Peyto Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

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Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.
Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.

CALGARY, Alberta, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (TSX: PEY) ("Peyto" or the "Company") is pleased to report operating and financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

Q1 2025 Highlights:

  • Peyto reported $225.2 million in funds from operations1,2 ("FFO"), or $1.12/diluted share, and generated $120.2 million of free funds flow3 in the quarter.  Strong FFO was driven by a realized natural gas price after hedging of $4.17/Mcf, 89% higher than the AECO 7A monthly benchmark, and the Company’s industry-leading low cash costs4.

  • Earnings for the quarter totaled $114.1 million, or $0.57/diluted share, and Peyto returned $65.7 million as dividends to shareholders.

  • Net debt5 was reduced by $65.7 million from December 31, 2024 to $1.28 billion at the end of the quarter.

  • First quarter production volumes averaged 133,883 boe/d (710.5 MMcf/d of natural gas, 15,473 bbls/d of NGLs), a 7% increase year over year (5% on a per share basis), driven by strong well results from the Company's capital program.

  • Recorded $50.8 million in realized hedging gains and exited the quarter with a hedge position protecting approximately 489 MMcf/d and 406 MMcf/d of natural gas production for Q2–Q4 2025 and 2026, respectively, at approximately $4/Mcf. Peyto’s natural gas and liquid hedging has secured approximately $875 million of revenue for 2025 and $605 million for 2026.

  • Cash costs totaled $1.42/Mcfe for the quarter, including royalties of $0.25/Mcfe, operating expense of $0.53/Mcfe, transportation of $0.29/Mcfe, G&A of $0.06/Mcfe and interest expense of $0.29/Mcfe. Peyto continues to have the lowest cash costs of Canadian producers in the oil and natural gas industry.

  • Total capital expenditures6 of $102.1 million in the quarter.  Peyto drilled 19 wells (18.2 net), completed 13 wells (13.0 net), and brought 14 wells (14.0 net) on production.  

  • Peyto delivered a solid operating margin7 of 71% and profit margin8 of 32%, resulting in a 10% return on capital employed9 ("ROCE") and an 11% return on equity9 ("ROE"), on a trailing 12-month basis. 

First Quarter 2025 in Review

Peyto was active in the quarter with four drilling rigs in the Greater Sundance and Brazeau areas, as well as with pipeline and compression projects that expanded the existing gathering systems to accommodate incremental production volumes.  Natural gas prices recovered in the quarter due to large draws on storage inventories from a relatively cold North American winter, coupled with increased U.S. LNG feed gas demand.  The AECO 7A monthly gas price rose 39% from Q4 2024 and averaged $1.92/GJ.  Peyto's realized gas price, before hedging, averaged $3.34/Mcf ($2.90/GJ), 51% higher than AECO 7A, driven by the Company's diversification to premium demand markets in the US and Canada. Additionally, the Company recorded $0.83/Mcf of realized hedging gains on its gas volumes in the quarter from its mechanistic risk management strategy.  All in, Peyto's realized gas price after hedging totaled $4.17/Mcf or 89% higher than AECO 7A monthly price.  The increased realized gas price, combined with Peyto's low cost structure, boosted FFO by 13% from Q4 2024 to $225.2 million, which funded $102.1 million of capital expenditures, $65.7 million of shareholder dividends and allowed for a $65.7 million reduction in net debt in the quarter.