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 - July 31, 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 July 31, 2003, by Questar Corporation.

          Item 12.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition

          On July 31, 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)


July 31, 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 July 31, 2003, by Questar Corporation.

 

Exhibit 99.1

QUESTAR EARNINGS RISE 15% IN SECOND-QUARTER 2003

INTEGRATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY RAISES 2003 EARNINGS GUIDANCE

     SALT LAKE CITY - Questar Corp. (NYSE:STR) reported a 15% increase in net income for second-quarter 2003 compared with the year-earlier period due primarily to higher realized prices for non-regulated natural gas and oil production.

     The integrated natural gas company earned $33.9 million, or $.40 per diluted share, in the 2003 quarter compared with $29.4 million, or $.36 per share, in the prior-year period. Questar Market Resources (QMR), a nonregulated subsidiary that conducts gas and oil exploration, production and gathering, reported a $5 million, or 22%, year-to-year earnings improvement because of strong natural gas and oil selling prices.

     For the first six months of 2003, Questar's net income was $98.5 million, or $1.17 per share, compared with $64.2 million, or $.78 per share, in the first half of 2002. First-half 2003 results included a $.07-per-share noncash charge in the first quarter resulting from the cumulative effect of implementing SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations. This new accounting rule requires companies to record a liability for the anticipated costs of retiring long-lived assets. In first-quarter 2002, Questar's net income was reduced by a $.19-per-share cumulative effect of a change in accounting for goodwill.

     Excluding the one-time charges related to the new accounting rules, Questar earned $104.1 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, in first-half 2003 versus $79.5 million, or $.97 per share, in the comparable 2002 period.

     For the trailing 12 months ended June 30, 2003, Questar earned $189.9 million, or $2.28 per share, compared with $128.6 million, or $1.57 per share, for the comparable period ended June 30, 2002. Questar's consolidated return on equity for the 12 months ended June 30, 2003, was 16.6% while return on assets totaled 12.1%.

     There was an average of 83.9 million common diluted shares outstanding in the first six months of 2003 versus 82.5 million shares a year earlier.

     Keith O. Rattie, Questar chairman, president and CEO, said: "We're on track with our 2003 plan. We're off to a good start with our program to accelerate drilling at our Pinedale natural gas field. Our regulated businesses and our unique Wexpro gas-development subsidiary are delivering as expected. We are also setting the stage for 2004 by hedging a substantial portion of our proved-developed production at higher realized prices."

     Rattie said that if projected commodity prices remain at or near current levels through the remainder of 2003, Questar's earnings could range between $2.10 to $2.25 per share. This compares with the company's previous guidance of $2.05 to $2.20 per share.

     Commenting on the 2004 outlook, Rattie said, "We're not uncomfortable at this early stage with the First Call 2004 consensus earnings forecast of $2.35 per share, assuming natural gas prices remain at or near current levels. However, we are just now beginning to develop our detailed 2004 business plan, which will be reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors in late October. We will fine-tune our 2004 outlook when we issue our third-quarter results."

SECOND-QUARTER 2003 RESULTS

Nonregulated activities: higher commodity prices boos results

     QMR reported net income of $27.8 million in second-quarter 2003 compared with $22.8 million in the year-earlier period. Questar Exploration and Production, which conducts exploration and production operations in the Rockies and the Midcontinent, earned $17.4 million in the 2003 quarter versus $13.3 million a year earlier. The 2002 quarterly results included $900,000 in net income from a Canadian subsidiary that was sold in the fourth quarter of the year, a $2.8 million after-tax gain from a lawsuit settlement, and $1.1 million in Section 29 tax credits, which are no longer available after Dec. 31, 2002.

     QMR's average realized selling price for natural gas rose 44% to $3.66 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) compared with $2.55 per Mcf in the 2002 quarter. The 2003 results reflected higher natural gas prices and the significant narrowing of the Rockies' natural gas-basis differential following the May 1 start-up of a regional pipeline expansion. QMR received an average price of $22.45 per barrel for nonregulated oil and natural gas-liquids production, 9% higher than in the 2002 quarter.

     Nonregulated natural gas-equivalent production dropped 12% during the current-year quarter to 21.4 billion cubic feet equivalent (bcfe) versus 24.3 bcfe in the prior-year period. The decline was due primarily to the sale of the company's Canadian subsidiary and producing properties in the San Juan and Midcontinent regions of the U.S. in the second half of 2002. The company's production was expected to decline in the second quarter of 2003 because of winter-drilling restrictions on federal lands in the Rockies, including the Pinedale field. QMR said it remains on track to increase production from continuing operations 5 to 10% in 2003 to 88-92 bcfe.

     Wexpro, a QMR subsidiary that develops gas reserves on behalf of Questar's gas-distribution utility, earned $8.5 million in the second quarter of 2003, a $600,000 year-to-year improvement. Wexpro earns a specified return on its net investment in commercial wells. Wexpro's investment base increased to $160 million at the end of second-quarter 2003 compared with $159 million at the end of the first quarter of the year.

     QMR's gas-gathering, processing and marketing operations earned a combined $1.9 million in the 2003 quarter compared with $1.6 million for the comparable year-earlier quarter. Net income from QMR's share of Rendezvous Gas Services increased from $200,000 to $800,000 in the 2003 quarter compared with the year-earlier period. A QMR subsidiary, Questar Gas Management, is a 50% partner in Rendezvous, which provides gathering and processing services for the Pinedale and Jonah producing areas. Rendezvous will continue to benefit from growing gathering volumes from the Pinedale Anticline.

     During the second quarter, the company added to its hedge positions in the Rockies and the Midcontinent, which are summarized below.

Regulated Activities: customer growth remains strong

     Questar Regulated Services - which includes interstate transmission and storage and retail gas distribution - reported net income of $4.7 million during second-quarter 2003 versus $4.5 million a year earlier. Questar Pipeline -- an interstate gas-transmission and storage subsidiary --earned $7.3 million in the 2003 quarter versus $7.9 million in the comparable 2002 period. Increased operating and maintenance expense offset higher revenues from expanded transportation volumes. Questar Pipeline's total transportation volumes grew 14% to 93.6 million decatherms compared with a year earlier. The growth reflected the second-half 2002 start-up of the eastern zone of the Southern Trails Pipeline along with increased deliveries to the Kern River Pipeline expansion, which commenced operations on May 1 of this year.

     Questar Gas - which provides retail gas-distribution service in Utah, southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho - reduced its seasonal loss from $3.5 million in second-quarter 2002 to $2.8 million in the current-year period. The utility benefited from new general rates that went into effect Dec. 30, 2002, higher temperature-adjusted usage per customer and steady customer growth. Questar Gas served 749,794 customers at the end of the 2003 quarter, a one-year increase of 19,614 or 2.7%.

     Corporate and Other Operations reported net income of $1.4 million in second-quarter 2003 compared with $2.1 million in the year-earlier period due to lower margins on services provided to affiliates.

FIRST-HALF 2003 RESULTS

Higher commodity prices boost non-regulated results

     Questar Market Resources' net income for the first six months of 2003 was $56.7 million compared with $40.4 million for the 2002 period. Natural gas production declined 5% to 38.1 bcf while the average realized selling price was 44% higher at $3.59 per Mcf. Nonregulated oil and natural gas-liquids production decreased 23% to 1.1 million barrels - due primarily to 2002 property sales - while the average realized selling price improved 20% to $23.59 per barrel.

Regulated Activities

     Questar Regulated Services earned $38.4 million in the first half of 2003, a $2.1 million increase over the prior-year results. Questar Pipeline's net income was $15.3 million in the first half of 2003, the same as the 2002 result. The 2003 earnings were $1.1 million higher as a result of the 2002 sale of a subsidiary's 50% ownership of the TransColorado Pipeline. This was offset by higher operating and maintenance costs. Questar Gas's net income was $22.9 million in the current-year period compared with $20.7 million in the first half of 2002. The improvement resulted from new rates, higher usage per customer and customer growth.

     Corporate and Other Operations reported earnings of $3.4 million for the first six months of 2003. With the goodwill-accounting adjustment, the segment lost $12.5 million in the first half of 2002.

CURRENT HEDGE POSITIONS

     Gas hedges/2003

Bcf

Price per Mcf.,

net to well

     Rocky Mountains

          2nd half

18.8

$3.38

     Midcontinent

          2nd half

6.9

$4.00

     Total

          2nd half

25.7

$3.54

     Gas hedges/2004

Bcf

Price per Mcf,

net to well

     Rocky Mountains

          1st half

14.0

$3.63

          2nd half

14.2

$3.63

          Year

28.2

$3.63

     Midcontinent

          1st half

6.8

$4.56

          2nd half

6.8

$4.56

          Year

13.6

$4.56

     Total

          1st half

20.8

$3.93

          2nd half

21.0

$3.93

          Year

41.8

$3.93

     Oil hedges/2003

Mbbls

Price per bbl,

net to well

     Rocky Mountains

          2nd half

460

$21.68

     Midcontinent

          2nd half

92

$22.38

     Total

          2nd half

552

$21.80

     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.

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

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

QUESTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2003

2002

2003

2002

2003

2002

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

REVENUES

  Questar Market Resources

$ 155,980

$ 123,545

$ 369,173

$ 248,703

$ 642,946

$ 511,648

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

90,594

82,004

325,108

342,962

575,981

625,314

    Natural gas transmission

19,504

14,338

37,640

26,840

77,075

53,148

    Other

1,481

942

2,358

1,783

4,735

4,055

  Corporate and other operations

3,110

3,785

6,194

6,859

13,256

24,556

    TOTAL REVENUES

270,669

224,614

740,473

627,147

1,313,993

1,218,721

OPERATING EXPENSES

  Cost of natural gas and other products sold

69,959

47,558

271,300

226,086

440,956

449,915

  Operating and maintenance

68,211

65,125

142,048

139,155

287,210

286,680

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization

45,698

44,463

93,636

89,770

188,818

169,452

  Exploration

1,043

1,133

2,213

3,881

4,418

7,967

  Abandonment and impairment of gas,

    oil and other properties

492

749

975

1,055

11,103

3,631

  Production and other taxes

17,371

12,195

34,531

23,604

55,119

42,808

    TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

202,774

171,223

544,703

483,551

987,624

960,453

    OPERATING INCOME

67,895

53,391

195,770

143,596

326,369

258,268

Interest and other income

2,206

9,159

4,799

16,565

44,901

32,937

Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates

1,322

3,105

2,358

3,762

10,373

5,013

Minority interest

53

127

130

297

334

1,025

Debt expense

(17,512)

(20,362)

(36,428)

(40,398)

(77,151)

(75,309)

    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

      AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

53,964

45,420

166,629

123,822

304,826

221,934

Income taxes

20,052

16,049

62,515

44,299

109,342

77,988

    INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE

      EFFECTS

33,912

29,371

104,114

79,523

195,484

143,946

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

$   33,912

$   29,371

$   98,534

$   64,226

$   189,904

$ 128,649

BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

    Income before cumulative effects

$      0.41

$      0.36

$      1.27

$      0.98

$      2.38

$      1.77

    Cumulative effects

(0.07)

(0.19)

(0.07)

(0.19)

    Net income

$      0.41

$      0.36

$      1.20

$      0.79

$      2.31

$      1.58

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON     SHARE

      Income before cumulative effects

$      0.40

$      0.36

$      1.24

$      0.97

$      2.35

$      1.76

      Cumulative effects

(0.07)

(0.19)

(0.07)

(0.19)

      Net income

$      0.40

$      0.36

$      1.17

$      0.78

$      2.28

$      1.57

Weighted average common shares outstanding

    Used in basic calculation

82,678

81,754

82,453

81,672

82,166

81,601

    Used in diluted calculation

84,274

82,404

83,866

82,532

83,234

82,275

Dividends per common share

$    0.185

$      0.18

$      0.37

$      0.36

$     0.735

$    0.715

 

 

 

QUESTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

(Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2003

2002

2003

2002

2003

2002

(In Thousands)

FINANCIAL RESULTS

REVENUES FROM UNAFFILIATED CUSTOMERS

  Questar Market Resources

$ 155,980

$  123,545

$  369,173

$  248,703

$  642,946

$  511,648

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

90,594

82,004

325,108

342,962

575,981

625,314

    Natural gas transmission

19,504

14,338

37,640

26,840

77,075

53,148

    Other

1,481

942

2,358

1,783

4,735

4,055

      Total Regulated Services

111,579

97,284

365,106

371,585

657,791

682,517

  Corporate and other operations

3,110

3,785

6,194

6,859

13,256

24,556

$  270,669

$  224,614

$740,473

$627,147

$1,313,993

$1,218,721

REVENUES FROM AFFILIATED

  COMPANIES

  Questar Market Resources

$  29,957

$   28,939

$  56,406

$  56,910

$  106,143

$ 104,774

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

568

797

1,457

1,098

2,035

2,025

    Natural gas transmission

19,307

18,896

39,646

39,881

76,365

76,519

    Other

461

391

914

814

1,787

1,546

  Corporate and other operations

7,051

7,743

14,335

15,134

29,658

28,352

$   57,344

$   56,766

$  112,758

$  113,837

$  215,988

$  213,216

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

  Questar Market Resources

$   48,212

$   37,998

$   107,769

$   66,661

$  171,552

$  138,159

  Questar Regulated Services

    Natural gas distribution

(82)

(1,773)

48,624

43,117

75,861

58,178

    Natural gas transmission

17,290

14,967

35,575

30,708

71,052

60,090

    Other

271

(121)

358

(189)

206

(392)

       Total Regulated Services

17,479

13,073

84,557

73,636

147,119

117,876

  Corporate and other operations

2,204

2,320

3,444

3,299

7,698

2,233

       OPERATING INCOME

$  67,895

$   53,391

$  195,770

$  143,596

$  326,369

$  258,268

NET INCOME (LOSS)

  Questar Market Resources

$  27,776

$   22,817

$  61,825

$   40,419

$  119,335

$   82,574

  Questar Regulated Services

     Natural gas distribution

(2,818)

(3,509)

23,186

20,657

34,928

25,338

     Natural gas transmission

7,342

7,869

15,395

15,286

32,717

30,519

     Other

166

150

237

310

87

2,769

        Total Regulated Services

4,690

4,510

38,818

36,253

67,732

58,626

  Corporate and other operations

1,446

2,044

3,471

2,851

8,417

2,746

Income before cumulative effects of

     accounting changes

33,912

29,371

104,114

79,523

195,484

143,946

Cumulative effects

(5,580)

(15,297)

(5,580)

(15,297)

          NET INCOME

$   33,912

$   29,371

$  98,534

$  64,226

$ 189,904

$  128,649

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON     SHARE

      Income before cumulative effects

$      0.40

$      0.36

$      1.24

$      0.97

$      2.35

$      1.76

      Cumulative effects

(0.07)

(0.19)

(0.07)

(0.19)

      Net income

$      0.40

$      0.36

$      1.17

$      0.78

$      2.28

$      1.57

Weighted average diluted common shares

84,274

82,404

83,866

82,532

83,234

82,275

Dividends per common share

$    0.185

$      0.18

$      0.37

$      0.36

$     0.735

$    0.715

 

QUESTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

(Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2003

2002

2003

2002

2003

2002

(D = 10, M = 1,000)

OPERATING STATISTICS

QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES

  Production volumes - nonregulated

    Natural gas (in MMcf)

17,957

19,856

38,061

39,863

77,872

78,806

    Oil and natural gas liquids (in Mbbl)

568

736

1,140

1,483

2,421

2,966

    Total production (Bcfe)

21.4

24.3

44.9

48.8

92.4

96.6

    Average daily production (MMcfe)

235

267

248

269

253

265

  Average selling price, net to the well

  Average realized selling price (including hedges)

    Natural gas (per Mcf)

$3.66

$2.55

$3.59

$2.49

$3.12

$2.64

    Oil and natural gas liquids (per bbl)

$22.45

$20.60

$23.59

$19.72

$22.30

$18.89

  Average selling price (without hedges)

    Natural gas (per Mcf)

$4.34

$2.11

$4.27

$2.00

$3.29

$2.21

    Oil and natural gas liquids (per bbl)

$26.62

$22.92

$28.89

$20.80

$27.05

$20.78

  Marketing volumes in thousands of energy

    equivalent decatherms

16,900

20,111

38,211

42,576

79,451

86,815

  Natural gas gathering volumes (in MDth)

    For unaffiliated customers

28,031

28,220

56,357

56,846

111,716

101,964

    For Questar Gas

9,515

9,782

21,099

22,005

39,779

40,260

    For other affiliated customers

8,936

9,265

21,027

16,652

42,511

30,301

      Total gathering

46,482

47,267

98,483

95,503

194,006

172,525

    Gathering revenue (per Dth)

$0.20

$0.17

$0.20

$0.15

$0.18

$0.14

QUESTAR REGULATED SERVICES - NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION

  Natural gas volumes (in MDth)

    Residential and commercial sales

12,999

10,784

48,467

54,145

85,118

89,669

    Industrial sales

2,201

2,356

5,428

5,796

10,361

10,694

    Transportation for industrial customers

9,421

9,831

18,973

21,691

43,741

47,030

      Total deliveries

24,621

22,971

72,868

81,632

139,220

147,393

  Natural gas revenue (per Dth)

    Residential and commercial

$       5.82

$         6.01

$       6.01

$         5.61

$       5.99

$       6.12

    Industrial sales

$4.23

$4.33

$4.27

$4.64

$3.94

$4.86

    Transportation for industrial customers

$0.19

$0.17

$0.19

$0.16

$0.17

$0.14

  Heating degree days

      Colder (warmer) than normal

1%

(19%)

(9%)

12%

(5%)

7%

  Average temperature-adjusted usage per

    Customer (Dth)

17.2

16.3

69.3

67.2

118.3

118.4

  Number of customers at June 30,

    Residential and commercial

748,512

728,881

    Industrial

1,282

1,299

        Total

749,794

730,180

QUESTAR REGULATED SERVICES - NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION

Natural gas transportation volumes (in MDth)

    For unaffiliated customers

61,880

55,794

127,396

108,246

264,269

213,850

    For Questar Gas

26,188

25,922

65,720

77,267

100,145

123,094

    For other affiliated customers

5,526

744

9,203

1,297

13,950

6,184

      Total transportation

93,594

82,460

202,319

186,810

378,364

343,128

    Transportation revenue (per Dth)

$        0.27

$        0.26

$        0.25

$        0.23

$       0.26

$       0.24