Viper Energy (NASDAQ: VNOM) reported Q3 EPS of ($0.01), $0.03 better than the analyst estimate of ($0.04).

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Q3 2020 consolidated net income (including non-controlling interest) of $16.2 million; adjusted net income (as defined and reconciled below) of $7.1 million
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) of $40.4 million and cash available for distribution to Viper’s common limited partner units (as reconciled below) of $13.9 million
• Previously announced Q3 2020 average production of 15,829 bo/d (26,409 boe/d), an increase of 10% from Q2 2020 average daily oil production and 16% year over year
• Q3 2020 cash distribution of $0.10 per common unit, representing approximately 50% of cash available for distribution; $0.21 per unit of cash available for distribution implies a 12.0% annualized distributable cash flow yield based on the October 30, 2020 unit closing price of $7.01
• Ended the third quarter with net debt of $599.1 million; total debt down $67.1 million since March 31, 2020, or a 10% reduction over the past six months
• 108 total gross (4.7 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells turned to production on Viper’s acreage during Q3 2020 with an average lateral length of 10,022 feet
• Initiating average daily production guidance for Q4 2020 and Q1 2021 of 15,250 to 16,250 bo/d (25,500 to 27,000 boe/d)
• Narrowing full year 2020 average production guidance to 15,750 to 16,000 bo/d (26,000 to 26,500 boe/d)
• As of October 14, 2020, there were approximately 486 gross horizontal wells in the process of active development on Viper’s acreage, in which Viper expects to own an average 1.4% net royalty interest (6.6 net 100% royalty interest wells)
• Approximately 431 gross (11.2 net 100% royalty interest) line-of-sight wells that are not currently in the process of active development, but for which Viper has visibility to the potential of future development in coming quarters, based on Diamondback’s current completion schedule and third party operators’ permits
• Q2 2020 and Q3 2020 distributions reasonably estimated to not constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes; instead should generally constitute non-taxable reductions to the tax basis

“Viper’s 10% increase in oil production during the third quarter of 2020 was driven primarily by 38 of Diamondback’s 41 completions in the quarter having a roughly 10% average royalty interest net to Viper, as third-party activity remained minimal, again showcasing the differentiated relationship between Diamondback and Viper. With production already within the high end of our previously guided range, we are confident we will exit 2020 with a strong production rate, positioning Viper well to deliver robust free cash flow in 2021,” stated Travis Stice, Chief Executive Officer of Viper’s General Partner.

Mr. Stice continued, “The advantaged nature of the royalty business model with no required capital expenditures and only minimal operating expenditures, further enhanced by Viper’s best-in-class cost structure, has been highlighted during this severe industry downturn as Viper has been able to reduce total debt by 10% in just the past six months. As a direct result of this, and because of our confidence in the expected free cash flow to be generated in our forward outlook, the Board has elected to increase our distribution for the third quarter to 50% of our total cash available for distribution, up from 25% previously. With a currently anticipated forward free cash flow yield of greater than 15%, due primarily to Diamondback’s expected development plan and benefiting from punitive hedges rolling off in 2021, we look forward to continuing to increase our return of capital to unitholders over the coming quarters.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Viper Energy (VNOM) click here.