Matador Resources Company (NYSE: MTDR) (“Matador” or the “Company”) today reported financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2023. A short slide presentation summarizing the highlights of Matador’s third quarter 2023 earnings release is also included on the Company’s website at www.matadorresources.com on the Events and Presentations page under the Investor Relations tab.

Management Summary Comments

Joseph Wm. Foran, Matador’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, commented, “Matador achieved record results for the third quarter of 2023 due to the continued execution and teamwork by Matador’s staff, management team, Board of Directors, vendors, contractors and partners, among others. These results reflect our long-term approach to managing Matador’s business allowing for profitable growth at a measured pace, maintaining a strong balance sheet and returning value to our shareholders. We are pleased that this long-term approach is being increasingly recognized as Matador’s stock has been a top performer among our peer group over the last five years (see Slide A). In fact, Matador has significantly outperformed both the price of oil and the S&P Oil and Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index, or XOP Index, since our initial public offering in February 2012 and the acquisition of the Boros, Voni and Rodney Robinson leases from the Bureau of Land Management in 2018 (see Slide B).

Record Production and Better-Than-Expected Cost Savings in Third Quarter 2023

“The third quarter of 2023 was the best quarter of total production in Matador’s history, as we averaged more than 135,000 barrels of oil and natural gas equivalent (‘BOE’) per day. This record total production for the third quarter of 2023 was 3% better sequentially than our former total production record of 130,683 BOE per day in the second quarter of 2023. Notably, we also achieved record oil production during the third quarter of 2023 of 77,529 barrels per day, which was 2% better sequentially than our previous oil production record of 76,345 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2023. Matador also achieved record natural gas production during the third quarter of 2023 of 345.4 million cubic feet per day, which was 6% better sequentially than our prior natural gas production record of 326.0 million cubic feet per day in the second quarter of 2023. We achieved these record production results despite the challenges of bringing on the largest batch of wells in Matador’s history as well as challenges associated with maintenance, weather and potential midstream takeaway constraints.

“A portion of the natural gas from Matador’s wells in northern Lea County, New Mexico is being delivered to and processed by Pronto Midstream, LLC (“Pronto”), our wholly-owned midstream subsidiary, at its cryogenic natural gas processing plant named the ‘Marlan Plant’ in honor of our former director and advisor Marlan Downey. The Marlan Plant provides flow assurance for much of our acreage in northern Lea County, New Mexico as well as other producers and midstream companies in the area. Due in part to the natural gas production from Matador’s wells in northern Lea County, we are pleased to report that the Marlan Plant is now processing natural gas volumes up to its designed inlet capacity of 60 million cubic feet per day.

“In addition to record production during the third quarter, we also achieved better-than-expected drilling, completing and equipping (“D/C/E”) capital expenditures and midstream capital expenditures. Matador’s D/C/E capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2023 were approximately $4 million lower than expected. Midstream capital expenditures were approximately $48 million lower than expected for the third quarter of 2023. We currently expect full-year 2023 midstream capital expenditures of $135 million to $165 million as compared to our prior expectation of $150 million to $200 million. Approximately $10 million of this decrease is due to cost savings with the remainder due to the timing of our planned projects.

“Our record production and lower costs led to better-than-expected Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of $461.0 million for the third quarter of 2023 and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $144.6 million for the third quarter of 2023. We used a portion of this free cash flow to continue our long tradition of paying down debt and various brick-by-brick acquisitions, which have been instrumental in building our acreage position to over 150,000 net acres in the Delaware Basin (see Slide C). The Board and I thank and congratulate all the Matador staff that have worked on these transactions, which continue to provide significant value to Matador and its shareholders.

Increased Dividend and Continued Debt Repayment

“Matador was pleased to announce last week that our Board of Directors increased our fixed quarterly cash dividend from $0.15 per share, or $0.60 per share on an annual basis, to $0.20 per share, or $0.80 per share on an annual basis (see Slide D). This is the fourth increase in our fixed dividend since our Board initiated the dividend in the first quarter of 2021. Our ability to raise our dividend again evidences our increasing financial and operational strength.

“Matador was also pleased to announce last week that our bank group amended our credit agreement to increase the borrowing base by $250 million to $2.5 billion and increase the elected commitment by $75 million to $1.325 billion (see Slide E). In connection with the amendment, we welcomed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the newest member to our bank group. We value our lending relationships and are grateful for the support of each of our banks.

“The support of our banks was critical in connection with our Advance acquisition as we borrowed $700 million under Matador’s credit agreement. Since then, we have repaid $200 million of these borrowings leaving only $500 million outstanding under Matador’s credit agreement today. As of September 30, 2023, our leverage ratio was just under 1.0x. We expect our leverage ratio to remain 1.0x or less for the remainder of 2023 and anticipate being able to fully repay the borrowings under Matador’s credit agreement in 2024 at current commodity prices.

Horseshoe Well Update

“In October 2023, Matador turned to sales its first two ‘horseshoe’ wells in our Wolf asset area in Loving County, Texas (see Slide F). We are pleased to announce that these two horseshoe wells have 24-hour initial production test results of 2,477 BOE per day (51% oil) and 2,166 BOE per day (53% oil), respectively, and have high initial flowing casing pressures between 3,650 and 4,100 pounds per square inch. We are encouraged by the early initial production from the horseshoe wells, which is comparable to or better than traditional two-mile lateral wells drilled in the Wolf asset area. We estimate that we achieved approximately $10 million in cost savings by drilling two horseshoe two-mile lateral wells as compared to four one-mile lateral wells in this section.

Looking Forward to the Remainder of 2023 and Into 2024

“Matador expects to finish the year strong with continued production increases, cost efficiencies and debt repayment. We anticipate achieving the mid-to-high end of our full-year 2023 guidance range for total oil and natural gas equivalent production, oil production and natural gas production. We also expect lower capital expenditures for full-year 2023, primarily due to lower midstream capital expenditures of $25 million.

“For the fourth quarter of 2023, we now expect to produce an average of approximately 145,000 BOE per day, which is a 2% increase from our previous expectation of 143,000 BOE per day (see Slide G). In addition, we anticipate our oil production to average 86,750 barrels of oil per day at the midpoint of our guidance during the fourth quarter, which is a 1% increase from our previous expectation of 86,000 barrels of oil per day. In addition to the increased production during the fourth quarter of 2023, we also anticipate having 47 net wells in some stage of drilling or completion on December 31, 2023.

“We are currently operating seven drilling rigs and anticipate adding an eighth drilling rig in the first quarter of 2024. This additional drilling rig is expected to be a ‘super-spec’ drilling rig similar to our other seven drilling rigs. We are pleased with our extensive well inventory and continued capital and operating efficiencies that allow us to add this drilling rig. Special thanks go to our vendors and operational teams for helping achieve these efficiencies.

“Matador also continues to make progress with its midstream assets to increase the ‘flow assurance’ essential for its growing production volumes and third-party relationships in the Delaware Basin. We expect to connect Pronto’s natural gas system with the natural gas system owned by San Mateo Midstream, LLC (“San Mateo”), our midstream joint venture, in the first quarter of 2024. We also expect to connect Pronto’s natural gas system to our Advance acreage in the first quarter of 2024, which will allow us to directly deliver natural gas volumes from the Advance acreage to the Marlan Plant. In addition to these connections, we continue to move forward with our plans to expand our processing capacity by adding an additional cryogenic natural gas processing plant with a designed inlet capacity of 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and are evaluating whether to include a partner in building the processing plant. Matador has a history of successfully building midstream assets. We formed San Mateo in 2017 and have grown our midstream assets since then, both at San Mateo and Pronto, to include approximately 525 miles of oil, natural gas and water pipelines, 520 million cubic feet per day of designed natural gas processing capacity and over 475,000 barrels per day of designed water disposal capacity (see Slide H).

“Thanks again for your interest and support and thanks to the Board, the staff and our stakeholders for their extra efforts and teamwork to keep Matador growing.”

Third Quarter 2023 Matador Operational and Financial Highlights

(for comparisons to last year, please see the remainder of this press release)

• Average production of 135,096 BOE per day (77,529 barrels of oil per day)
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $461.0 million
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $144.6 million
• Net income of $263.7 million, or $2.20 per diluted common share
• Adjusted net income of $223.4 million, or adjusted earnings of $1.86 per diluted common share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $508.3 million
• San Mateo net income of $29.9 million
• San Mateo Adjusted EBITDA of $47.1 million
• D/C/E capital expenditures of $296.0 million
• Midstream capital expenditures of $41.7 million

All references to Matador’s net income, adjusted net income, Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow reported throughout this earnings release are those values attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders after giving effect to any net income, adjusted net income, Adjusted EBITDA or adjusted free cash flow, respectively, attributable to third-party non-controlling interests, including in San Mateo Midstream, LLC (“San Mateo”). Matador owns 51% of San Mateo. For a definition of adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted common share, Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow and reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial metrics to their comparable GAAP metrics, please see “Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Full-Year 2023 Guidance Update

Effective October 24, 2023, Matador anticipates achieving the mid-to-high end of its full-year 2023 guidance range for total oil and natural gas equivalent production, oil production and natural gas production. Matador also expects lower capital expenditures for full-year 2023, primarily due to lower midstream capital expenditures of $25 million.

Operational and Financial Update

Third Quarter 2023 Oil, Natural Gas and Total Oil Equivalent Production Above Expectations

Matador’s average daily oil and natural gas production was 135,096 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2023, which was a 3% sequential increase from 130,683 BOE in the second quarter of 2023 and a 28% year-over-year increase from 105,214 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2022. Matador’s production for the third quarter of 2023 of 135,096 BOE per day exceeded its announced expectations for the quarter of a range from 129,500 to 131,500 BOE per day, as summarized in the table below. The primary drivers behind this outperformance were (i) better-than-expected production from our wells in Lea County, New Mexico, (ii) higher-than-expected production from non-operated assets, (iii) fewer shut-in wells than Matador had anticipated and (iv) certain land transactions that were expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023 but instead closed in the third quarter of 2023. In addition, the force majeure event experienced by a third-party midstream provider during the third quarter has been resolved.

Third Quarter 2023 Realized Commodity Prices

The following table summarizes Matador’s realized commodity prices during the third quarter of 2023, as compared to the second quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2022.

Third Quarter 2023 Wells Turned to Sales

During the third quarter of 2023, Matador turned to sales 29 gross (26.1 net) operated horizontal wells with an average completed lateral length of approximately 10,700 feet. The table below provides a summary of Matador’s operated and non-operated activity in the third quarter of 2023. Matador had one additional net non-operated well turned to sales in the third quarter of 2023 than what it previously planned.

Third Quarter 2023 Operating Expenses

Matador expected an increase to its lease operating expenses in the third quarter of 2023 as a result of the closing of the Advance acquisition in April. Matador was able to offset certain anticipated expense increases by targeting improvements in workover, supervision and repair and maintenance costs resulting in total lease operating expenses of $5.34 per BOE for the third quarter of 2023, which is a 4% sequential increase from $5.13 per BOE in the second quarter of 2023 and a 22% year-over-year increase from $4.38 per BOE in the third quarter of 2022. The third quarter 2023 lease operating expenses were consistent with Matador’s expected full-year 2023 lease operating expenses range of $5.00 to $5.50 per BOE.

Matador’s general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses increased 13% sequentially from $2.25 per BOE in the second quarter of 2023 to $2.55 per BOE in the third quarter of 2023. This increase is due in part to the value of employee stock awards that are settled in cash, which are remeasured at each quarterly reporting period. These cash-settled stock award amounts increased due to the fact that Matador’s share price increased 14% from $52.32 at the end of the second quarter of 2023 to $59.48 at end of the third quarter of 2023. Matador’s third quarter 2023 G&A expenses were better than expected. As a result, Matador is reducing its expected full-year 2023 G&A expenses by 9% from a range of $2.25 to $3.25 per BOE to a range of $2.25 to $2.75 per BOE.

During the third quarter of 2023, Matador’s plant and other midstream operating expenses, which include the costs to operate San Mateo’s and Pronto’s assets, were $2.48 per BOE, a 4% decrease from $2.58 per BOE in the second quarter of 2023. Matador continues to expect its midstream businesses to experience full-year 2023 plant and other midstream operating expenses to range from $2.50 to $3.00 per BOE.

Third Quarter 2023 Capital Expenditures

Matador’s D/C/E capital expenditures were approximately $4 million lower than expected. Matador’s cost savings were partially offset by additional non-operated activity, which resulted in one additional net well turned to sales, as noted above. Midstream capital expenditures were significantly lower than expected for the third quarter of 2023 due primarily to cost savings and the timing of planned projects.

Midstream Update

San Mateo’s operations in the third quarter of 2023 were highlighted by better-than-expected operating and financial results. These strong results primarily reflect better-than-expected volumes delivered by third party customers into the San Mateo system. San Mateo’s net income of $29.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $47.1 million were each better than expected.

Operationally, San Mateo’s natural gas gathering and processing volumes in the third quarter of 2023 were all-time quarterly highs. The table below sets forth San Mateo’s throughput volumes, as compared to the second quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2022. The volumes in the table do not include the full quantity of volumes that would have otherwise been delivered by certain San Mateo customers subject to minimum volume commitments (although partial deliveries were made), but for which San Mateo recognized revenues.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimates

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Oil, Natural Gas and Total Oil Equivalent Production Growth

As noted in the table below, Matador anticipates its average daily oil equivalent production of 135,096 BOE per day in the third quarter of 2023 to increase to a midpoint of approximately 145,000 BOE per day in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Wells Turned to Sales

At October 24, 2023, Matador expects to turn to sales 38 gross (28.2 net) operated horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin during the fourth quarter of 2023, consisting of four gross (4.0 net) wells in the Ranger asset area, four gross (2.6 net) wells in the Antelope Ridge asset area, 17 gross (10.4 net) wells in the Arrowhead asset area and 13 gross (11.2 net) wells in the Wolf asset area.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Capital Expenditures

Matador began 2023 operating seven drilling rigs in the Delaware Basin. Following the closing of the Advance acquisition on April 12, 2023, Matador continued operating the drilling rig that Advance had been operating. In June 2023, Matador released this eighth operated drilling rig and continued operating seven drilling rigs in the Delaware Basin. Matador plans to operate seven drilling rigs for the remainder of 2023 and add back an eighth drilling rig in the first quarter of 2024. At October 24, 2023, Matador expects D/C/E capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2023 will be approximately $259 million, which is a 13% decrease as compared to $296 million for the third quarter of 2023 due to the mix of wells drilled and completed during the fourth quarter as compared to the third quarter. Matador expects its proportionate share of midstream capital expenditures to be approximately $87 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to $41.7 million in the third quarter of 2023 due to the timing of projects.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Cash Taxes

Matador expects to make cash tax payments in an amount of approximately 1% of pre-tax book net income for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to cash taxes of approximately 3% of pre-tax book net income for the year ended December 31, 2022. This year-over-year decrease is due to lower oil and natural gas prices in 2023 as compared to 2022 as well as higher acquisition and capital expenditures incurred in 2023 as compared to 2022. Matador had previously anticipated that it would not pay any cash taxes for 2023 but has since revised its estimates based upon higher estimated 2023 production and realized oil and gas prices and lower estimated capital expenditures. The 2023 cash tax payments primarily relate to New Mexico state income taxes.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a live conference call on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to review its third quarter 2023 operational and financial results. To access the live conference call by phone, you can use the following link https://register.vevent.com/register/BIec0f864806654c48b2686f74a95969b3 and you will be provided with dial in details. To avoid delays, it is recommended that participants dial into the conference call 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

The live conference call will also be available through the Company’s website at www.matadorresources.com on the Events and Presentations page under the Investor Relations tab. The replay for the event will be available on the Company’s website at www.matadorresources.com on the Events and Presentations page under the Investor Relations tab for one year.

About Matador Resources Company

Matador is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with an emphasis on oil and natural gas shale and other unconventional plays. Its current operations are focused primarily on the oil and liquids-rich portion of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. Matador also operates in the Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas and the Haynesville shale and Cotton Valley plays in Northwest Louisiana. Additionally, Matador conducts midstream operations in support of its exploration, development and production operations and provides natural gas processing, oil transportation services, natural gas, oil and produced water gathering services and produced water disposal services to third parties.

For more information, visit Matador Resources Company at www.matadorresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “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. “Forward-looking statements” are statements related to future, not past, events. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “could,” “believe,” “would,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “continue,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “project,” “hypothetical,” “forecasted” and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the anticipated benefits, opportunities and results with respect to the Advance acquisition, including any expected value creation, reserves additions, midstream opportunities and other anticipated impacts from the Advance acquisition, as well as other aspects of the transaction, guidance, projected or forecasted financial and operating results, future liquidity, leverage, the payment of dividends, results in certain basins, objectives, project timing, expectations and intentions, regulatory and governmental actions and other statements that are not historical facts. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, and such forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, disruption from the Advance acquisition making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; significant transaction costs associated with the Advance acquisition; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the Advance acquisition, as well as the following risks related to financial and operational performance: general economic conditions; the Company’s ability to execute its business plan, including whether its drilling program is successful; changes in oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices and the demand for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; its ability to replace reserves and efficiently develop current reserves; the operating results of the Company’s midstream oil, natural gas and water gathering and transportation systems, pipelines and facilities, the acquiring of third-party business and the drilling of any additional salt water disposal wells; costs of operations; delays and other difficulties related to producing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; delays and other difficulties related to regulatory and governmental approvals and restrictions; impact on the Company’s operations due to seismic events; its ability to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms; its ability to integrate acquisitions; availability of sufficient capital to execute its business plan, including from future cash flows, available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facilities and otherwise; the operating results of and the availability of any potential distributions from our joint ventures; weather and environmental conditions; the ongoing impact of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, or variants thereof, on oil and natural gas demand, oil and natural gas prices and its business; and the other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. For further discussions of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to Matador’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of Matador’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Matador undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release, except as required by law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Sequential and year-over-year quarterly comparisons of selected financial and operating items are shown in the following table:

Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA

This press release includes the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, such as securities analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. “GAAP” means Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA helps it evaluate its operating performance and compare its results of operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. The Company defines, on a consolidated basis and for San Mateo, Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depletion, depreciation and amortization, accretion of asset retirement obligations, property impairments, unrealized derivative gains and losses, non-recurring transaction costs for certain acquisitions, certain other non-cash items and non-cash stock-based compensation expense and net gain or loss on impairment. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of net income or net cash provided by operating activities as determined by GAAP. All references to Matador’s Adjusted EBITDA are those values attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders after giving effect to Adjusted EBITDA attributable to third-party non-controlling interests, including in San Mateo.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or net cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components of understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure. Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of another company because all companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. The following table presents the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the GAAP financial measures of net income and net cash provided by operating activities, respectively, that are of a historical nature. Where references are pro forma, forward-looking, preliminary or prospective in nature, and not based on historical fact, the table does not provide a reconciliation. The Company could not provide such reconciliation without undue hardship because such Adjusted EBITDA numbers are estimations, approximations and/or ranges. In addition, it would be difficult for the Company to present a detailed reconciliation on account of many unknown variables for the reconciling items, including future income taxes, full-cost ceiling impairments, unrealized gains or losses on derivatives and gains or losses on asset sales and impairment. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

Adjusted EBITDA – Matador Resources Company

Adjusted EBITDA – San Mateo (100%)

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Common Share

This press release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted common share. These non-GAAP items are measured as net income attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders, adjusted for dollar and per share impact of certain items, including unrealized gains or losses on derivatives, the impact of full cost-ceiling impairment charges, if any, and non-recurring transaction costs for certain acquisitions or other non-recurring income or expense items, along with the related tax effect for all periods. This non-GAAP financial information is provided as additional information for investors and is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP financial measures. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures may be different than similar measures used by other companies. The Company believes the presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted common share provides useful information to investors, as it provides them an additional relevant comparison of the Company’s performance across periods and to the performance of the Company’s peers. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments for items of income and expense that are often excluded by securities analysts and other users of the Company’s financial statements in evaluating the Company’s performance. The table below reconciles adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted common share to their most directly comparable GAAP measure of net income attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders.