10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2016

DEVON ENERGY CORP/DE Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Sep 30, 2016

Filed November 2, 2016For Securities:DVN

Summary

Devon Energy Corporation's third-quarter 2016 10-Q filing reveals a significant turnaround in profitability compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by strategic asset divestitures and cost-saving measures. The company reported net earnings attributable to Devon of $993 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, a substantial improvement from a net loss of $3,507 million in the prior year's quarter. This positive shift was largely fueled by a $1.351 billion gain on asset sales, coupled with a reduction in operating expenses, including lease operating expenses and general and administrative costs. The nine-month period also showed a narrowing of losses, with net loss attributable to Devon at $3,633 million compared to $9,922 million in the prior year. The company actively managed its balance sheet by reducing long-term debt by $1.2 billion using proceeds from asset divestitures and maintained significant liquidity with $5.3 billion in available resources. Despite the positive earnings trend in the current quarter, the company continued to grapple with asset impairments totaling $4.9 billion year-to-date, a consequence of lower commodity prices.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$4.23B
Operating Expenses$2.77B
Operating Income$1.47B
Interest Expense$157.00M
Net Income$993.00M
EPS (Basic)$1.90
EPS (Diluted)$1.89
Shares Outstanding (Basic)518.00M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)521.00M

Key Highlights

  • 1Significant improvement in net earnings for Q3 2016 ($993 million) compared to Q3 2015 ($3,507 million loss) due to asset divestiture gains and cost controls.
  • 2Total debt reduced by $1.2 billion in the first nine months of 2016, primarily using proceeds from asset divestitures.
  • 3Company achieved substantial reductions in Lease Operating Expenses (LOE) by $410 million and General & Administrative (G&A) expenses by $308 million year-to-date through cost-saving initiatives and workforce reductions.
  • 4Acquisition of approximately 80,000 net acres in the STACK play for $1.5 billion in early 2016 to expand its position in a key resource play.
  • 5Capital expenditures were reduced significantly, down 61% in Q3 2016 and 23% year-to-date compared to the prior year periods, reflecting a disciplined approach to investment in a low commodity price environment.
  • 6Year-to-date asset impairments totaled $4.9 billion, primarily related to U.S. and Canadian oil and gas assets, reflecting the impact of depressed commodity prices on asset valuations.
  • 7Ended the third quarter with $5.3 billion in liquidity, comprising $2.4 billion in cash and $2.9 billion of available capacity on its Senior Credit Facility, with no significant long-term debt maturities until July 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary driver of the significant earnings improvement was a gain on asset sales totaling $1.351 billion, primarily from the divestiture of non-core upstream assets in east Texas, the Anadarko Basin, and the Midland Basin. This gain, combined with substantial reductions in operating expenses, offset asset impairments and led to a positive net earnings figure compared to the previous year's loss.

Devon Energy has actively managed its debt by reducing long-term debt by $1.2 billion in the first nine months of 2016, utilizing proceeds from asset divestitures. The company also maintained strong liquidity, ending the quarter with $5.3 billion, and has no significant long-term debt maturities until July 2021, providing financial flexibility.

Devon recorded significant non-cash asset impairments totaling $4.9 billion year-to-date in 2016, primarily related to its U.S. and Canadian oil and gas properties. These impairments were a direct result of lower commodity prices affecting the estimated future cash flows and valuation of reserves. While these impairments adversely affected net earnings, they did not impact operating cash flow or debt covenants.

Yes, Devon expanded its presence in the STACK play by acquiring approximately 80,000 net acres for $1.5 billion in January 2016. Concurrently, the company divested non-core upstream assets for approximately $1.9 billion in the first nine months of 2016, with an additional $1.1 billion divestiture closing in October 2016. These strategic moves aimed to optimize its asset portfolio.