National Fuel Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2017 Earnings

National Fuel Gas Company (“National Fuel” or the “Company”) (NYSE:NFG) today announced consolidated results for the three months and fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

FISCAL 2017 FOURTH QUARTER SUMMARY

• Consolidated net income of $45.6 million, or $0.53 per share, compared to consolidated net income of $37.6 million, or $0.44 per share, and operating results of $56.6 million, or $0.66 per share, in the prior year (see reconciliation below)
• Consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $142.8 million (non-GAAP reconciliation on page 25)
• Net production of 40.4 Bcfe, a 1% increase from the prior year
• Price-related natural gas production curtailments of 2.5 Bcf in Appalachia
• Average natural gas prices, after the impact of hedging, of $2.91 per Mcf, down $0.18 per Mcf from the prior year
• Average oil prices, after the impact of hedging, of $54.77 per Bbl, down $5.24 per Bbl from the prior year
• Gathering revenues of $25.0 million, up 6% from the prior year, on 44.9 Bcf of gathering system throughput

FISCAL 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

• Consolidated net income of $283.5 million, or $3.30 per share, compared to consolidated net loss of $291.0 million, or $3.43 per share, and operating results of $263.6 million, or $3.09 per share, in the prior year (see reconciliation below)
• Consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $777.0 million (non-GAAP reconciliation on page 25)
• Cash provided by operations exceeded net cash used in investing activities by $262 million
• Gathering net income of $40.4 million, a 32% increase from the prior year
• Net production of 173.5 Bcfe, an 8% increase from the prior year
• Proved reserves at September 30, 2017, of 2.2 Tcfe, an increase of 17% from September 30, 2016
• Seneca finding and development costs, excluding revisions, of $0.60 per Mcfe
• Increased shareholder dividend for the 47th consecutive year to an annualized distribution of $1.66 per share

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

Ronald J. Tanski, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel Gas Company, stated: “National Fuel ended its 2017 fiscal year on a strong note. Our Exploration and Production segment continues to make progress in the appraisal and optimization of our Utica shale potential. Utica well completions helped drive the 17 percent increase in our proved reserves while lowering our finding and development costs in Appalachia to $0.51 per Mcf. Our Gathering segment meanwhile capped-off an outstanding year that saw its earnings grow by 32 percent. In spite of commodity price volatility and regulatory challenges, the Company generated positive free cash flow for the second consecutive year, which allowed us to continue to grow our dividend, maintain the safety and reliability of our pipeline systems, and position our upstream and midstream businesses for the next leg of growth in Appalachia.

“As we enter 2018, we are optimistic that the ongoing build-out of pipeline infrastructure in the region will help local pricing and provide a tailwind while we continue to work through the regulatory process with our Northern Access project. In any event, just as we have always done, we will continue to manage our business in a way that minimizes the risk to our earnings and cash flows, maintains a strong balance sheet to preserve financial flexibility as opportunities in the market arise, and prioritizes economic returns that add long-term value for our shareholders.”

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS BY SEGMENT

The following discussion of the earnings of each segment is summarized in a tabular form on pages 9 through 12 of this report. It may be helpful to refer to those tables while reviewing this discussion. Note that management defines operating results as reported GAAP earnings before items impacting comparability and adjusted EBITDA as reported GAAP earnings before the following items: interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, interest and other income, impairments, and items impacting comparability.

Upstream Business

Exploration and Production Segment

The Exploration and Production segment operations are carried out by Seneca Resources Corporation ("Seneca"). Seneca explores for, develops and produces natural gas and oil reserves, primarily in Pennsylvania and California.

The $13.6 million increase in the Exploration and Production segment’s fourth quarter earnings was primarily attributable to the non-recurrence of a $32.8 million ($19.0 million after-tax) ceiling test impairment charge recorded to reduce the book value of Seneca’s oil and gas properties in the prior year. Excluding the impairment charge, results for the segment declined $5.4 million, or $0.07 per share, as the impact of higher net production and the benefit of a lower effective income tax rate was more than offset by a decline in realized natural gas and oil prices, an increase in lease operating and transportation (“LOE”) expense, and higher other operating expenses.

Seneca’s fourth quarter net production was 40.4 billion cubic feet equivalent (“Bcfe”), an increase of 0.5 Bcfe, or 1 percent, from the prior year. Net natural gas production increased 0.8 Bcf, or 2 percent, due to significantly reduced price-related curtailments across Seneca’s Appalachian producing areas and higher production in the Western Development Area (“WDA”) from new wells completed and brought online during the year, partially offset by natural declines from Marcellus locations in the Eastern Development Area (“EDA”). As a result of depressed local daily spot prices in Pennsylvania, Seneca voluntarily curtailed an estimated 2.5 Bcf of net natural gas production in the fourth quarter, which was down from an estimated 6.2 Bcf of curtailments in the prior year. Seneca’s oil production decreased 49 thousand barrels ("Mbbl") due mainly to a reduction in well workover activity in prior quarters and modifications to steaming operations at its North Midway Sunset field in California.

Seneca's average realized natural gas price, after the impact of hedging and all marketing and transportation costs, was $2.91 per thousand cubic feet ("Mcf"), a decrease of $0.18 per Mcf from the prior year. Seneca's average realized oil price, after the impact of hedging, was $54.77 per barrel ("Bbl"), a decrease of $5.24 per Bbl. The decline in Seneca’s realized natural gas and oil prices is primarily attributable to the expiration of physical firm sales and financial hedge contracts over the past 12 months that had favorable pricing relative to current market prices and hedge book. Seneca's average realized natural gas and oil prices benefited from an uplift of $0.47 per Mcf and $7.33 per Bbl, respectively, from financial hedges settled during the quarter.

LOE increased $4.6 million, or $0.10 per Mcf equivalent ("Mcfe") on a cost per unit of production basis, due primarily to an increase in well workover and repair activities as well as higher steam volumes at North Midway Sunset in California. The elevated activities are expected to arrest, and in some cases reverse, natural field production declines in fiscal 2018. LOE expense in California is projected to return to normal levels over the next few quarters. Other operating expenses increased $2.9 million versus the prior year due mainly to a one-time payment made to reimburse a third-party pipeline operator for development costs on a project that Seneca has future contracted firm transportation capacity. Seneca will recoup the full amount of the payment when facilities are ultimately constructed.

A decrease in Seneca’s effective tax rate increased the segment’s earnings by $7.2 million in the fourth quarter. This decrease was largely due to an anticipated increase in the sale of future natural gas production at delivery points in the southeastern U.S. utilizing firm transportation capacity on the Atlantic Sunrise project, which decreased the effective tax rate used in the calculation of Seneca’s deferred taxes. Seneca holds approximately 190 million cubic feet ("MMcf") per day of capacity on Atlantic Sunrise, which commenced construction during the fourth quarter and is expected to be in-service before the end of the Company’s 2018 fiscal year.

For fiscal 2017, the $582.2 million increase in the Exploration and Production segment’s earnings was primarily attributable to the non-recurrence of two items that reduced earnings in the prior year. In fiscal 2016, Seneca recorded a $948.3 million ($550.0 million after-tax) ceiling test impairment charge to reduce the book value of Seneca’s oil and gas properties. Seneca also incurred $7.9 million ($4.6 million after-tax) in the prior year for professional and legal expenses related to the joint development agreement ("JDA") to develop certain Marcellus wells. Excluding these items, annual results for the segment improved $27.6 million, or $0.31 per share, due primarily to the impact of higher net production, lower general and administrative ("G&A") and depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) expenses, and the benefit of a lower effective income tax rate, partially offset by a decline in realized natural gas and oil prices.

Seneca generated net production of 173.5 Bcfe in fiscal 2017, an increase of 12.4 Bcfe, or 8 percent, versus the prior year and the highest annual output in the Company’s history. Seneca's average realized natural gas and oil prices, after the impact of hedging and all marketing and transportation costs, were $2.95 per Mcf and $53.87 Bbl, respectively, a decrease of $0.07 per Mcf and $4.04 per Bbl from fiscal 2016.

G&A expense, excluding the joint development agreement costs, declined $4.0 million, or $0.05 per Mcfe, due to lower personnel costs. DD&A expense decreased $27.4 million as the decline in Seneca’s full cost pool depletion rate more than offset the impact of higher production. Seneca’s per unit DD&A decreased by $0.22 per Mcfe to $0.65 per Mcfe due mainly to a lower depletable fixed asset balance resulting from the ceiling test impairment charges recorded in fiscal 2016. LOE expense increased by $12.1 million in fiscal 2017, in-line with production growth, resulting in per unit LOE expense holding flat versus the prior year at $0.96 per Mcfe.

A decrease in Seneca’s effective tax rate increased the segment’s earnings by $10.6 million in fiscal 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate was due mostly to the impact on deferred taxes of Seneca's Atlantic Sunrise capacity discussed above, as well as an enhanced oil recovery tax credit related to Seneca’s California properties. This credit was applicable this year as a result of relatively low domestic crude oil prices.

Year End Proved Reserves

Seneca’s total proved natural gas and crude oil reserves at September 30, 2017 increased 17 percent to 2,154 Bcfe from 1,849 Bcfe at September 30, 2016. In fiscal 2017, Seneca recorded 391 Bcfe of proved reserve extensions and discoveries, primarily from Utica and Marcellus locations in Appalachia, and 111 Bcfe of net positive revisions, due mainly to higher natural gas and oil prices during the year. Seneca sold 22 Bcfe of proved reserves associated with 16 Marcellus and Utica wells located in non-core areas of the WDA during the fiscal year. The Company’s total proved reserve base is now 92 percent natural gas and 8 percent crude oil. Seneca’s total proved undeveloped reserves (“PUDs”) at the end of fiscal 2017 were 612 Bcfe, or 28 percent of total proved reserves.

Adjusting for sales and revisions, Seneca replaced 225 percent of its production in fiscal 2017, up from the 117 percent reserve replacement achieved in fiscal 2016. The year over year improvement was due mainly to the success of Seneca’s Utica Shale appraisal program in the WDA, increased development activity in the EDA where Seneca added a rig this past May, and the general shift to developing more 100 percent working interest wells in the WDA as activity on JDA locations is set to conclude in fiscal 2018.

Seneca’s consolidated finding and development (“F&D”) cost, excluding the impact of positive revisions that were largely related to an increase in natural gas and oil prices, was $0.60 per Mcfe in fiscal 2017, driven primarily by Utica and Marcellus shale extensions and discoveries that achieved a drill-bit F&D cost of $0.51 per Mcfe in Appalachia. The Company’s three-year average consolidated F&D cost was $0.98 per Mcfe, down $0.34 per Mcfe from the three-year average of $1.32 per Mcfe at the end of fiscal 2016.

Midstream Businesses

Pipeline and Storage Segment

The Pipeline and Storage segment’s operations are carried out by National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (“Supply Corporation”) and Empire Pipeline, Inc. (“Empire”). The Pipeline and Storage segment provides natural gas transportation and storage services to affiliated and non-affiliated companies through an integrated system of pipelines and underground natural gas storage fields in western New York and Pennsylvania.

The $3.0 million decrease in the Pipeline and Storage segment's fourth quarter earnings was primarily due to a decline in operating revenues and higher Operation and Maintenance (“O&M”) expense, offset partially by the impact of a lower effective income tax rate. Operating revenues decreased $3.7 million due to the scheduled reduction in Supply Corporation and Empire’s transportation rates that went into effect during the first quarter of fiscal 2017 resulting from their respective rate case settlements, lower reservation revenues resulting from recent contract terminations and restructurings, and a decline in short-term interruptible transportation service in the current quarter. O&M expense increased $3.4 million due mostly to costs associated with the overhaul of two compressor facilities and an increase in the reserve for preliminary engineering costs on projects in development.

The Pipeline and Storage segment’s fiscal 2017 earnings decreased $8.2 million from the prior year as lower operating revenues and higher O&M expenses were only partially offset by a decrease in DD&A expense and the impact of a lower effective income tax rate. Similar to the fourth quarter, operating revenues were negatively impacted by scheduled rate reductions related to Supply and Empire’s rate case settlements, as well as contract terminations and restructurings and lower demand for short-term interruptible transportation service. The increase in O&M expense was primarily due to higher personnel costs and an increase in compressor station maintenance expenses. DD&A expense decreased primarily due to Empire’s rate case settlement, which lowered the subsidiary’s depreciation rate.

Gathering Segment

The Gathering segment’s operations are carried out by National Fuel Gas Midstream Corporation’s subsidiary limited liability companies. The Gathering segment constructs, owns and operates natural gas gathering pipelines and compression facilities in the Appalachian region which currently delivers Seneca’s gross Appalachian production to the interstate pipeline system.

The Gathering segment’s fourth quarter earnings increased 5 percent versus the prior year due to higher operating revenues and a lower effective tax rate, partially offset by higher operating expenses. Operating revenues increased $1.4 million, or 6 percent, from the prior year due mostly to higher throughput. The Company transported 44.9 Bcf on its gathering systems in the fourth quarter, an increase of 2.3 Bcf, or 5 percent, from the prior year. O&M expense increased $1.3 million due to higher personnel costs and expenses associated with operating new gathering and compression assets placed in service during the past year.

The Gathering segment’s fiscal 2017 earnings increased $9.9 million, or 32 percent, versus the prior year due mainly to higher operating revenues, offset slightly by higher O&M and DD&A expenses. The growth in Seneca’s gross natural gas production in Appalachia, which includes production from Marcellus joint development locations, helped drive a 20 percent increase in throughput across the Company’s gathering systems during the year. O&M expense increased $2.8 million due to higher personnel and contract labor costs associated with the continued growth of the segment. DD&A expense increased due to higher gross plant in service during the year.

Downstream Businesses

Utility Segment

The Utility segment operations are carried out by National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (“Distribution”), which sells or transports natural gas to customers located in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

The Utility segment’s fourth quarter net loss increased $2.4 million from the prior year as an improvement in the segment’s operating loss was more than offset by higher interest expense, lower interest and other income, and the impact of a lower income tax benefit. The $1.5 million improvement in Distribution’s operating loss was largely attributable to the impact of new customer rates in Distribution’s New York service territory that went into effect following the rate case order issued in April as well as lower O&M expense. The decrease in interest and other income was primarily due to lower accrued interest income on regulatory reserve accounts, while interest expense was negatively impacted by a non-recurring regulatory adjustment that was recorded in the prior year.

For fiscal 2017, the Utility segment’s earnings decreased $4.0 million as higher utility margin (operating revenues less purchased gas costs) was more than offset by an increase in O&M, DD&A, and interest expenses and a decrease in interest and other income. Utility margin increased $9.2 million due mainly to an increase in normalized customer usage, the benefit of new customer rates in New York, and the impact of regulatory adjustments. O&M expense increased $6.1 million due mainly to higher personnel costs. DD&A expense increased $4.0 million due to higher average plant balances during the year, which was primarily driven by the replacement of Distribution’s customer information system that was placed in service in May of fiscal 2016.

Energy Marketing Segment

The Energy Marketing segment's operations are carried out by National Fuel Resources, Inc. (“NFR”). NFR markets natural gas to industrial, wholesale, commercial, public authority, and residential customers primarily in western and central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania, offering competitively priced natural gas to its customers.

The Energy Marketing segment's fourth quarter earnings decreased slightly versus the prior year, resulting in a net loss of $0.6 million, or $0.01 per share. For fiscal 2017, the $2.8 million decline in the Energy Marketing segment’s earnings was due largely to lower customer margins. NFR’s customer margins were negatively impacted by stronger natural gas prices at local purchase points relative to NYMEX-based customer sales contracts during the winter heating season.

Corporate and All Other

The Corporate and All Other category’s net loss of $2.8 million for the fourth quarter was relatively unchanged from the $3.0 million net loss in the prior year. For fiscal 2017, the Corporate and All Other category had a net loss of $3.1 million compared to a net loss of $0.5 million in the prior year. The $2.6 million increase in the net loss was primarily attributable to the non-recurrence of life insurance proceeds and the related tax benefits that were recognized in the prior year.

GUIDANCE

National Fuel is revising its fiscal 2018 earnings guidance to be within a range of $2.75 to $3.05 per share, or $2.90 per share at the midpoint of the range. The $0.40 per share decrease from the fiscal 2017 earnings of $3.30 per share is being driven primarily by lower expected price realizations after hedging on Seneca’s natural gas and oil production and higher expected operating costs at the Company’s regulated businesses, offset partially by the impact of normal weather on the Utility segment's earnings and an increase in projected natural gas production in Appalachia, which will benefit earnings for the Company’s Exploration and Production and Gathering segments.

Additional details on the Company's forecast assumptions and business segment guidance for fiscal 2018 are outlined in the table below.

EARNINGS TELECONFERENCE

The Company will host a conference call on Friday, November 3, 2017, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this announcement. There are two ways to access this call. For those with Internet access, visit the NFG Investor Relations News & Events page at National Fuel’s website at investor.nationalfuelgas.com. For those without Internet access, audio access is also provided by dialing (toll-free) 833-287-0795, using conference ID number “96083185.” For those unable to listen to the live conference call, an audio replay will be available approximately two hours following the teleconference at the same website link and by phone at (toll-free) 800-585-8367 using conference ID number “96083185.” Both the webcast and a telephonic replay will be available until the close of business on Friday, November 10, 2017.

National Fuel is an integrated energy company reporting financial results for five operating segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, Utility, and Energy Marketing. Additional information about National Fuel is available at www.nationalfuelgas.com.

Certain statements contained herein, including statements identified by the use of the words “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “believes,” “seeks,” “will,” “may” and similar expressions, and statements which are other than statements of historical facts, are “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The Company’s expectations, beliefs and projections contained herein are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that such expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished. In addition to other factors, the following are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements: delays or changes in costs or plans with respect to Company projects or related projects of other companies, including difficulties or delays in obtaining necessary governmental approvals, permits or orders or in obtaining the cooperation of interconnecting facility operators; governmental/regulatory actions, initiatives and proceedings, including those involving rate cases (which address, among other things, target rates of return, rate design and retained natural gas), environmental/safety requirements, affiliate relationships, industry structure, and franchise renewal; changes in laws, regulations or judicial interpretations to which the Company is subject, including those involving derivatives, taxes, safety, employment, climate change, other environmental matters, real property, and exploration and production activities such as hydraulic fracturing; impairments under the SEC’s full cost ceiling test for natural gas and oil reserves; changes in the price of natural gas or oil; financial and economic conditions, including the availability of credit, and occurrences affecting the Company’s ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments, including any downgrades in the Company’s credit ratings and changes in interest rates and other capital market conditions; factors affecting the Company’s ability to successfully identify, drill for and produce economically viable natural gas and oil reserves, including among others geology, lease availability, title disputes, weather conditions, shortages, delays or unavailability of equipment and services required in drilling operations, insufficient gathering, processing and transportation capacity, the need to obtain governmental approvals and permits, and compliance with environmental laws and regulations; increasing health care costs and the resulting effect on health insurance premiums and on the obligation to provide other post-retirement benefits; changes in price differentials between similar quantities of natural gas or oil sold at different geographic locations, and the effect of such changes on commodity production, revenues and demand for pipeline transportation capacity to or from such locations; other changes in price differentials between similar quantities of natural gas or oil having different quality, heating value, hydrocarbon mix or delivery date; the cost and effects of legal and administrative claims against the Company or activist shareholder campaigns to effect changes at the Company; uncertainty of oil and gas reserve estimates; significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual production levels for natural gas or oil; changes in demographic patterns and weather conditions; changes in the availability, price or accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments; changes in laws, actuarial assumptions, the interest rate environment and the return on plan/trust assets related to the Company’s pension and other post-retirement benefits, which can affect future funding obligations and costs and plan liabilities; changes in economic conditions, including global, national or regional recessions, and their effect on the demand for, and customers’ ability to pay for, the Company’s products and services; the creditworthiness or performance of the Company’s key suppliers, customers and counterparties; economic disruptions or uninsured losses resulting from major accidents, fires, severe weather, natural disasters, terrorist activities, acts of war, cyber attacks or pest infestation; significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual capital expenditures and operating expenses; or increasing costs of insurance, changes in coverage and the ability to obtain insurance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date thereof.