SM Energy Co

General Overview

Our purpose is to make people’s lives better by responsibly producing energy supplies, contributing to domestic energy security and prosperity, and having a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. Our long-term vision and strategy is to sustainably grow value for all of our stakeholders as a premier operator of top-tier assets by maintaining and optimizing our high-quality asset portfolio, generating cash flows, and maintaining a strong balance sheet. Our team executes this strategy by prioritizing safety, technological innovation, and stewardship of natural resources, all of which are integral to our corporate culture. Our near-term goals include continuing to return value to stockholders through our Stock Repurchase Program and fixed dividend payments, and by focusing on continued operational excellence.

Our asset portfolio is comprised of high-quality assets in the Midland Basin of West Texas and in the Maverick Basin of South Texas that we believe are capable of generating strong returns in the current macroeconomic environment and provide resilience to commodity price risk and volatility. We seek to maximize returns and increase the value of our top-tier assets through disciplined capital spending, strategic acquisitions, and continued development and optimization of our existing assets. We believe that our high-quality assets facilitate a sustainable approach to prioritizing operational execution, maintaining a strong balance sheet, generating cash flows, returning capital to stockholders, and maintaining financial flexibility.

We are committed to exceptional safety, health, and environmental stewardship; supporting the professional development of a diverse and thriving team of employees; building and maintaining partnerships with our stakeholders by investing in and connecting with the communities where we live and work; and transparency in reporting our progress in these areas. The Environmental, Social and Governance Committee of our Board of Directors oversees, among other things, the effectiveness of our ESG policies, programs and initiatives, monitors and responds to emerging issues, and, together with management, reports to our Board of Directors regarding such matters. Further demonstrating our commitment to sustainable operations and environmental stewardship, compensation for our executives and eligible employees under our long-term incentive plan, and compensation for all employees under our short-term incentive plan is calculated based on, in part, certain Company-wide, performance-based metrics that include key financial, operational, environmental, health, and safety measures. Please refer to our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed within 120 days from December 31, 2023, for additional discussion.

We are impacted by global commodity and financial markets that remain subject to heightened levels of uncertainty and volatility. While the rate of inflation in the United States has decreased since the beginning of the year and the average rate of inflation in 2023 was lower than it was in 2022, inflation continues to impact certain aspects of our business. Continued oil production curtailment agreements among OPEC+, instability in the Middle East, economic and trade sanctions associated with the wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, United States Federal Reserve monetary policy, shipping channel constraints and disruptions, and changes in global oil inventory in storage have driven commodity price volatility, contributed to instances of supply chain disruptions and fluctuations in interest rates, and could have further industry-specific impacts that may require us to adjust our business plan. Future impacts of these and other events on commodity and financial markets are inherently unpredictable. Despite continuing uncertainty, we expect to maximize the value of our high-quality asset base and sustain strong operational performance and financial stability. We remain focused on returning capital to stockholders through cash flow generation.

Outlook

We expect our total 2024 capital program to be between $1.16 billion and $1.20 billion, excluding acquisitions, which we expect to fund with cash flows from operations and cash on hand. We plan to focus our 2024 capital program on highly economic oil development projects in both our Midland Basin and South Texas assets, including the assets we acquired during 2023. We expect to repurchase additional shares of our outstanding common stock through our Stock Repurchase Program during 2024, under which $214.9 million remains available for repurchases through December 31, 2024, as of the filing of this report.

2023 Financial and Operational Highlights

During 2023, we increased the amount of capital we returned to our stockholders, compared with 2022, through repurchases of our outstanding common stock under our Stock Repurchase Program and our fixed quarterly dividend payments, and we expanded our Midland Basin asset position. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we repurchased and subsequently retired 6.9 million shares of our common stock at a cost of $228.0 million, excluding excise taxes, commissions, and fees; we paid dividends of $0.60 per share, an increase from $0.16 per share paid during the year ended December 31, 2022; and we announced a 20 percent increase to our fixed dividend to $0.72 per share annually, to be paid in quarterly increments of $0.18 per share, beginning in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, we executed strategic acquisitions, exchanges, and leasing activity in the Midland Basin, enabling us to enhance our capital efficiency by blocking up acreage and maintaining high working interests. Please refer to Note 3 – Equity and Note 16 – Acquisitions in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional discussion.

Financial and Operational Results. Average net daily equivalent production for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased five percent to 152.0 MBOE, compared with 145.1 MBOE for 2022 as a result of an increased number of completions in 2023 compared with 2022. The total increase consisted of a 20 percent increase from our South Texas assets, partially offset by a seven percent decrease from our Midland Basin assets. These changes were a result of the timing of well completions, and the timing of capital expenditures during 2022 and 2023.

Realized prices for oil, gas, and NGLs decreased 19 percent, 61 percent, and 35 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022, as a result of decreases in benchmark commodity prices during 2023. Total realized price per BOE decreased 33 percent for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022, resulting in a 29 percent decrease in oil, gas, and NGL production revenue, which was $2.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with $3.3 billion for 2022. Oil, gas, and NGL production expense of $10.16 per BOE for the year ended December 31, 2023, decreased 13 percent compared with 2022, primarily as a result of decreases in production tax expense per BOE, transportation costs per BOE, and ad valorem tax expense per BOE, partially offset by an increase in LOE per BOE.

We recorded a net derivative gain of $68.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to a net derivative loss of $374.0 million for 2022. These amounts include a net derivative settlement gain of $26.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and a net derivative settlement loss of $710.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Operational activities during the year ended December 31, 2023, resulted in the following:

•Net cash provided by operating activities of $1.6 billion, compared with $1.7 billion for 2022.

•Net income of $817.9 million, or $6.86 per diluted share, compared with net income of $1.1 billion, or $8.96 per diluted share for 2022.

•Adjusted EBITDAX, a non-GAAP financial measure, of $1.7 billion, compared with $1.9 billion for 2022. Please refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for additional discussion, including our definition of adjusted EBITDAX and reconciliations to net income and net cash provided by operating activities.

•Total estimated net proved reserves as of December 31, 2023, increased 13 percent from December 31, 2022, to 604.9 MMBOE, of which, 58 percent were liquids (oil and NGLs) and 56 percent were proved developed reserves. The increase primarily consisted of revisions of previous estimates of 113.9 MMBOE related to infill reserves in both our South Texas and Midland Basin programs, partially offset by 55.5 MMBOE of production during 2023. Our proved reserve life index increased to 10.9 years as of December 31, 2023, compared with 10.1 years as of December 31, 2022. Please refer to Reserves in Part I, Items 1 and 2 of this report for additional discussion. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows was $6.3 billion as of December 31, 2023, compared with $10.0 billion as of December 31, 2022, which was a decrease of 37 percent year-over-year primarily driven by decreases in benchmark commodity prices during 2023. Please refer to Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (unaudited) in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional discussion.

Operational Activities. During 2023, successful operational execution resulted in strong well performance in the RockStar and Sweetie Peck areas of our Midland Basin position, and allowed us to maximize capital efficiency. Our South Texas program benefited from continued successful delineation and development of the Austin Chalk formation in addition to sustained strong performance of our Eagle Ford shale wells. Our continued success in both our Midland Basin and South Texas programs is attributable to our top-tier assets and technical teams, and our commitment to geoscience, technology, and innovation.

In our Midland Basin program, we averaged three drilling rigs and one completion crew during 2023. We added a fourth drilling rig at the end of the third quarter to begin drilling on our newly acquired Klondike acreage. We drilled 54 gross (37 net) wells, completed 64 gross (54 net) wells, and acquired additional working interests in five net wells during 2023. Average net daily equivalent production volumes decreased year-over-year by seven percent to 75.4 MBOE. Costs incurred during 2023 totaled $768.1 million, or 62 percent of our total 2023 costs incurred. Drilling and completion activities within our RockStar and Sweetie Peck positions in the Midland Basin were focused primarily on developing the Spraberry and Wolfcamp formations.

In our South Texas program, we averaged two drilling rigs and one completion crew during 2023. We drilled 46 gross (46 net) wells and completed 38 gross (37 net) wells during 2023. Average net daily equivalent production volumes increased year-over-year by 20 percent to 76.7 MBOE. Costs incurred during 2023 totaled $423.5 million, or 34 percent of our total 2023 costs incurred. Drilling and completion activities in South Texas during 2023 were primarily focused on delineating and developing the Austin Chalk formation.

The table below provides a summary of changes in our drilled but not completed well count and current year drilling, completion, and acquisition activity in our operated programs for the year ended December 31, 2023:

(1) As of December 31, 2022, and 2023, the drilled but not completed well count included nine gross (nine net) wells that were not included in our five-year development plan, eight of which were in the Eagle Ford shale.

(2) Amount relates to additional working interests acquired in drilled but not completed wells during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Costs Incurred. Costs incurred in oil and gas property acquisition, exploration, and development activities, whether capitalized or expensed, are summarized as follows:

(1) Please refer to the caption Costs Incurredin Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (unaudited)in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

Production Results. The table below presents the disaggregation of our net production volumes by product type for each of our assets for the year ended December 31, 2023:

Net equivalent production increased five percent for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022, comprised of a 20 percent increase from our South Texas assets, partially offset by a seven percent decrease from our Midland Basin assets. Please refer to Overview of Selected Production and Financial Information, Including Trendsand Comparison of Financial Results and Trends Between 2023 and 2022 and Between 2022 and 2021 below for additional discussion of production.

Acquisition Activity. During 2023, we acquired approximately 20,000 net acres of oil and gas properties in Dawson and northern Martin counties, Texas. Additionally, in the Midland Basin, we added approximately 9,100 net acres through organic leasing activity, we completed an asset exchange, and we acquired additional working interests in certain wells. Please refer to Note 16 – Acquisitions in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional discussion.

Oil, Gas, and NGL Prices

Our financial condition and the results of our operations are significantly affected by the prices we receive for our oil, gas, and NGL production, which can fluctuate dramatically. When we refer to realized oil, gas, and NGL prices below, the disclosed price represents the average price for the respective period, before the effect of net derivative settlements. While quoted NYMEX oil and gas and OPIS NGL prices are generally used as a basis for comparison within our industry, the prices we receive are affected by quality, energy content, location and transportation differentials, and contracted pricing benchmarks for these products.

The following table summarizes commodity price data, as well as the effect of net derivative settlements, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:

(1)Effective January 1, 2023, average OPIS price per barrel of NGL, historical or strip, assumes a composite barrel product mix of 42% Ethane, 28% Propane, 6% Isobutane, 11% Normal Butane, and 13% Natural Gasoline. For periods prior to 2023, average OPIS price per barrel of NGL, historical or strip, assumed a composite barrel product mix of 37% Ethane, 32% Propane, 6% Isobutane, 11% Normal Butane, and 14% Natural Gasoline. These product mixes represent the industry standard composite barrel for the respective periods presented and do not necessarily represent our product mix for NGL production. Realized prices reflect our actual product mix.

Oil prices in 2023 decreased compared with 2022 and increased compared with 2021. Gas and NGL prices in 2023 decreased compared with both 2022 and 2021. Given the uncertainty surrounding global financial markets, production output from OPEC+, global shipping channel constraints and disruptions, instability in the Middle East, economic and trade sanctions associated with the wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, changes in oil inventory in storage, and the potential impacts of these issues on global commodity and financial markets, we expect benchmark prices for oil, gas, and NGLs to remain volatile for the foreseeable future, and we cannot reasonably predict the timing or likelihood of any future impacts that may result, which could include further inflation, supply chain disruptions, fluctuations in interest rates, and industry-specific impacts. In addition to supply and demand fundamentals, as global commodities, the prices for oil, gas, and NGLs are affected by real or perceived geopolitical risks in various regions of the world as well as the relative strength of the United States dollar compared to other currencies. Our realized prices at local sales points may also be affected by infrastructure capacity in the areas of our operations and beyond.

The following table summarizes 12-month strip prices for NYMEX WTI oil, NYMEX Henry Hub gas, and OPIS NGLs as of February 8, 2024, and December 31, 2023:

We use financial derivative instruments as part of our financial risk management program. We have a financial risk management policy governing our use of derivatives, and decisions regarding entering into commodity derivative contracts are overseen by a financial risk management committee consisting of certain senior executive officers and finance personnel. We make decisions about the amount of our expected production that we cover by derivatives based on the amount of debt on our balance sheet, the level of capital commitments and long-term obligations we have in place, and the terms and futures prices that are made available by our approved counterparties. With our current commodity derivative contracts, we believe we have partially reduced our exposure to volatility in commodity prices and basis differentials in the near term. Our use of costless collars for a portion of our derivatives allows us to participate in some of the upward movements in oil and gas prices while also setting a price floor below which we are insulated from further price decreases. Please refer to Note 7 – Derivative Financial Instruments in Part II, Item 8 of this report and to Commodity Price Riskin Overview of Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional information regarding our oil, gas, and NGL derivatives.