FORT WORTH, Texas, April 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION (NYSE:RRC) today announced its first quarter 2024 financial results. First Quarter 2024 Highlights – Cash flow from operating activities of $332 million Cash flow from operations, before working capital changes, of $308 million Capital spending was $170 million, approximately 26% of the 2024 budget Pre-hedge NGL realizations of $26.24 per barrel – premium of $1.91 over Mont Belvieu equivalent Natural gas differentials, including basis hedging, averaged ($0.09) per mcf to NYMEX Production averaged 2.14 Bcfe per day, approximately 68% natural gas Net debt reduced below $1.5 billion Commenting on the results, Dennis Degner, the Company's CEO said, "Range had a successful first quarter with efficient operations, consistent well performance and opportunistic NGL marketing allowing Range to generate strong free cash flow in a price environment that we believe is well below mid-cycle prices. With the strongest balance sheet in company history and a low required reinvestment rate, Range is generating free cash flow while positioning for continued success in the years ahead. As global energy demand continues to increase, we believe Range is well-positioned on the low-end of the natural gas cost curve with a competitive emissions intensity and a high-return, long-life inventory of de-risked wells, measured in decades." Financial Discussion Except for generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") reported amounts, specific expense categories exclude non-cash impairments, unrealized mark-to-market adjustment on derivatives, non-cash stock compensation and other items shown separately on the attached tables. "Unit costs" as used in this release are composed of direct operating, transportation, gathering, processing and compression, taxes other than income, general and administrative, interest and depletion, depreciation and amortization costs divided by production. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a definition of each of the non-GAAP financial measures and the tables that reconcile each of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. First Quarter 2024 Results GAAP revenues for first quarter 2024 totaled $645 million, GAAP net cash provided from operating activities (including changes in working capital) was $332 million, and GAAP net income was $92 million ($0.38 per diluted share).  First quarter earnings results include a $47 million mark-to-market derivative gain due to decreases in commodity prices. Non-GAAP revenues for first quarter 2024 totaled $718 million, and cash flow from operations before changes in working capital, a non-GAAP measure, was $308 million.  Adjusted net income comparable to analysts' estimates, a non-GAAP measure, was $167 million ($0.69 per diluted share) in first quarter 2024. The following table details Range's first quarter 2024 unit costs per mcfe(a): Expenses   1Q 2024 (per mcfe)   1Q 2023(per mcfe)   Increase (Decrease)               Direct operating(a)   $ 0.11     $ 0.14     (21%) Transportation, gathering, processing and compression(a)     1.49       1.48     1% Taxes other than income     0.03       0.04     (25%) General and administrative(a)     0.18       0.17     6% Interest expense(a)     0.15       0.16     (6%) Total cash unit costs(b)     1.96       1.99     (2%) Depletion, depreciation and amortization (DD&A)     0.45       0.45     0% Total unit costs plus DD&A(b)   $ 2.40     $ 2.44     (2%) (a)   Excludes stock-based compensation, one-time settlements, and amortization of deferred financing costs.(b)   Totals may not be exact due to rounding. The following table details Range's average production and realized pricing for first quarter 2024(a):   1Q24 Production & Realized Pricing   Natural Gas(Mcf)   NGLs(Bbl)   Oil(Bbl)   Natural GasEquivalent (Mcfe)                 Net production per day   1,457,695       107,261       6,706       2,141,497                   Average NYMEX price $ 2.23     $ 24.33     $ 76.92       Differential, including basis hedging   (0.09 )     1.91       (12.28 )     Realized prices before NYMEX hedges   2.14       26.24       64.64       2.97   Settled NYMEX hedges   0.82       (0.01 )     2.52       0.57   Average realized prices after hedges $ 2.96     $ 26.23     $ 67.16     $ 3.54   (a)   Totals may not be exact due to rounding First quarter 2024 natural gas, NGLs and oil price realizations (including the impact of cash-settled hedges and derivative settlements) averaged $3.54 per mcfe. The average natural gas price, including the impact of basis hedging, was $2.14 per mcf, or a ($0.09) per mcf differential to NYMEX. The Company continues to expect an average 2024 natural gas differential versus NYMEX to be within a range of ($0.40) to ($0.45) per mcf. Range's pre-hedge NGL price for the quarter was $26.24 per barrel, approximately $1.91 above the Mont Belvieu weighted equivalent. Given the strong outperformance to start the year, Range is updating its full-year NGL price guidance to a range of Mont Belvieu equivalent minus $0.25 to plus $1.25. Crude oil and condensate price realizations, before realized hedges, averaged $64.64 per barrel, or $12.28 below WTI (West Texas Intermediate). Range continues to expect the 2024 condensate differential to average $10.00-$13.00 below WTI. Financial Position and Repurchase Activity As of March 31, 2024, Range had net debt outstanding of approximately $1.43 billion, consisting of $1.77 billion of senior notes and $343 million in cash. In first quarter 2024, Range repurchased in the open market $15.1 million principal amount of 4.875% senior notes due 2025 at a discount. The Company also repurchased an additional $4.3 million principal of 4.875% senior notes that was not settled until April 2024 and is included in accounts payable in the consolidated balance sheets. Range did not repurchase any shares during the quarter. The Company has approximately $1.1 billion of availability on the share repurchase program. Capital Expenditures and Operational Activity First quarter 2024 drilling and completion expenditures were $152 million. In addition, during the quarter, approximately $14 million was invested in acreage, and $4 million was invested in infrastructure and other investments. First quarter capital spending represented approximately 26% of Range's total capital budget in 2024.    The table below summarizes expected 2024 activity regarding the number of wells to sales in each area.   Wells TIL1Q 2024   Remaining2024   2024Planned TIL SW PA Super-Rich 6   3   9 SW PA Wet 3   24   27 SW PA Dry 0   11   11 NE PA Dry 0   2   2 Total Wells 9   40   49 Guidance – 2024 Capital & Production Guidance Range is targeting a maintenance production program in 2024, resulting in approximately flat production at 2.12 – 2.16 Bcfe per day, with more than 30% attributed to liquids production. Range's 2024 all-in capital budget is $620 million - $670 million. Updated Full Year 2024 Expense Guidance Direct operating expense: $0.13 - $0.14 per mcfe Transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense: $1.45 - $1.55 per mcfe Taxes other than income: $0.04 - $0.05 per mcfe Exploration expense: $22 - $28 million G&A expense: $0.17 - $0.19 per mcfe Net interest expense: $0.14 - $0.16 per mcfe DD&A expense: $0.45 - $0.46 per mcfe Net brokered gas marketing expense: $8 - $12 million 2024 Price Guidance Based on recent market indications, Range expects to average the following price differentials for its production. FY 2024 Natural Gas:(1) NYMEX minus $0.40 to $0.45 FY 2024 Natural Gas Liquids (including ethane):(2) MB minus $0.25 to +$1.25 per barrel FY 2024 Oil/Condensate: WTI minus $10.00 to $13.00 (1) Including basis hedging(2) Mont Belvieu-equivalent pricing based on weighting of 53% ethane, 27% propane, 8% normal butane, 4% iso-butane and 8% natural gasoline. Hedging Status Range hedges portions of its expected future production volumes to increase the predictability of cash flow and to help improve and maintain a strong, flexible financial position. Please see the detailed hedging schedule posted on the Range website under Investor Relations - Financial Information. Range has also hedged Marcellus and other basis differentials for natural gas to limit volatility between benchmark and regional prices. The combined fair value of natural gas basis hedges as of March 31, 2024, was a net loss of $27.0 million. Conference Call Information A conference call to review the financial results is scheduled on Wednesday, April 24 at 8:00 AM Central Time (9:00 AM Eastern Time). Please click here to pre-register for the conference call and obtain a dial in number with passcode. A simultaneous webcast of the call may be accessed at www.rangeresources.com. The webcast will be archived for replay on the Company's website until May 24th. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Adjusted net income comparable to analysts' estimates as set forth in this release represents income or loss from operations before income taxes adjusted for certain non-cash items (detailed in the accompanying table) less income taxes. We believe adjusted net income comparable to analysts' estimates is calculated on the same basis as analysts' estimates and that many investors use this published research in making investment decisions and evaluating operational trends of the Company and its performance relative to other oil and gas producing companies. Diluted earnings per share (adjusted) as set forth in this release represents adjusted net income comparable to analysts' estimates on a diluted per share basis. A table is included which reconciles income or loss from operations to adjusted net income comparable to analysts' estimates and diluted earnings per share (adjusted). On its website, the Company provides additional comparative information on prior periods along with non-GAAP revenue disclosures. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital (sometimes referred to as "adjusted cash flow") as defined in this release represents net cash provided by operations before changes in working capital and exploration expense adjusted for certain non-cash compensation items. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital is widely accepted by the investment community as a financial indicator of an oil and gas company's ability to generate cash to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service debt. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital is also useful because it is widely used by professional research analysts in valuing, comparing, rating and providing investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In turn, many investors use this published research in making investment decisions. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operations, investing, or financing activities as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity. A table is included which reconciles net cash provided by operations to cash flow from operations before changes in working capital as used in this release. On its website, the Company provides additional comparative information on prior periods for cash flow, cash margins and non-GAAP earnings as used in this release. The cash prices realized for oil and natural gas production, including the amounts realized on cash-settled derivatives and net of transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense, is a critical component in the Company's performance tracked by investors and professional research analysts in valuing, comparing, rating and providing investment recommendations and forecasts of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In turn, many investors use this published research in making investment decisions. Due to the GAAP disclosures of various derivative transactions and third-party transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense, such information is now reported in various lines of the income statement. The Company believes that it is important to furnish a table reflecting the details of the various components of each income statement line to better inform the reader of the details of each amount and provide a summary of the realized cash-settled amounts and third-party transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense, which were historically reported as natural gas, NGLs and oil sales. This information is intended to bridge the gap between various readers' understanding and fully disclose the information needed. The Company discloses in this release the detailed components of many of the single line items shown in the GAAP financial statements included in the Company's Annual or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-K or 10-Q. The Company believes that it is important to furnish this detail of the various components comprising each line of the Statements of Operations to better inform the reader of the details of each amount, the changes between periods and the effect on its financial results. We believe that the presentation of PV10 value of our proved reserves is a relevant and useful metric for our investors as supplemental disclosure to the standardized measure, or after-tax amount, because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our proved reserves before taking into account future corporate income taxes and our current tax structure. While the standardized measure is dependent on the unique tax situation of each company, PV10 is based on prices and discount factors that are consistent for all companies. Because of this, PV10 can be used within the industry and by credit and security analysts to evaluate estimated net cash flows from proved reserves on a more comparable basis. RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION (NYSE:RRC) is a leading U.S. independent natural gas and NGL producer with operations focused in the Appalachian Basin. The Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.  More information about Range can be found at www.rangeresources.com. Included within this release are certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are not limited to historical facts, but reflect Range's current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events.  Words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "outlook", "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursue," "target," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All statements, except for statements of historical fact, made within regarding activities, events or developments the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as those regarding future well costs, expected asset sales, well productivity, future liquidity and financial resilience, anticipated exports and related financial impact, NGL market supply and demand, improving commodity fundamentals and pricing, future capital efficiencies, future shareholder value, emerging plays, capital spending, anticipated drilling and completion activity, acreage prospectivity, expected pipeline utilization and future guidance information, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on assumptions and estimates that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information; however, management's assumptions and Range's future performance are subject to a wide range of business risks and uncertainties and there is no assurance that these goals and projections can or will be met. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information on risks and uncertainties is available in Range's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Unless required by law, Range undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events after the date they are made. The SEC permits oil and gas companies, in filings made with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves, which are estimates that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions as well as the option to disclose probable and possible reserves. Range has elected not to disclose its probable and possible reserves in its filings with the SEC. Range uses certain broader terms such as "resource potential," "unrisked resource potential," "unproved resource potential" or "upside" or other descriptions of volumes of resources potentially recoverable through additional drilling or recovery techniques that may include probable and possible reserves as defined by the SEC's guidelines. Range has not attempted to distinguish probable and possible reserves from these broader classifications. The SEC's rules prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC these broader classifications of reserves. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of actually being realized. Unproved resource potential refers to Range's internal estimates of hydrocarbon quantities that may be potentially discovered through exploratory drilling or recovered with additional drilling or recovery techniques and have not been reviewed by independent engineers. Unproved resource potential does not constitute reserves within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineer's Petroleum Resource Management System and does not include proved reserves. Area wide unproven resource potential has not been fully risked by Range's management. "EUR", or estimated ultimate recovery, refers to our management's estimates of hydrocarbon quantities that may be recovered from a well completed as a producer in the area. These quantities may not necessarily constitute or represent reserves within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineer's Petroleum Resource Management System or the SEC's oil and natural gas disclosure rules. Actual quantities that may be recovered from Range's interests could differ substantially. Factors affecting ultimate recovery include the scope of Range's drilling program, which will be directly affected by the availability of capital, drilling and production costs, commodity prices, availability of drilling services and equipment, drilling results, lease expirations, transportation constraints, regulatory approvals, field spacing rules, recoveries of gas in place, length of horizontal laterals, actual drilling results, including geological and mechanical factors affecting recovery rates and other factors. Estimates of resource potential may change significantly as development of our resource plays provides additional data. In addition, our production forecasts and expectations for future periods are dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production decline rates from existing wells and the undertaking and outcome of future drilling activity, which may be affected by significant commodity price declines or drilling cost increases. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, available from our website at www.rangeresources.com or by written request to 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. You can also obtain this Form 10-K on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. SOURCE: Range Resources Corporation Range Investor Contact: Laith Sando, Vice President – Investor Range Media Contact: Mark Windle, Director of Corporate     RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION                         STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS                       Based on GAAP reported earnings with additional                       details of items included in each line in Form 10-Q                       (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)                                                 Three Months Ended March 31,     2024       2023     % Revenues and other income:                       Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales (a) $ 567,001     $ 736,282           Derivative fair value income   46,598       367,967           Brokered natural gas, marketing and other (b)   28,831       77,417           ARO settlement loss (b)   (26 )     —           Interest income (b)   2,943       957           Other (b)   22       3,737           Total revenues and other income   645,369       1,186,360       -46 %                         Costs and expenses:                       Direct operating   21,664       26,569           Direct operating – stock-based compensation (c)   497       415           Transportation, gathering, processing and compression   290,875       285,483           Taxes other than income     5,368       7,894           Brokered natural gas and marketing   30,895       66,407           Brokered natural gas and marketing – stock-based compensation (c)   708       661           Exploration   4,202       4,284           Exploration – stock-based compensation (c)   324       320           Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties   2,371       7,510           General and administrative   33,772       33,422           General and administrative – stock-based compensation (c)   9,978       9,600           General and administrative – lawsuit settlements   191       124           Exit costs   10,315       12,323           Deferred compensation plan (d)   6,405       9,396           Interest expense   29,116       30,857           Interest expense – amortization of deferred financing costs (e)   1,360       1,345           Gain on early extinguishment of debt   (64 )     —           Depletion, depreciation and amortization   87,137       86,562           Gain on sale of assets   (87 )     (138 )         Total costs and expenses   535,027       583,034       -8 %                         Income before income taxes   110,342       603,326       -82 %                         Income tax expense:                       Current   1,582       2,699           Deferred   16,622       119,180               18,204       121,879                                   Net income $ 92,138     $ 481,447       -81 %                         Net Income Per Common Share:                       Basic $ 0.38     $ 1.98