Questar Corporation - 10Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT



Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report - April 30, 2003
(Date of earliest event reported)



QUESTAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


STATE OF UTAH
(State of other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

           1-8796
(Commission File No.)

                   87-0407509
                (I.R.S. Employer
               Identification No.)




P.O. Box 45433, 180 East 100 South Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0433
(Address of principal executive offices)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code (801) 324-5000


                                  Not Applicable                                  
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

          Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

                    (c)   Exhibits.

Exhibit No.

Exhibit

99.1

Release issued April 30, 2003, by Questar Corporation.

          Item 9.   Regulation FD Disclosure.

          On April 30, 2003, Questar Corporation issued a press release announcing its earnings for the first quarter of 2003. A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference.

SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

QUESTAR CORPORATION
  (Registrant)


April 30, 2003

/s/S. E. Parks

S. E. Parks
Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and
Chief Financial Officer

List of Exhibits:

Exhibit No.

Exhibit

99.1

Release issued April 30, 2003, by Questar Corporation.

 

Exhibit 99.1

QUESTAR NET INCOME RISES 85% IN FIRST-QUARTER 2003

     SALT LAKE CITY -- Questar Corp. (NYSE:STR) reported an 85% increase in net income for the first three months of 2003 compared with the 2002 period, reflecting higher nonregulated natural gas and oil prices and improved results from regulated businesses.

 

     The integrated natural gas company earned $64.6 million, or $.77 per diluted share, in first-quarter 2003 after a $.07-per-share noncash charge resulting from the cumulative effect of implementing SFAS 143. Under this new accounting rule for recording asset-retirement obligations, the company must record a liability for anticipated costs of retiring long-lived assets. In comparison, Questar earned $34.9 million, or $.42 per diluted share, in the first-quarter 2002 after a $.19 per-share cumulative effect of a change in accounting for goodwill.

     Excluding the nonrecurring cumulative effect of accounting changes in both years, Questar earned $70.2 million, or $.84 per diluted share, in first-quarter 2003, 40% higher than the $50.2 million, or $.61 per diluted share, earned in the comparable year-earlier period.

     There was an average of 83.5 million common diluted shares outstanding in the 2003 period versus 82.3 million shares a year earlier.

     Keith O. Rattie, Questar president and CEO, said: "Higher natural gas and oil prices, strong nonregulated production volumes, and improving returns on capital in our regulated businesses drove our first-quarter results. Significantly, Rockies natural gas production was up 20% year on year, essentially offsetting the impact of sales of noncore producing properties in the second half of 2002.

     "As a result, we're increasing earnings guidance for 2003," Rattie said. "We now project that 2003 earnings should range between $2.05 and $2.20 per share (previous guidance was $1.95 to $2.10 per share). The higher guidance is based on current gas- and oil-hedge positions, and assumes prices for unhedged natural gas production at or near levels reflected in the forward-price curves at the close of business Tuesday, April 29." Rattie said the 2003 guidance excludes the cumulative impact of adopting SFAS 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations."

     "More importantly, we're on track with our plans to accelerate our drilling program on the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming," Rattie said. "We now plan to drill and complete about 25 wells at Pinedale in 2003 - ramping up to 30 to 35 wells in 2004 - compared with an average of 15 wells per year in 2000-2002."

     The Questar president said all 2003 Pinedale wells will test both the Lance and the deeper Mesaverde formations. Each new Pinedale well is projected to add about 8 billion cubic feet equivalent (bcfe) of gross reserves, with first-month average gross sales volumes of 4-6 million cubic feet of gas per day. "To reduce the environmental impact, we will drill multiple wells from a single pad where possible," Rattie said. "We will also centralize production facilities, where possible, to minimize road construction and other surface impacts.

     "The net effect of this revised plan is a 'win-win' for Questar and the environment - accelerated cash flow and earnings from Pinedale, with significantly less impact on wildlife and habitat. We'll begin to see the production and earnings contribution of Pinedale acceleration in the second half of 2003, but the primary impact will be in 2004 and beyond," Rattie said.

Nonregulated Activities

     Questar Market Resources (QMR), a subsidiary that conducts gas and oil exploration and production, gas gathering and other nonregulated activities, earned $28.9 million in the 2003 quarter versus $17.6 million a year earlier. The 2003 number included a $5.2 million reduction for the cumulative effect of the accounting change.

     Nonregulated natural gas production totaled 20.1 billion cubic feet (bcf) in the 2003 period compared with 20 bcf a year earlier. A 20% increase from Rockies producing areas offset the impact of the 2002 sales of a Canadian production subsidiary and other nonstrategic properties. Oil and natural gas liquids production declined 23% to 572,000 barrels in first-quarter 2003, primarily due to the Canadian sale. On an energy-equivalent basis, QMR's first-quarter 2003 nonregulated production was 23.5 bcfe compared with 24.5 bcfe in the year-earlier period.

     QMR's average realized selling price of natural gas, net to the wellhead, was $3.52 per Mcf in the 2003 quarter compared with $2.44 in the prior-year period. The average realized price for nonregulated oil and natural gas liquids rose 31% year on year to $24.71 per barrel, net to the well, in the 2003 period. QMR's results were negatively affected by the Dec. 31, 2002, expiration of Section 29 gas-development tax credits, which contributed net income of $1.1 million in first-quarter 2002.

     QMR's depreciation, depletion and amortization rate was $.92 per thousand cubic feet equivalent (Mcfe) in first-quarter 2003 compared with $.89 per Mcfe in the 2002 quarter.

     Wexpro, a QMR subsidiary that develops gas properties on behalf of Questar's gas-distribution utility, reported net income of $7.6 million in first quarter 2003, the same as the prior-year period. The 2003 results included a $600,000 charge for the cumulative effect of the accounting change. Wexpro earns a specified return on the net investment in commercial wells drilled on behalf of Questar Gas. The net investment base was $159.3 million at the end of first-quarter 2003 versus $163 million a year earlier.

     Questar Gas Management (QGM), a QMR subsidiary that conducts gas gathering and processing activities, earned $3.6 million in the 2003 quarter compared with $1.4 million a year ago. Gathering volumes increased 8% to 52 million decatherms (dth) in the 2003 quarter with expanded deliveries from the Uinta Basin in eastern Utah and the Pinedale-Jonah region in western Wyoming. QGM is also a 50% partner in Rendezvous Gas Services, which provides gathering and processing services for Pinedale-Jonah producers. Net income from QMR's energy-marketing activities in the 2003 quarter rose to $1.7 million compared with $300,000 a year earlier.

Regulated Activities

     Net income for Questar Gas - a retail gas-distribution utility - increased from $24.2 million in first-quarter 2002 to $25.7 million in the 2003 period. Primary factors in the increase were new rates that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2003, customer additions, and higher usage per customer. The cumulative effect of the 2003 accounting change resulted in a $300,000 charge.

     Questar Gas added 18,212 customers in the 12 months ended March 31, 2003 - a 2.5% growth rate. Usage per customer on a temperature-adjusted basis rose 2.4% in the 2003 quarter over the prior-year period. In first-quarter 2003, the utility incurred increased depreciation expense due to system growth and moderately higher pension and benefit costs.

     Questar Pipeline, which operates a gas-transmission and storage system in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, reported first-quarter 2003 net income of $7.9 million compared with $7.4 million in the 2002 period. The cumulative effect of the 2003 accounting change was $100,000.

     Questar Pipeline's total transportation volumes grew 4% to 108.7 million dth with the mid-year 2002 service commencement of the company's Questar Southern Trails Pipeline. Transportation on behalf of Questar Gas declined 23% year to year because temperatures in the utility's service area were 11% warmer than normal compared with 21% colder than normal in the 2002 quarter.

     Questar Pipeline's net income also benefited from lower legal expenses due to the settlement of TransColorado Pipeline litigation.

Corporate and Other Operations

     Corporate and Other Operations generated net income of $2 million in first-quarter 2003 versus a $14.5 million loss in the year-earlier quarter, which included a $15.3 million charge related to a change in accounting for goodwill.

Hedge positions (see attached table for regional breakdown)

     Total 2003 nonregulated natural gas, oil and natural-gas liquids production is projected at 88 to 92 bcfe.

     Questar Market Resources has price hedges averaging $3.44 per Mcf, net to the well, on 37.2 bcf of proved-developed gas production from April 1 to Dec. 31, 2003. QMR has hedged 825,000 barrels of 2003 oil production at an average price of $21.80 per barrel, net to the well, in the April-December period.

     Approximately 31.7 bcf of 2004 proved-developed gas production is hedged at an average price of $3.70 per Mcf, net to the well. There are no hedges to date on 2004 oil production.

     Questar is an integrated natural gas company headquartered in Salt Lake City with total assets of $3.1 billion. Through subsidiaries, it engages in gas and oil development and production; gas gathering, processing and marketing; interstate gas transmission and storage; retail gas distribution; retail energy services; and information systems and technologies.

Forward-looking Statements

     This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections, which are subject to a wide range of uncertainties and business risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated are discussed in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002. Subject to the requirements of otherwise applicable law, the company cannot be expected to update the statements contained in this news release or take actions described herein or otherwise currently planned.

CURRENT HEDGE POSITIONS

     Gas hedges/2003

Bcf

Price per Mcf.,

net to well

     Rocky Mountains

          2nd qtr

9.0

$3.16

          2nd half

17.0

$3.21

          Apr - Dec

26.0

$3.19

     Midcontinent

          2nd qtr

4.3

$4.02

          2nd half

6.9

$4.00

          Apr - Dec

11.2

$4.00

     Total

          2nd qtr

13.3

$3.44

          2nd half

23.9

$3.44

          Apr - Dec

37.2

43.44

     Gas hedges/2004

Bcf

Price per Mcf,

net to well

     Rocky Mountains

          1st half

10.6

$3.41

          2nd half

10.8

$3.41

          Year

21.4

$3.41

     Midcontinent

          1st half

5.1

$4.30

          2nd half

5.2

$4.30

          Year

10.3

$4.30

     Total

          1st half

15.7

$3.70

          2nd half

16.0

$3.70

          Year

31.7

$3.70

     Oil hedges/2003

Mbbls

Price per bbl,

net to well

     Rocky Mountains

          2nd qtr

228

$21.68

          2nd half

460

$21.68

          Apr - Dec

688

$21.68

     Midcontinent

          2nd qtr

45

$22.38

          2nd half

92

$22.38

          Apr - Dec

137

$22.38

     Total

          2nd qtr

273

$21.80

          2nd half

552

$21.80

          Apr - Dec

825

$21.80

For more information, visit Questar's internet site at: www.questar.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUESTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2003

2002

2003

2002

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

REVENUES

  Questar Market Resources

$  213,193

$  125,158

$  610,511

$  540,160

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

234,514

260,958

567,391

653,169

    Natural gas transmission

18,136

12,502

71,909

51,062

    Other

877

841

4,196

4,228

  Corporate and other operations

3,084

3,074

13,931

30,626

    TOTAL REVENUES

469,804

402,533

1,267,938

1,279,245

OPERATING EXPENSES

  Cost of natural gas and other products sold

201,341

178,528

418,555

522,381

  Operating and maintenance

73,837

74,030

284,124

281,526

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization

47,938

45,307

187,583

161,236

  Exploration

1,170

2,748

4,508

8,667

  Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil

    and other properties

483

306

11,360

4,927

  Production and other taxes

17,160

11,409

49,943

46,582

    TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

341,929

312,328

956,073

1,025,319

    OPERATING INCOME

127,875

90,205

311,865

253,926

Interest and other income

2,593

7,406

51,854

27,535

Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates

1,036

657

12,156

702

Minority interest

77

170

408

1,450

Debt expense

(18,916)

(20,036)

(80,001)

(69,277)

    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

      AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

112,665

78,402

296,282

214,336

Income taxes

42,463

28,250

105,339

75,258

INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

70,202

50,152

190,943

139,078

    Cumulative effect of accounting change

    for asset retirement obligations, net of

    income taxes of $3,331

(5,580)

(5,580)

    Cumulative effect of accounting change

    for goodwill, net of $2,010 attributed to

    minority interest

(15,297)

(15,297)

        NET INCOME

$   64,622

$   34,855

$  185,363

$  123,781

BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

    Income before cumulative effects

$     0.86

$     0.62

$     2.33

$     1.71

    Cumulative effects

(0.07)

(0.19)

(0.07)

(0.19)

    Net income

$     0.79

$     0.43

$     2.26

$     1.52

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

    Income before cumulative effects

$     0.84

$     0.61

$     2.30

$     1.70

    Cumulative effects

(0.07)

(0.19)

(0.07)

(0.19)

    Net income

$     0.77

$     0.42

$     2.23

$     1.51

Weighted average common shares outstanding

    Used in basic calculation

82,222

81,586

81,972

81,441

    Used in diluted calculation

83,453

82,257

82,903

82,191

Dividends per common share

$     0.185

$     0.18

$     0.73

$    0.71

 

 

 

QUESTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

(Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2003

2002

2003

2002

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

FINANCIAL RESULTS

REVENUES FROM UNAFFILIATED CUSTOMERS

  Questar Market Resources

$  213,193

$  125,158

$  610,511

$  540,160

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

234,514

260,958

567,391

653,169

    Natural gas transmission

18,136

12,502

71,909

51,062

    Other

877

841

4,196

4,228

      Total Regulated Services

253,527

274,301

643,496

708,459

    Corporate and other operations

3,084

3,074

13,931

30,626

$  469,804

$  402,533

$1,267,938

$1,279,245

REVENUES FROM AFFILIATED COMPANIES

  Questar Market Resources

$  26,449

$  27,971

$  105,125

$  100,520

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

889

301

2,264

2,074

    Natural gas transmission

20,339

20,985

75,954

76,283

    Other

453

423

1,717

1,547

  Corporate and other operations

7,284

7,391

30,350

29,788

$   55,414

$   57,071

$  215,410

$  210,212

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

  Questar Market Resources

$   59,557

$   28,663

$  161,338

$  134,929

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

48,706

44,890

74,170

59,945

    Natural gas transmission

18,285

15,741

68,729

60,027

    Other

87

(68)

(186)

(235)

      Total Regulated Services

67,078

60,563

142,713

119,737

    Corporate and other operations

1,240

979

7,814

(740)

       OPERATING INCOME

$ 127,875

$  90,205

$  311,865

$  253,926

NET INCOME

  Questar Market Resources

$   34,049

$   17,602

$ 114,376

$   80,392

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

26,004

24,166

34,237

26,319

    Natural gas transmission

8,053

7,417

33,244

29,501

    Other

71

160

71

2,803

      Total Regulated Services

34,128

31,743

67,552

58,623

    Corporate and other operations

2,025

807

9,015

63

Income before cumulative effects of

  accounting changes

   70,202

   50,152

  190,943

  139,078

Cumulative effects

(5,580)

(15,297)

(5,580)

(15,297)

      NET INCOME

$  64,622

$   34,855

$  185,363

$  123,781

 

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED

  Income before cumulative effects

$    0.84

$    0.61

$    2.30

$    1.70

  Cumulative effects

(0.07)

(0.19)

(0.07)

(0.19)

  Net income

$    0.77

$    0.42

$    2.23

$    1.51

Weighted average diluted common shares

83,453

82,257

82,903

82,191

Dividends per common share

$     0.185

$     0.18

$     0.73

$    0.71

 

 

 

 

QUESTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

(Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2003

2002

2003

2002

(D = 10, M = 1,000)

QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES

  Production volumes

    Natural gas (in MMcf)

20,104

20,007

79,771

74,794

    Oil and natural gas liquids (in Mbbl)

572

747

2,589

2,752

     Total production (Bcfe)

23.5

24.5

95.3

91.3

    Average daily production (MMcfe)

262

272

261

250

  Average selling price, net to the well

  Average realized selling price (including hedges)

    Natural gas (per Mcf)

$3.52

$2.44

$2.86

$2.80

    Oil and natural gas liquids (per bbl)

$24.71

$18.85

$21.79

$18.71

  Average selling price (without hedges)

    Natural gas (per Mcf)

$4.21

$1.89

$2.76

$2.69

    Oil and natural gas liquids (per bbl)

$31.14

$18.70

$25.96

$21.08

  Marketing volumes in energy equivalent

    Decatherms (in MDth)

21,311

22,465

82,662

90,228

  Natural gas gathering volumes (in MDth)

    For unaffiliated customers

28,325

28,625

111,905

98,269

    For Questar Gas

11,583

12,223

40,045

39,173

    For other affiliated customers

12,092

7,387

42,841

27,637

      Total gathering

52,000

48,235

194,791

165,079

    Gathering revenue (per Dth)

$0.19

$0.13

$0.17

$0.13

QUESTAR REGULATED SERVICES - NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION

  Natural gas volumes (in MDth)

  Residential and commercial sales

35,468

43,361

82,903

90,307

  Industrial sales

3,227

3,440

10,516

10,857

  Transportation for industrial customers

9,552

11,860

44,151

51,770

    Total deliveries

48,247

58,661

137,570

152,934

  Natural gas revenues (per Dth)

    Residential and commercial

$6.08

$5.51

$6.01

$6.35

    Industrial sales

$4.30

$4.85

$3.96

$5.02

    Transportation for industrial customers

$0.19

$0.15

$0.16

$0.13

  Heating degree days

      Colder (warmer) than normal

(11%)

21%

(8%)

7%

  Average temperature adjusted usage

    per customer (Dth)

52.1

50.9

118.6

118.9

  Number of customers at December 31,

    Residential and commercial

752,148

733,907

    Industrial

1,286

1,315

      Total

753,434

735,222

QUESTAR REGULATED SERVICES - NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION

  Natural gas transportation volumes (in MDth)

   For unaffiliated customers

65,516

52,452

258,183

205,628

    For Questar Gas

39,532

51,345

99,879

122,918

    For other affiliated customers

3,677

553

9,168

5,534

      Total transportation

108,725

104,350

367,230

334,080

    Transportation revenue (per Dth)

$0.23

$0.21

$0.27

$0.24