Cheniere Energy Inc

Consolidated results of operations

Volumes loaded and recognized from the Liquefaction Projects

Components of LNG revenues and corresponding LNG volumes delivered

(1)Long-term agreements include agreements with an initial tenor of 12 months or more.

Net income attributable to Cheniere

Net income attributable to Cheniere declined $808 million and $6.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023. The decline between the respective three and nine month periods was primarily attributable to unfavorable changes in fair value of derivatives of $923 million and $6.1 billion (before tax and the impact of non-controlling interest), respectively, principally attributable to our IPM agreements, where the associated gains decreased mainly due to the impact on fair value from the nonrecurrence of significant declines of historic volatility in international gas prices and moderated and sustained spot prices in the current periods relative to the same periods of 2023. The remaining changes in fair value of derivatives were primarily due to an unfavorable shift in long-term U.S. natural gas forward prices. In addition, there was a $159 million and $2.7 billion decrease in LNG revenues, net of cost of sales and excluding the effect of derivatives, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023, the majority of which was attributable to a reduction of volumes sold under short-term agreements as a higher proportion of our LNG was sold under long-term contracts, as further described in Revenues below.

These unfavorable variances were partially offset by:

•$209 million and $1.6 billion favorable variances in income tax provision between the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023, primarily due to lower taxable earnings; and

•$76 million and $796 million reduction in net income attributable to non-controlling interest between the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023, substantially all of which is due to a decrease in CQP’s consolidated net income between the comparable periods from declining gains related to changes in fair value of derivatives between the three and nine month periods.

The following is an additional discussion of the significant drivers of the variance in net income attributable to common stockholders by line item:

Revenues

The decreases of $396 million and $4.3 billion between the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023 were primarily attributable to:

•$314 million and $3.6 billion decreases in revenues generated by our marketing function under short-term agreements between the three and nine month periods, respectively, due to declining international LNG and gas prices and a reduction of volumes sold under short-term agreements as a result of additional long-term agreements commencing after the third quarter of 2023; and

•$25 million and $719 million decreases in revenues attributable to declining Henry Hub pricing, to which the majority of our long-term LNG sales contracts are indexed, between the three and nine month periods, respectively.

Operating costs and expenses (recoveries)

There was a $712 million unfavorable variance between the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 primarily as a result of a $915 million unfavorable variance from changes in fair value of derivatives included in cost of sales, as described above under the caption Net income attributable to Cheniere, partially offset by a $203 million decrease in cost of natural gas feedstock largely due to lower U.S. natural gas prices.

There was a $4.4 billion unfavorable variance between the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 primarily attributable to a $6.1 billion unfavorable variance from changes in fair value of derivatives included in cost of sales, as described above under the caption Net income attributable to Cheniere. This unfavorable variance was partially offset by a $1.6 billion decrease between the periods in cost of sales excluding the effect of derivative changes described above, primarily as a result of a $1.5 billion decrease in cost of natural gas feedstock largely due to lower U.S. natural gas prices.

Other income (expense)

The $15 million and $71 million favorable variances between the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023 were primarily attributable to:

•$36 million and $101 million decreases in interest expense, net of capitalized interest, between the three and nine month periods, respectively, primarily due to $24 million and $69 million increases, respectively, in interest costs qualifying for capitalization, given the higher carrying value of assets under construction, and additionally due to lower overall interest cost due to debt reduction activities associated with our long-term capital allocation plan;

These favorable variances were partially offset by:

•$24 million increase in losses on modification or extinguishment of debt between the nine month periods from debt reduction activities, as further detailed under Financing Cash Flows in Sources and Uses of Cash within Liquidity and Capital Resources; and

•$17 million decrease in interest and dividend income between the three month periods, primarily as a result of lower average cash and cash equivalents balances between the respective periods.

Income tax provision

The $209 million and $1.6 billion favorable variances between the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023, were primarily attributable to $1.1 billion and $8.6 billion decreases in pre-tax income, respectively, and, to a lesser extent, a lower effective tax rate between the periods.

Our effective tax rate was 16.1% and 14.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to 17.4% and 17.2% for the same periods of 2023, respectively. Our effective tax rate decreased between both comparable periods because a larger percentage of pre-tax income was attributable to CQP’s income that is not taxable to us. The effective tax rate for the periods was lower than the statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to CQP’s income that is not taxable to us.

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

The $76 million and $796 million decreases between the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2023 were attributable to $156 million and $1.5 billion decreases in CQP’s consolidated net income between the three and nine month periods, respectively, primarily from unfavorable changes in fair value of derivatives related to its IPM agreement of $185 million and $1.2 billion, respectively.

Significant factor affecting our results of operations

Below is a significant factor that affects our results of operations.

Gains and losses on derivative instruments

Derivative instruments, which in addition to managing exposure to commodity-related marketing and price risks are utilized to manage exposure to foreign exchange volatility, are reported at fair value on our Consolidated Financial Statements. For commodity derivative instruments related to our IPM agreements, the underlying LNG sales being economically hedged are accounted for under the accrual method of accounting, whereby revenues expected to be derived from the future LNG sales are recognized only upon delivery or realization of the underlying transaction. Notwithstanding the operational intent to mitigate risk exposure over time, the recognition of derivative instruments at fair value has the effect of recognizing gains or losses relating to future period exposure, and given the significant volumes, long-term duration and volatility in price basis for certain of our derivative contracts, the use of derivative instruments may result in continued volatility of our results of operations based on changes in market pricing, counterparty credit risk and other relevant factors that may be outside of our control. For example, as described in Note 5—Derivative Instruments of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the fair value of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives incorporates, as applicable, market participant-based assumptions pertaining to certain contractual uncertainties, including those related to the availability of market information for delivery points, which may require future development of infrastructure, as well as the timing of satisfaction of certain events or development of infrastructure to support natural gas gathering and transport. We may recognize changes in fair value through earnings that could significantly impact our results of operations if and when such uncertainties are resolved.