Texas Pacific Land Corporation

Greetings and welcome to the Texas Pacific Land Corporation fourth quarter 2024 earnings call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Sean Amini with the VESA Relations. Thank you. You may begin.

Thank you for joining us today for Texas Pacific Land Corporation's fourth quarter 2024 earnings conference call. Yesterday afternoon, the company released its financial results and filed its Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is available on the Investors section of the company's website at .texaspacific.com. As a reminder, remarks made on today's conference call may include forelooking statements. Forelooking statements are subject to risk uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed today. We do not undertake any obligation to update our forelooking statements in light of new information or future events. For a more detailed discussion of the factors that may affect the company's results, please refer to our earnings release for this quarter and to our recent SEC filings. During this call, we will also be discussing certain non-GAAP financial measures. For this quarter's conference call, more information and reconciliations about these non-GAAP financial measures are contained in our earnings release and SEC filings. Please also know we may at times refer to our company by its stock ticker, TPL. This morning's conference call is hosted by TPL Chief Executive Officer Ty Glover and TPL Chief Financial Officer Chris Stedem. Management will make some prepared comments, after which we will open the call for questions. Now I will turn the call over to Ty.

Good morning everyone and thank you for joining us today. Fourth quarter closed a remarkable year as TPL set records across nearly every key operating driver despite sideways crude oil and natural gas prices. Year over year, 2024 oil and gas royalty production volumes increased 14%. Water sales volumes increased 31%. And produced water royalty volumes increased 37%. With all three of those performance indicators representing corporate records. Our strategic investments into people, technology and infrastructure are paying major dividends as our surface and water revenues were collectively up 23% year over year. In addition, last year we acquired over $400 million of high quality Hermian mineral royalty water and surface assets, providing TPL with additional growth lever. The cumulative impact of all these successes culminated in record shareholder return of capital in 2024 with a combined $376 million return via dividends and buybacks. It was very simply a great year. I'd like to focus my prepared comments today on three topics. First, a debrief on the Hermian during 2024 and an outlook for this year. Second, a description of our latest efforts towards next generation opportunities. And lastly, an update on our produced water desalination

and beneficial reuse endeavors. Starting with the permanent, despite a

steady decline in rigs throughout 2024, permanent oil and gas production exited last year at record highs. According to Baker Hughes, permanent horizontal rigs peaked at around 345 in the first half of 2023. Which then declined to about 300 entering 2024 and exit of the year around 290. However, as the industry has demonstrated time and again, operators continue to find efficiencies through innovations such as longer laterals and multi formation co-development. Based on preliminary industry data on a full year basis, despite the average rig count in the permanent being down about 8% from 2023, the number of sputted wells was down only 2%. Furthermore, well laterals were approximately 5% longer year over year, which translated into 2024, having approximately 3%, more drilled lateral feed compared to 2023. The net of all this, permanent production still managed to grow approximately mid single digit percentage exit to exit from fourth quarter 2023 to fourth quarter 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, we see a constructive outlook for the permanent fourth quarter 2024 new permits basin wide were up approximately 20% year over year on a simple count basis and up 24% year over year on a total lateral feed basis. The Matterhorn pipeline coming into service has helped to ease the bottleneck on natural gas takeaway, which should help reduce basin differentials and improve price realizations. This is especially meaningful for the Delaware basin, where gas and NGL production splits in certain sub regions can in aggregate represent over 60% of a wells energy content. We still see a healthy inventory basin wide of drilled but uncompleted wells, otherwise known as ducts, where we estimate current duck counts of less than two years of age to be roughly equivalent with levels from 2023 and 2022. Current permanent rate counts should be able to generate growth assuming new spuds are turned to sales on normal development cadence and not used to build excess duck inventory. Of course, permanent development and production will still be heavily influenced by the price of oil and the ultimate path of crude oil prices over the course of 2025 will likely dictate whether activity accelerates or slows down. Next, I'd like to discuss TPL's efforts beyond our legacy oil and gas business. Over the last few quarters, we've seen a robust increase in interest towards the development of data centers, power generation and grid infrastructure. As we've discussed in the past, the Permian's vast hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon resources make it an attractive option for developing energy intensive assets. Our years long efforts to attract substations, renewable projects, battery storage and other infrastructure combined with our leading source water network, our emerging produced water desalination technology and our sizable oil and gas royalty position has positioned TPL to take advantage of emerging opportunities. We believe that just owning the land itself is not sufficient to create durable incremental value. Rather, by also bringing other major elements such as high spec fresh water, access to grid infrastructure and availability of hydrocarbon and renewable energy, we can participate in the value chain as these next gen industries emerge and capture commensurate value as they grow and mature. Our approach to these new opportunities is not unlike our approach to the Delaware basin water business nearly a decade ago. Back then at TPL, we saw a budding business opportunity with an uncertain competitive landscape and fragmentation among developers and operators. We ultimately executed on a strategy to exploit TPL's latent advantages. We moved away from the liquidation model that the trust and employees for over a century and instead proactively hired experienced personnel and invested growth capital. We're just as willing today to commit resources to these potential new opportunities, especially in domains where TPL has a competitive advantage. We continue to make progress on this front and we will share more as we reach certain milestones. Turning to our produce water desalination and beneficial reuse endeavors, we have begun construction of our 10,000 barrel per day test facility, which we refer to as phase 2B. Equipment is currently being assembled at our manufacturing partners facility, which is located in the US. The desalination equipment will be commissioned and tested there and once it satisfies specifications, it will be sent to Orla, Texas for final installation. We still expect completion of this facility in the middle of this year. We expect the total cost of phase 2B to be approximately $25 million, having spent approximately $7 million in 2024 for the remaining balance to be spent this year. We also have an option for a behind the grid gas to electric generation that would be tied into a nearby pipeline, which would require additional capital investment of approximately $10 million. In addition, our engineers are studying various costs and efficiency opportunities as our freeze desalination process provides potential synergies as co-located with other industrial or power generation facilities. In advance of the completion of our phase 2B desalination facility that will produce both fresh water and a concentrated brine solution, we are advancing with multiple beneficial reuse initiatives. We expect to receive our second land application permit from the Texas Railroad Commission for an approximate 100-acre plot in Orla, Texas where we plan to undertake a restoration project to restore native brush grasses, reintroduce quail to the area that will be irrigated with fresh water produced from our desalination system. This plot itself would be able to accommodate the entire fresh water output from our phase 2B desalination facility. Additionally, early last year we submitted an application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, otherwise known by its acronym TCEQ, to discharge treated desalinated produce water into the upper region of the Pecos River. That technical review is progressing and we have been responsive to questions and requests from regulators. We hope to have that permit this year. We are also looking to leverage the ability to source substantial quantities of highly purified desalinated fresh water or ice that might be a critical resource for various industrial uses. Finally, I want to thank all the employees here at TPL. Not many energy companies can claim that fiscal year 2024 was their best year ever, but for TPL it was, and that is owed to the dedication, collegiality, and talent of our employees. With that, I will hand the call over to Chris.

Thanks, Ty. For full year 2024, we generated record free cash flow of approximately $461 million, which represents an 11% -over-year increase. Full year performance benefited from higher daily oil and gas royalty production, which increased 14% -over-year, higher water sales daily volumes, which increased 31%, and higher produced water royalty daily volumes, which increased 37%. Of the approximately 26,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day for full year 2024 royalty production, acquisitions that closed last August and October contributed approximately 1,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Consolidated results were partially offset by lower realized oil and natural gas prices, which declined -over-year by 2% and 48%, respectively. Consolidated revenues during the fourth quarter of 2024 were approximately $186 million. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $161 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 87%. Diluted earnings per share was $5.14. Fourth quarter 2024 royalty production of approximately 29,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day represents an 11% increase compared to the same period last year and a 3% increase sequentially as activity remains robust in our Loving County, Central Midland Basin, and Northern Rees County subregions. Quarterly produced water royalty volumes grew 8% sequentially and 44% -over-year to approximately 4 million barrels per day, benefiting from our new volumes into our -of-basin pore space in Andrews County that we acquired in 2023. Source water sales volumes of 737,000 barrels per day grew 2% sequentially and 42% -over-year, with demand for treated water especially strong during the quarter. As of quarter end, we had 6.4 net permitted wells, 13.2 net ducks, and 3.0 net completed but not producing wells. That amounts to 22.6 net -of-sight inventory. We believe this level of near-term inventory can support near and medium-term production growth above overall Permian production growth. Permit and spud activity have been especially strong in our Culberson County royalty acreage. The top six companies operating on our ducks are currently Chevron, Cotera, Exxon, Oxi, BP, and EOG, which in aggregate represent approximately 71% of TPL's total ducks. With regard to capital allocation, in 2024 we deployed a record amount of capital towards highly accretive M&A while simultaneously investing in our water business and returning a record amount of cash back to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Looking ahead to this year, because of our high margin business model, fortress balance sheet, massive Permian royalty and surface acreage footprint, talented commercial team, and innovative engineers and scientists, we have both the financial wherewithal and opportunity to invest across numerous avenues toward generating long-term value while also returning substantial cash back to shareholders. Yesterday, we announced a regular dividend of $1.60 per share, which represents a 37% -over-year increase. We expect capital expenditures in fiscal year 2025 to be approximately $65 to $75 million. This includes approximately $28 million for our produced water desalination and co-located gas generation. The balance of CAPEX for the year is primarily for our brackish source and treated water business. CAPEX toward the higher end of the range would be predicated on growth opportunities should upstream activity ramp in and around our footprint. With respect to M&A, we still see ample opportunity to consolidate Permian minerals, royalties, water, and surface assets. Our focus remains on assets that are at least as good or better quality than our legacy asset base, and any acquisition would be intentioned on enhancing and maximizing intrinsic value per share. Acquisitions over the last couple of years serve as a good example of what this M&A growth lever can provide shareholders. The minerals and royalties we purchased last year are contributing a double-digit percentage uplift to production while also substantially augmenting our near-term and long-term well inventory. Acreage and pore space acquisitions in Andrews and Winkler County are already driving significant produced water volume growth, and these assets are especially critical towards providing the industry with -of-base and disposal options. Recall last year we announced the target cash and cash equivalence balance of approximately $700 million where above this level, TPL will seek to deploy the majority of its free cash flow toward share repurchases and dividends. Our balance sheet still has zero debt, and our current cash and cash equivalence balance at year end was approximately $370 million. Though I would add, nothing precludes us from accelerating shareholder return of capital, even if we're under that $700 million level. In summary, we'll continue to be thoughtful and opportunistic with our capital allocation as we remain focused on maximizing shareholder value. The legacy business is performing incredibly well. We have a multitude of exciting growth opportunities in front of us, and we have the team, business strength, and balance sheet to execute. And with that, operator, we will now take questions.

Thank you. We will now conduct a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your lines in the question queue. You may press star 2 if you would like to remove yourself from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. Once again, that's star 1 at this time. One moment while we poll for our first question. Our first question comes from Derek Whitfield with Texas Capital. Please proceed.

Good morning, Ty and Kristen. Congrats on your progress during 2024.

Thanks, Derek. Good morning.

Also, certainly thanks for the update on water and for the next-gen opportunities you guys are discussing. Maybe start in there and reference in page 33 of your presentation. Could you further elaborate on the potential de-sal synergies with Behind the Meter Power Generation and data centers and how advanced your discussions are on this opportunity?

Yeah, sure. Robert, you want to take that one?

Sure. You know, I think when you look at all the ingredients that are required for a data center and, you know, the growth of data centers, not just in the Permian, but across Texas, you know, power constraints are being felt everywhere. When you say that and when you look at the synergies and the ingredients that it takes and what the Permian has, it truly is, you know, a transformational opportunity to do it. The -the-grid generation, the C data centers come to West Texas. It's going to take -the-grid generation. And then when you look at the synergies as waste heat capture off of that generation for use in de-sal is pretty tremendous. And then also just the water component, the water component of, you know, the look at the synergies of, you know, we've got too much water in the Permian in the form of produced water. And then the demand that these data centers need and tying all three of those together is truly a

tremendous opportunity. Great. Yeah, that makes complete sense. And then maybe staying

with you, Robert, just on the de-sal opportunities, is the goal still 75% volume reclamation, 75% analyte removal at a cost of 75%? And I guess further now, the benefit of another year of assessment and your progress with phase two, how confident are you guys in achieving that 75 cent per barrel treatment cost with a commercial scale facility?

You know, with all treatment scale takes to get to that point, you know, I'll take it kind of 70, each 75 as you go. We're on track on the first two, the 75% volume reduction with 75%. We're trending toward that. And again, mentioned in the call is, you know, that's the testing we're doing right now in North Carolina. When you look at the 75% cost, you know, outside of just scale to get there. And we see that scale in that economy, the scale that's required even our traditional treatment use for hydraulic fracturing. The bulk of that 75 cents for any de-sal technology comes from the energy consumption that's required. You know, and you try to base that at first in a kilowatt per hour, assuming that you're going to tie in to line power. And again, it goes even more toward the benefits of going to the nat gas generation. Being able to get that kilowatt per hour cost down via gas and in-field gas feed and the generation feed, the 75% is 100% achievable. But we're trending toward all three.

That's great. And perhaps for Ty or Chris, I mean, in the press release, you guys mentioned a compelling opportunity to consolidate enormous yet fragmented market for oil and gas, realty, surface and water assets. Where are you seeing the greatest opportunities today between realties and

surface? Yeah, I mean, honestly,

the deal pipeline looks really good. The landscape for 25 looks very good. And we've been looking at quite a few opportunities both on the surface and mineral side. So, you know, it seems like there are more opportunities for both on the landscape for 25 than we've seen in the past. And I think we're going to get the chance to look at a lot of really high quality opportunities. And, you know, there seem to be some larger higher quality packages starting to come available. So, you know, we are very excited about the landscape as far as acquisitions and across surface mineral and the water space as well.

Terrific. And perhaps thinking about things from a macro perspective with the recent change in administration, could the Trump administration make any federal changes in policy which could open up greater amounts of pore space in New Mexico that would be attractive for to industry given the depths of SWD wells in New Mexico in general?

Maybe repeat

the last half of that question, Derek. Sorry. Sure.

So, could the Trump administration make any changes in federal policy which could open up greater amounts of pore space in New Mexico and federal lands that would be attractive to industry given the depths of SWD wells in New Mexico in general?

I guess it's possible I'm not aware of anything coming down the pipeline that is going to help New Mexico from a regulatory standpoint as far as disposals. Robert, I don't know if you are. Do you

have anything to add there? I don't. And, you know, that would be, again, not aware of anything. That would be a piece we haven't seen to date. But I would say, you know, even beyond any regulatory changes, you know, just the need for an alternative in water, you know, that's outside of disposal is going to come just from a functional standpoint, even beyond a regulatory standpoint. But I'm not aware of anything.

I think those changes would likely be more state level than Fed level.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the wells, generally speaking, on the Mexico side, aside from the regulatory link maybe that would require or more length it would require from a timing process, those are about 50% more expensive in general, as I understand. Is that the right zip code?

I assume you're referring to the deeper disposal. That's correct. The deeper disposal is, I would say, even greater than 50%. But you've seen a pullback in New Mexico. You know, you saw a pullback on the shallow disposal, you know, seven, eight years ago. You saw a pullback more recent in the last two to three years that has really seen the overall, you know, disposal capacity in the Mexico decline. But the deeper disposals are significantly more expensive. And due to various, you know, seismic and cost, and really that payback on the deep disposal when you see a reduction in volume given the capital cost that put one in, you've seen a significant reduction on both

sides of the order and deep disposal.

And as my final question for you guys, and just kind of thinking about your 2025 trajectory, referencing your line of sight inventory and recent commentary from industry, how are you thinking about the turn in line quarterly run rate, if you will, for oil and gas realties?

You know, Derek, if you look at the current line of sight inventory

and you just kind of take your ducks and your recently completed, you know, 13 and kind of three, you put those together, you're like 16. I think, you know, the three recently completed, you know, nearly 100% of those or practically 100% of those are going to come online during the course of the year. You know, on the ducks, the timing of those, it's usually 90% or higher that get turned on in the course of the year. And you might even have like, you know, five or 10% of the permits that also kind of make the full cycle trip in less than a year. So, you know, if history is a guide, if people continue activity levels that we've seen historically, you know, that might lead you to believe that somewhere in the 14 to 15 net wells would get turned in line during 2025, all three of the completeds and, you know, 11 or 12 of the ducks and maybe less than one net permit or something like that. But, and that would be very robust. I mean, that would probably exceed past years and as far as like quarterly run rate. So, the potential is definitely there for a very robust number of wells coming online. It's really just going to come down to oil prices and activity levels. But as far as the inventory available,

very, very strong right now. All right, terrific. Great update. Thanks for taking my questions.

Thanks,

sir.

Thank you. At this time, this does conclude today's teleconference. We thank you for your participation. You may disconnect your lines this time and have a great day.