Berry Corporation (NASDAQ:BRY) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Berry Corporation (NASDAQ:BRY) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript August 2, 2023

Berry Corporation beats earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $0.64, expectations were $0.01.

Operator: Good day and thank you for joining us. Welcome to the Berry Corporation Q2 2023 Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in listen-only mode. After the speakers’ presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions]. Please be advised that today’s conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Todd Crabtree, Head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Todd Crabtree: Thank you, Gerald, and welcome everyone, and thank you for joining us for Berry’s second quarter 2023 earnings teleconference. Earlier today, Berry issued an earnings release highlighting 2023 second quarter results. Speaking this morning will be Fernando Araujo, our Chief Executive Officer; and Mike Helm, our Chief Financial Officer. Before we begin, I would like to call your attention to the safe harbor language found in our earnings release that was issued this morning. This release and today’s discussion contain certain projections and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements.

These include risks and other factors outlined in our filings with the SEC, including our 10-Q, which will be filed later today. Our website, bry.com, has a link to the earnings release and our most recent investor presentation. Any information, including forward-looking statements made on this call are contained in the earnings release and that presentation reflects our analysis as of the date made. We have no plans or duty to update them, except as required by law. Please refer to the tables in our earnings release and on our website for a reconciliation between all adjusted measures mentioned in today’s call and the related GAAP measures. We will also post the replay link of this call and the transcript on our website. I will now turn the call over to Fernando.

Fernando Araujo: Thanks, Todd. Welcome everyone and thank you for joining us. In the second quarter, we successfully executed on our strategy to maximize shareholder value and generate meaningful returns. Our operational and financial performance was strong and we delivered on all fronts. We are excited about our pending acquisition of Macpherson Energy Corporation, which is on track to close late in the third quarter. This is another step in achieving our important objective of acquiring accretive producing bolt-ons. We currently anticipate that our full-year 2023 results from our current operations will be in line with previous guidance, except with respect to capital expenditures. We expect 2023 capital expenditures to be approximately $35 million lower than initial guidance.

This is a result of the reallocation of capital use to fund a portion of the Macpherson transaction. We will fully update guidance in connection with the transaction close. We delivered nearly 7% or more than 1,600 barrels per day higher production volumes quarter-over-quarter. We accomplished this with less capital than planned. We expect annual production from our current operations to be at or above the midpoint of our initial guidance. Our base production, which is expected to account for more than 95% of our total 2023 production is outperforming plan. This is mainly due to the implementation of an optimized steam injection strategy in our California fields. It is a great example of what I mean when I use the term operational excellence.

The balance of production comes from our successful workover and sidetrack campaign. Part of the production gain in Q2 was related to recovering deferred production from Q1. Our ongoing commitment is to maximize shareholder returns, while ensuring that we remain a responsible and safe producer. In accordance with our shareholder return model, this quarter, we will pay total dividends of $0.14 per share between fixed and variable. This is in line with our goal to deliver a 2023 cash return in the high single-digits based on our current stock price. Additionally, we opportunistically repurchased $10 million of our common stock during the second quarter. We recently announced that we’ve entered into an agreement to acquire Macpherson Energy Corporation, a privately held Kern County operator for $70 million in cash.

This transaction improves capital efficiency and reallocate capital with 80% of the purchase price funded with $35 million from our planned 2023 capital expenditures, plus expected cash flows from the acquired assets in 2023 and 2024. Based on current projections and $75 per barrel Brent pricing, the adjusted free cash flow delivered by the combined company after the transaction is fully paid for in 2024 is expected to be 15% to 25% greater than Berry without Macpherson. The Macpherson assets, which are high-quality, low decline producing properties are a natural fit with our existing rural Kern County portfolio. In addition to the attractive base production, we see upside for near-term production enhancement and development opportunities by utilizing existing wellbores.

This is a value-creating transaction for Berry and its shareholders, reflective of our disciplined capital return strategy. We are ideally positioned to capture future consolidation opportunities. I will now turn the call over to Mike.

Mike Helm: Thank you, Fernando. As always, more information is available in our earnings release issued this morning and in our 10-Q filing available later today. But here are a few highlights. Our financial and operational results were strong this quarter. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $69 million compared to $59 million for the first quarter. This 17% increase despite the lower oil prices is primarily due to higher production and lower lease operating expenses. Lease operating expenses, including the effect of gas purchase hedges, decreased 23% from Q1. Most of which is attributable to the lower fuel costs and lower lease maintenance costs. We also continued to implement ongoing cost reduction initiatives during the quarter. Some of which are beginning to bear fruit, entering the second half of the year.

An example of this is the completion of the solar project at our South Belridge property, which in addition to reducing our carbon footprint is expected to reduce our annual power cost by about $300,000. Adjusted G&A expenses were down slightly compared to the first quarter, and we expect to see continued improvement throughout the rest of the year. Second quarter adjusted free cash flow was $34 million, which after taking into account the use of working capital in the first quarter resulted in a cumulative net adjusted free cash flow of $7 million for the first half of ’23. Accordingly, we have declared a variable dividend of $0.02 per share in addition to the quarterly fixed dividend of $0.12 per share. As a reminder, our shareholder return model is based on annual adjusted free cash flow, calculated after the payment of the fixed dividend, 20% of which is earmarked for variable dividends.

The remaining 80% is intended for opportunistic debt and stock repurchases as well as strategic growth and the acquisition of producing bolt-ons. Berry was active with share buybacks in the second quarter, repurchasing around 1.4 million shares in the open market for approximately $10 million at an average price of $7.04 per share. We have an additional $190 million authorized for future stock buybacks and $75 million authorized for debt repurchases. To summarize, Berry is hitting its operational and financial targets, and is well positioned for continued success, maximizing shareholder returns. Back to you, Fernando.

Fernando Araujo: Thanks, Mike. In closing, our second quarter results have delivered on our commitment to maximize shareholder returns and achieve operational excellence. We are on track to meet our annual production goals with less capital spend and decreasing operating expenses. We are confident in our ability to enhance free cash flow and shareholder returns going forward. We believe that the current industry and market conditions are favorable for M&A and the Macpherson acquisition is evidence of that. Berry remains well positioned to be a consolidator, and we are actively pursuing other opportunities that align with our strategy to maximize shareholder value. With that, I will now turn the call over to the operator for questions.

Q&A Session

Operator: Thank you. We will now conduct a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions]. Our first question comes from the line of Charles Meade with Johnson Rice. Please proceed with your question.

Charles Meade: Good morning, Fernando, Mike, and then the rest of the Berry team. Fernando, I want to pick up exactly where you left off there with your prepared comments about — you said that conditions are becoming more favorable for A&D or for acquisition opportunities in Kern County. This looks like a good deal, this Macpherson deal. But can you elaborate a bit on what are the prospects for more opportunities like this coming your way?

Fernando Araujo: Yes. Very good question, Charles. In California, in particular, we’re seeing a renewed interest in M&A opportunities, especially with the current regulatory environment. Groups are willing to have a conversation now more than before. And we are very active in those conversations with several parties. We believe the future of California is consolidation in order for industry to be able to achieve those synergies — those operational synergies available. And we as Berry want to be that company — that leading company that consolidates assets. Obviously, we continue to evaluate producing properties in Kern County, but also in Utah and other places. All — in all cases, properties that would align with our strategy to maximize shareholder returns.

We are looking at opportunities to be able to keep production flat or even increase production in some cases. We are focusing on areas where we can see immediate operational synergies and areas where we can apply some of our proven technologies to be able to enhance the value of those assets. So, we are very active currently, Charles, looking at different opportunities, but this is the time.

Charles Meade: Got it. And so just to push on that a little bit more. If I understand you right or if I understand correctly, it’s just something along the lines of — these are family-owned businesses, probably family-operated, and they’ve been doing the same sorts of projects for years. And now because the regulatory environment has maybe shut some of those activities down there, it’s kind of forcing a re-evaluation of their strategic direction. Is that — am I understanding correctly along the right lines?

Fernando Araujo: Yes, you’re correct in that assumption. A lot of the smaller companies are kind of re-evaluating their businesses now with the current environment. But again, we’re looking at not only some of the smaller players, but looking at different size companies or opportunities as well.

Charles Meade: Got it. Okay. Thank you. And then, maybe just a second follow-up there. So, obviously, this Macpherson is, it’s in your wheelhouse in Kern County, but most of — my understanding is most of your production, not all, but most is more west of Bakersfield, whereas your existing Poso Creek and this Macpherson is more north of Bakersfield. So are there — how was the opportunity set kind of different or perhaps better with these assets, since you’re kind of waiting up in this area?

Fernando Araujo: We have — we see opportunities both on the eastern side of Kern County, which is the case of Macpherson, and also the western side of Kern County, where most of our operations are. So, we are talking to folks on both sides. Now Macpherson, as you know, is fairly close to our Poso field. So, we’re going to be able to realize some synergies just because of economies of scale, but we are seeing opportunities in both sides of the basin and we are actively looking at everything.

Charles Meade: Got it. I’ll let someone else — I’ll let someone else hop in — I’ll hop back in the queue.

Operator: Thank you. One moment as I prepare the queue. Our next question comes from the line of Tim Chatard from Meros Investment Management. The line is now yours.

Tim Chatard: Hi, good morning. Just curious if — I’m sure you’re aware of California Resources and their efforts to more or less split their company into two businesses, E&P on one side and carbon management on the other. Is that structure at all relevant to you in your assets, since you operate in somewhat similar proximity to where they are?

Fernando Araujo: Yes. Very good question, Tim. And the big difference between CRC and us is really size. Our goal when it comes to ESG in particular is to be a good corporate citizen and to be able to minimize environmental impact. As far as carbon capture projects, we want to be more of a follower than a leader. So we are talking to different parties about the possibility of collecting our emissions and delivering those emissions to a third-party, but we don’t — we just simply don’t have the size to be able to have our own project like CRC.

Tim Chatard: And it seems like they are bringing in outside capital via partnership. So, in other words, I don’t think they’re handling at all on their own. But I’m just — I guess you’ve answered the question, but I’m just pointing out that yes, they are larger, but there’s also outside capital that’s looking for things like this. Can I ask you a separate question, whether there’s been any change in the court process with Kern County timetable with the appellate court system or anything along those lines that you can offer color to?

Fernando Araujo: Yes. Sure, Tim. The permitting situation really hasn’t changed, since last time we reported with the court issuing a stay back in January as you know. The appeal process is underway, and the court is expected — the court process is expected to take a few months. So, we’re expecting to have a ruling at the end of the year, beginning of the next year. We’re confident that the courts will reinstate the Kern County EIR, although that is obviously a risk and it’s not a given. But we’ll be ready for that. We’ve got several — we’ve got on the order of 84 Kern County permits, county cards as they call them, ready to go when that happens. But for now, there’s really been no additional movements beyond what I just talked about.

Tim Chatard: I see. Thanks for your time.

Operator: Thank you. [Operator Instructions]. I’m showing no further questions. So, at this time, I would now like to turn the conference back over to CEO, Fernando Araujo, for closing remarks.

Fernando Araujo: Well, thank you everyone for attending and be safe and until next time. We’re excited about what’s going on with Berry, we’re excited about the results in Q2, and we’ll keep going. So thank you.

Operator: This concludes today’s conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.