CONSOL Energy Reports 5th Consecutive Quarter of Record Coal Revenue; Baltimore Terminal Continues Strong Shipments; Earnings Rise from Year-Earlier Quarter

PITTSBURGH, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX), the leading diversified fuel producer in the Eastern United States, reported adjusted net income(1) of $174 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, in the quarter ended June 30, 2011. This is an increase of 69% from the adjusted net income of $103 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The financial results were aided largely by the Coal Division, which posted record revenue of $1.212 billion. This was the fifth consecutive quarter of record revenue for the Coal Division.

GAAP net income for the quarter was $77 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $67 million, or $0.29 per diluted share from the year-earlier quarter.

Higher-than-expected coal sales of 16.4 million tons, coupled with higher coal prices, were the primary drivers for the record $1.5 billion in total company revenue.  For the quarter, coal margins expanded by $7.09 per ton, to $21.56 per ton, mainly driven by higher sales prices. Most of the increase in average realized prices came from the company's low-vol coal sales, where realized prices were $207 per short ton, FOB mine. This approximates an FOB Terminal price of $282 per metric tonne.

"Our coal and gas operations continued to show improved results in safety, with incidence rates down 25% from the year-earlier quarter," commented J. Brett Harvey, chairman and chief executive officer. "We exceeded our expectations on coal production and our sales team sold a record 1.5 million tons of Bailey coal into the high-vol coking coal market."

"Strategically," continued Mr. Harvey, "CONSOL Energy is participating fully in the growth of global coal markets. In 2011, we plan to export 10 million tons, which should generate over $1 billion in revenue. In the second quarter, our Baltimore Terminal loaded a near-record 41 vessels and shipped 3.4 million tons of coal.  To accommodate future growth, we are expanding our terminal, we are developing the BMX Mine in the Pittsburgh seam, and we are re-starting our Amonate Mining Complex. All three of these coal projects are driven by increased worldwide coal demand."

For the first time in decades, CONSOL's coal division has generated more cash from our met business than from our thermal business; this demonstrates our significant presence in the growing metallurgical markets.

Expanding coal margins also drove a meaningful increase in adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow from Operations. Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter ended June 30, 2011 was $472 million. Cash flow from operations was $360 million while capital expenditures were $331 million.  

CONSOL Energy's Gas Division continued to make progress towards its primary objective of delineating the company's extensive Marcellus Shale holdings.  The recent drilling results, combined with our low cost structure, have led the company to contract for two additional rigs, as announced on July 14. This will bring the horizontal rig count to six, as of October 1.

Despite significantly higher gas volumes, the company saw reduced profitability within the Gas Division when compared with the June quarter ended 2010.  Unit gas margins fell, primarily due to much lower realized gas prices. Unit costs increased by only 3%, which the company considers notable in this inflationary environment.  

The company continues to explore options for monetizing a portion of its Marcellus Shale acreage.

(1) The terms "adjusted net income" and "adjusted EBITDA" are non-GAAP financial measures, which are defined and reconciled to the GAAP net income below, under the caption “Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Total costs per ton, across all of CONSOL Energy's coal production in the quarter ended June 30, 2011 were $53.07, up $5.79, or 12%, from $47.28 in the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Of this increase, $0.73 was directly related to the company receiving higher realizations.  Other costs directly related to operations were up $2.31 per ton, as the company continued to invest in projects that improve the safety and efficiency of its mines. DD&A was higher by $1.31 per ton to reflect depreciating an expanded coal capital base. This proved to be money well spent, because the company produced at a level higher than expected, while achieving a revenue expansion of $12.88 per ton.

Coal production in the quarter consisted of 1.4 million tons of low-vol, 1.5 million tons of high-vol, and 12.5 million tons of thermal, for a total of 15.4 million tons.

Of the thermal coal production, 11.3 million tons were from Northern Appalachia and 1.2 million tons were from Central Appalachia.

During the second quarter, thermal coal inventory decreased by 0.9 million tons to 1.6 million tons, when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Coal Marketing Update:

Low-Vol: Strong demand for Buchanan low-vol coal continues to contribute to attractive pricing. Low-vol supply remains very tight, as some U.S. producers have experienced lost production due to weather and underground mining conditions. Australian producers continue to struggle with returning to normal production patterns, due to labor issues and slow recovery from weather and flooding earlier in the year. CONSOL has 0.9 million tons of unpriced Buchanan coal for the second half of 2011. For all of 2011, Buchanan sales are targeted at 5.0 million tons.

High-Vol: High-vol tons continue to grow their footprint in the met markets, during the second quarter, tons have been sold into two new markets for testing purposes. Should these tests prove favorable, CONSOL plans to grow the high-vol market in the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia. High-vol sales in 2011 are now projected to be 4.9 million tons.

U.S. Thermal: CONSOL is sold out for this category in 2011. Customer demand remains strong, due to the hot weather in the Eastern U.S.  Price negotiations have begun for 2012 business. During the quarter, increased pricing added approximately $100 million of additional revenue potential to 2012 versus 2011.  CONSOL expects to continue to improve realizations for open tonnage for 2012 and 2013 deliveries.

European Thermal: Demand for coal-fired generation in Europe continues to grow.  During the second quarter, CONSOL shipped 640,000 tons of thermal coal to Europe. Additionally, 660,000 tons of new thermal sales were booked in the quarter at an FOB mine price of $75 per ton. European sales continue at prices equal to or better than comparable domestic prices. The total target for European thermal sales in 2011 is now 2.3 million tons.

Gas Division Results:

The Gas Division drilled 40 wells in the first half of 2011, and with the expected arrival of two more rigs by October 1, expects to drill a total of 85 Marcellus Shale wells in the year.

Marcellus Shale drilling results throughout the three regions have met or exceeded expectations. Production in Southwestern Pennsylvania is flowing as predicted from several pads in the Nineveh area of Greene County.  The first wells drilled in Central Pennsylvania, on the DeArmitt pad, should begin flowing unimpeded once a dedicated pipeline is installed late in the September quarter.  Similarly, in Northern West Virginia, wells on the Alton pad should begin flowing unimpeded when compression is added within the next few days.

The table below summarizes the key metrics for the Gas Division:

Coalbed Methane (CBM): Total production was 22.9 Bcf, an increase of 0.4% from the 22.8 Bcf produced in the year-earlier quarter.

Marcellus Shale: Total production was 6.0 Bcf, an increase of 160.9% from the 2.3 Bcf produced in the year-earlier quarter. The increase is attributable to more drilling. Through the first six months of 2011, 40 horizontal Marcellus Shale wells have been drilled.

Conventional: Total production was 8.0 Bcf, an increase of 25.0% from the 6.4 Bcf produced in the year-earlier quarter.  The increase is largely attributable to having three months' worth of production from the Dominion acquisition in the just-ended quarter, versus only having two months' worth in the earlier quarter.

CONSOL Energy 2011 Production Guidance

On July 14, CONSOL Energy increased its 2011 coal production guidance from 60-62 million tons to 62-63 million tons. It is now increasing the 2012 and 2013 coal production guidance by 1.0 million tons to a range of 60.5-62.5 million tons per year.  Costs per ton for the third and fourth quarters of 2011 are now estimated to be up about $1 per ton from the $53.07 per ton just reported in the second quarter.

The company is maintaining its 2011 gas production guidance of between 150-160 Bcf.

Total hedged gas production in the 2011 third quarter is 23.9 Bcf, at an average price of $5.12 per Mcf. The annual gas hedge position for three years is shown in the table below:

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2011, CONSOL Energy had $1,388.4 million in total liquidity, which is comprised of $25.2 million of cash, $130 million available under the accounts receivable securitization facility, and $1,233.2 million available to be borrowed under its $1.5 billion bank facility. CONSOL Energy also has outstanding letters of credit of $266.8 million.

As of June 30, 2011, CNX Gas Corporation had $670.3 million in total liquidity, which is comprised of $1.3 million of cash and $669 million available to be borrowed under its $1.0 billion bank facility.  CNX Gas has $260.8 million drawn under its credit facility, and outstanding letters of credit of $70.2 million.

CONSOL Energy Inc., the leading diversified fuel producer in the Eastern U.S., is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Equity Index and the Fortune 500. It has 12 bituminous coal mining complexes in five states and reports proven and probable coal reserves of 4.4 billion tons. It is also a leading Eastern U.S. gas producer, with proved reserves of 3.7 trillion cubic feet.  Additional information about CONSOL Energy can be found at its web site: www.consolenergy.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Definition: Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share are defined as GAAP net income and GAAP earnings per share that are adjusted for certain items usually not considered by securities analysts in their estimates of net income and earnings per share.  By reporting our results on the same basis as analysts model them, we believe we are improving the inherent understanding of the on-going strength of CONSOL's assets.  For CONSOL Energy in the just-ended quarter, these adjustments were for an asset abandonment and a loss on debt extinguishment.  For the prior year quarter, the adjustments were for financing and acquisition fees, certain non-cash charges for Fola reclamation, and a legal settlement.  The reconciliation of adjusted earnings to net income is shown below.  Adjusted earnings for the just-ended quarter per diluted share of $0.76 is calculated as adjusted net income of $174.146 million, divided by 229,138,024 average dilutive shares outstanding.  Adjusted earnings for the prior year quarter per diluted share of $0.45 is calculated as adjusted net income of $102.917 million, divided by 228,081,103 average dilutive shares outstanding.

Definition: Adjusted EBIT is defined as Adjusted Earnings (including cumulative effect of adjustments to net income) before deducting net interest expense (interest expense less interest income) and income taxes.  EBITDA is defined as earnings before deducting net interest expense (interest expense less interest income), income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization.  Although Adjusted EBIT and EBITDA are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, management believes that it is useful to an investor in evaluating CONSOL Energy because it is widely used to evaluate a company's operating performance before debt expense and its cash or as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  In addition, because all companies do not calculate Adjusted EBIT or EBITDA identically, the presentation here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA and adjusted earnings to financial net income attributable to CONSOL Energy Shareholders is as follows:

Forward-Looking Statements

Various statements in this release, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, may be considered forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Exchange Act) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, revenues, income and capital spending. When we use the words "believe," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "estimate," "plan," "predict," "project," or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. When we describe strategy that involves risks or uncertainties, we are making forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release, if any, speak only as of the date of this press release; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks, contingencies and uncertainties relate to, among other matters, the following: deterioration in economic conditions in any of the industries in which our customers operate, or sustained uncertainty in financial markets cause conditions we cannot predict; an extended decline in prices we receive for our coal and gas affecting our operating results and cash flows; our customers extending existing contracts or entering into new long-term contracts for coal; our reliance on major customers; our inability to collect payments from customers if their creditworthiness declines; the disruption of rail, barge, gathering, processing and transportation facilities and other systems that deliver our coal and gas to market; a loss of our competitive position because of the competitive nature of the coal and gas industries, or a loss of our competitive position because of overcapacity in these industries impairing our profitability; our ability to negotiate a new agreement with the United Mine Workers' of America and our inability to maintain satisfactory labor relations; coal users switching to other fuels in order to comply with various environmental standards related to coal combustion emissions; the impact of potential, as well as any adopted regulations relating to greenhouse gas emissions on the demand for coal and natural gas, as well as the impact of any adopted regulations on our coal mining operations due to the venting of coalbed methane which occurs during mining; foreign currency fluctuations could adversely affect the competitiveness of our coal abroad; the risks inherent in coal and gas operations being subject to unexpected disruptions, including geological conditions, equipment failure, timing of completion of significant construction or repair of equipment, fires, explosions, accidents and weather conditions which could impact financial results; our focus on new gas development projects and exploration for gas in areas where we have little or no proven gas reserves; decreases in the availability of, or increases in, the price of commodities and services used in our mining and gas operations, as well as our exposure under "take or pay" contracts we entered into with well service providers to obtain services of which if not used could impact our cost of production; obtaining and renewing governmental permits and approvals for our coal and gas operations; the effects of government regulation on the discharge into the water or air, and the disposal and clean-up of, hazardous substances and wastes generated during our coal and gas operations; the effects of stringent federal and state employee health and safety regulations, including the ability of regulators to shut down a mine or well; the potential for liabilities arising from environmental contamination or alleged environmental contamination in connection with our past or current coal and gas operations; the effects of mine closing, reclamation, gas well closing and certain other liabilities; uncertainties in estimating our economically recoverable coal and gas reserves; costs associated with perfecting title for coal or gas rights on some of our properties; the outcomes of various legal proceedings, which are more fully described in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; the impacts of various asbestos litigation claims; increased exposure to employee related long-term liabilities; increased exposure to multi-employer pension plan liabilities; minimum funding requirements by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the Pension Act) coupled with the significant investment and plan asset losses suffered during the recent economic decline has exposed us to making additional required cash contributions to fund the pension benefit plans which we sponsor and the multi-employer pension benefit plans in which we participate; lump sum payments made to retiring salaried employees pursuant to our defined benefit pension plan exceeding total service and interest cost in a plan year; acquisitions that we recently have completed or may make in the future including the accuracy of our assessment of the acquired businesses and their risks, achieving any anticipated synergies, integrating the acquisitions and unanticipated changes that could affect assumptions we may have made and divestitures we anticipate may not occur or produce anticipated proceeds; the anti-takeover effects of our rights plan could prevent a change of control; increased exposure on our financial performance due to the degree we are leveraged; replacing our natural gas reserves, which if not replaced, will cause our gas reserves and gas production to decline; our ability to acquire water supplies needed for gas drilling, or our ability to dispose of water used or removed from strata in connection with our gas operations at a reasonable cost and within applicable environmental rules; our hedging activities may prevent us from benefiting from price increases and may expose us to other risks; and other factors discussed in the 2010 Form 10-K under "Risk Factors," as updated by any subsequent Form 10-Qs, which are on file at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE CONSOL Energy Inc.

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