Bertrand Don's questions to APA Corp (US) (APA) leadership • Q4 2024
Question
Bertrand Don asked how management balances substantial share repurchases against potential activity increases or M&A if the stock price remains low. He also requested an outlook for asset retirement obligation (ARO) costs.
Answer
CFO Stephen Riney detailed the 5-year plan which includes $2.2B in debt paydown and $1.75B in buybacks. CEO John Christmann affirmed they would continue buying back undervalued stock. Riney outlined the 2025 ARO spend of ~$170M, noting that North Sea costs are expected to grow while other areas remain relatively flat.