of 2023. Matador continues to expect its midstream businesses to experience full-year 2023 plant and other midstream operating expenses to range from $2.50 to $3.00 per BOE.

Third Quarter 2023 Capital Expenditures

Matador’s D/C/E capital expenditures were approximately $4 million lower than expected. Matador’s cost savings were partially offset by additional non-operated activity, which resulted in one additional net well turned to sales, as noted above. Midstream capital expenditures were significantly lower than expected for the third quarter of 2023 due primarily to cost savings and the timing of planned projects.

Q3 2023 Capital Expenditures ($ millions)	Actual	Guidance(1)	Difference vs. Guidance(2)
D/C/E	$296.0	$300.0	1% less than estimated
Midstream	$41.7	$90.0	54% less than estimated
(1) Midpoint of guidance as provided on July 25, 2023. (2) As compared to the midpoint of guidance provided on July 25, 2023.

Midstream Update

San Mateo’s operations in the third quarter of 2023 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 $29.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $47.1 million were each better than expected.

Operationally, San Mateo’s natural gas gathering and processing volumes in the third quarter of 2023 were all-time quarterly highs. The table below sets forth San Mateo’s throughput volumes, as compared to the second quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2022. The volumes in the table do not include the full quantity of volumes that would have otherwise been delivered by certain San Mateo customers subject to minimum volume commitments (although partial deliveries were made), but for which San Mateo recognized revenues.

	Sequential (Q3 2023 vs. Q2 2023)						YoY (Q3 2023 vs. Q3 2022)
San Mateo Throughput Volumes	Q3 2023		Q2 2023		Change(1)		Q3 2023		Q3 2022		Change(2)
Natural gas gathering, MMcf per day	350		331		+6%		350		285		+23%
Natural gas processing, MMcf per day	385		373		+3%		385		280		+38%
Oil gathering and transportation, Bbl per day	40,200		41,400		-3%		40,200		44,800		-10%
Produced water handling, Bbl per day	354,000		335,000		+6%		354,000		358,000		-1%
(1) Third quarter 2023 as compared to second quarter 2023. (2) Third quarter 2023 as compared to third quarter 2022.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimates

Fourth Quarter 2023 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 135,096 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2023 to increase to a midpoint of approximately 145,000 BOE per day in the fourth quarter of 2023.

	Q3 and Q4 2023 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
Q3 2023	135,096	77,529	345.4	57%
Q4 2023E	144,000 to 146,500	86,000 to 87,500	348.0 to 354.0	60%

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Wells Turned to Sales

At October 24, 2023, Matador expects to turn to sales 38 gross (28.2 net) operated horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin during the fourth quarter of 2023, consisting of four gross (4.0 net) wells in the Ranger asset area, four gross (2.6 net) wells in the Antelope Ridge asset area, 17 gross (10.4 net) wells in the Arrowhead asset area and 13 gross (11.2 net) wells in the Wolf asset area.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Capital Expenditures

Matador began 2023 operating seven drilling rigs in the Delaware Basin. Following the closing of the Advance acquisition on April 12, 2023, Matador continued operating the drilling rig that Advance had been operating. In June 2023, Matador released this eighth operated drilling rig and continued operating seven drilling rigs in the Delaware Basin. Matador plans to operate seven drilling rigs for the remainder of 2023 and add back an eighth drilling rig in the first quarter of 2024. At October 24, 2023, Matador expects D/C/E capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2023 will be approximately $259 million, which is a 13% decrease as compared to $296 million for the third quarter of 2023 due to the mix of wells drilled and completed during the fourth quarter as compared to the third quarter. Matador expects its proportionate share of midstream capital expenditures to be approximately $87 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to $41.7 million in the third quarter of 2023 due to the timing of projects.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Cash Taxes

Matador expects to make cash tax payments in an amount of approximately 1% of pre-tax book net income for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to cash taxes of approximately 3% of pre-tax book net income for the year ended December 31, 2022. This year-over-year decrease is due to lower oil and natural gas prices in 2023 as compared to 2022 as well as higher acquisition and capital expenditures incurred in 2023 as compared to 2022. Matador had previously anticipated that it would not pay any cash taxes for 2023 but has since revised its estimates based upon higher estimated 2023 production and realized oil and gas prices and lower estimated capital expenditures. The 2023 cash tax payments primarily relate to New Mexico state income taxes.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a live conference call on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to review its third quarter 2023 operational and financial results. To access the live conference call by phone, you can use the following link https://register.vevent.com/register/BIec0f864806654c48b2686f74a95969b3 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 th

Contacts

Mac Schmitz

Vice President – Investor Relations

(972) 371-5225

[email protected]

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