News Release

Cimarex Reports Second-Quarter 2008 Earnings of $2.68 per Share

DENVER, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC) today reported second-quarter 2008 net income of $229.3 million, or $2.68 per diluted share. This compares to second-quarter 2007 earnings of $78.7 million, or $0.93 per diluted share.

Revenues from oil and gas sales in the second quarter of 2008 were $588.7 million, compared to $325.8 million in the same period of 2007. Second- quarter 2008 cash flow from operations totaled $435.6 million versus $236.3 million in the same period of 2007(1).

The increase in second-quarter 2008 revenues, earnings and cash flow is primarily a result of higher production and oil and gas prices. Second- quarter 2008 gas prices increased 45% to $10.57 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) and oil rose 98% to $121.64 per barrel from the same period of 2007.

Second-quarter 2008 daily oil and gas production grew 10% over last year's second quarter. Gas production in the latest quarter averaged 353.5 million cubic feet per day, an increase of 9% over the second-quarter 2007 and oil production grew 13% to an average of 22,471 barrels per day. Growing production reflects strong results from drilling.

For the six month period ended June 30, 2008, net income totaled $379.1 million, or $4.44 per diluted share, as compared to $143.3 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2007. First-half 2008 cash flow from operations totaled $770.3 million versus $451.7 million in the same period of 2007(1)

Capital

Second-quarter 2008 exploration and development capital totaled $359.9 million as compared to $236.9 million in the second quarter of 2007. In the second quarter of 2008, Cimarex drilled 126 gross (82 net) wells, completing 94% as producers. Exploration and development capital investment for 2008 is projected to approximately $1.3 - $1.5 billion.

Outlook

Third-quarter 2008 oil and gas production volumes are projected to range between 485 - 495 million cubic feet equivalent per day (MMcfe/d). Full-year 2008 production is projected to be in the range of 480 - 495 MMcfe/d, or a 9- 12% increase over 2007 after adjusting for property sales.

Expenses for the remainder of 2008 are expected to fall within the following ranges:

    Expenses ($/Mcfe):
       Production expense                            $1.15  -  $1.25
       Transportation expense                         0.20  -   0.25
       DD&A and ARO accretion                         3.05  -   3.20
       General and administrative expense             0.30  -   0.34
       Production taxes (% of oil and gas revenue)    6.5%  -   7.5%

    Conference call and web cast

Cimarex will host a follow-up conference call today at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern Time). To access the live, interactive call, please dial (888) 603-6873 and reference call ID # 55614975 ten minutes before the scheduled start time. A digital replay will be available for one week following the live broadcast at (800) 642-1687 and by using the conference ID # 55614975. The listen-only web cast of the call will be accessible via http://www.cimarex.com.

About Cimarex Energy

Denver-based Cimarex Energy Co. is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with principal operations in the Mid-Continent, Permian Basin and Gulf Coast areas of the U.S.

This communication contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward- looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in SEC reports filed by Cimarex. While Cimarex makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, management cannot guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Cimarex assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information contained herein except as required by law.

    (1)  Cash Flow from Operations is a non-GAAP financial measure that
         represents Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities adjusted for the
         change in operating assets and liabilities. See below for a
         reconciliation of the related amounts.


                            PRICE AND PRODUCTION DATA

                       For the Three Months Ended  For the Six Months Ended
                                June 30,                   June 30,
                            2008           2007        2008            2007

    Gas Production:
     Total production
      - Mcf           32,172,121     29,462,142   63,081,660     58,638,779
     Gas volume
      - Mcf per day      353,540        323,760      346,603        323,971
     Gas price
      - per Mcf (before
      hedge effect)       $10.57          $7.19        $9.47          $6.87
     Effect of hedges      $0.00          $0.11        $0.02          $0.14
     Gas price - per Mcf
      (after hedge
       effect)            $10.57          $7.30        $9.49          $7.01

    Oil Production
     (including NGL):
     Total production
      - barrels        2,044,831      1,801,811    4,115,688      3,561,535
     Oil volume
      - barrels per day   22,471         19,800       22,614         19,677
     Oil price
      - per barrel       $121.64         $61.51      $107.93         $58.40


                     OIL AND GAS CAPITALIZED EXPENDITURES

                       For the Three Months Ended   For the Six Months Ended
                                June 30,                    June 30,
                          2008           2007         2008           2007
                             (in thousands)              (in thousands)

    Acquisition of
     properties             $324             $-       $1,369            $23
    Exploration and
     development         359,898        236,874      666,853        482,379
    Total oil and gas
     expenditures        360,222        236,874      668,222        482,402

    Sale proceeds              -        (20,630)           -        (20,880)
                        $360,222       $216,244     $668,222       $461,522


                 RECONCILIATION OF CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS

                        For the Three Months Ended   For the Six Months Ended
                                 June 30,                    June 30,
                            2008           2007         2008           2007
                              (in thousands)              (in thousands)

    Net cash provided
     by operating
     activities           $382,307       $246,794     $697,552       $433,263
      Increase in
       operating assets
       and liabilities      53,326        (10,488)      72,781         18,441

    Cash flow from
     operations           $435,633       $236,306     $770,333       $451,704

     Management believes that the non-GAAP measure of cash flow from
     operations is useful information for investors because it is used
     internally and is accepted by the investment community as a means of
     measuring the company's ability to fund its capital program.  It is also
     used by professional research analysts in providing investment
     recommendations pertaining to companies in the oil and gas exploration
     and production industry.


     CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENTS (unaudited)

                          For the Three Months Ended  For the Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                June 30,
                               2008        2007        2008         2007
                                (In thousands, except per share data)

    Revenues:
     Gas sales              $339,965    $214,937     $598,920    $411,227
     Oil sales               248,741     110,830      444,191     207,994
     Gas gathering,
      processing and other    26,610      15,013       47,981      27,652
     Gas marketing, net        1,067       1,304        2,367       2,086
                             616,383     342,084    1,093,459     648,959
    Costs and expenses:
     Depreciation,
      depletion and
      amortization           133,201     112,797      258,757     221,681
     Asset retirement
      obligation               1,862       2,399        3,456       4,990
     Production               49,092      50,916      101,144      95,921
     Transportation           10,621       6,294       18,930      12,228
     Gas gathering and
      processing              12,361       7,825       22,402      15,136
     Taxes other than income  39,749      23,802       70,356      44,429
     General and
      administrative          13,876      11,958       25,460      24,609
     Stock compensation, net   2,366       2,598        4,641       5,268
     Other operating, net         85       2,586        1,121       2,315
                             263,213     221,175      506,267     426,577

    Operating income         353,170     120,909      587,192     222,382

    Other (income) and expense:
     Interest expense          7,748      10,297       16,168      19,462
     Capitalized interest     (4,653)     (4,898)      (9,259)     (9,989)
     Amortization of fair
      value of debt             (190)       (580)        (381)     (1,527)
     Gain on early
      extinguishment of debt      -       (5,099)          -       (5,099)
     Other, net               (5,507)     (3,457)      (8,524)     (6,906)

    Income before income
     tax expense             355,772     124,646      589,188     226,441
    Income tax expense       126,464      45,939      210,045      83,106

    Net income              $229,308     $78,707     $379,143    $143,335

    Earnings per share:
      Basic                    $2.81       $0.96        $4.66       $1.74
      Diluted                  $2.68       $0.93        $4.44       $1.69

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding:
     Basic                    81,474      82,282       81,380      82,252
     Diluted                  85,589      84,836       85,482      84,745


     CONDENSED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS (unaudited)

                          For the Three Months Ended  For the Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                June 30,
                               2008        2007        2008        2007


    Cash flows from operating
     activities:
     Net income             $229,308     $78,707    $379,143    $143,335
     Adjustment to reconcile
      net income to net cash
      provided by operating
      activities:
       Depreciation,
        depletion and
        amortization         133,201     112,797     258,757     221,681
       Asset retirement
        obligation             1,862       2,399       3,456       4,990
       Deferred income taxes  68,799      45,939     124,462      83,106
       Stock compensation,
        net                    2,366       2,598       4,641       5,268
       Other                      97      (6,134)       (126)     (6,676)
     Changes in operating
      assets and liabilities:
       (Increase) decrease
        in receivables, net  (62,488)      5,430    (103,137)     11,741
       Increase in other
        current assets       (39,610)    (10,083)    (46,047)     (8,968)
       Increase (decrease)
        in accounts payable
        and accrued
        liabilities           49,445      16,383      77,752     (18,862)
       Decrease in other
        non-current
        liabilities             (673)     (1,242)     (1,349)     (2,352)
         Net cash provided
          by operating
          activities         382,307     246,794     697,552     433,263
    Cash flows from
     investing activities:
     Oil and gas
      expenditures          (356,786)   (220,858)   (641,067)   (473,229)
     Proceeds from sale of
      assets                     250      21,181         354      21,530
     Sales of short-term
      investments              2,061          -        7,061          -
     Other expenditures      (12,092)     (5,087)    (21,086)     (7,390)
         Net cash used by
          investing
          activities        (366,567)   (204,764)   (654,738)   (459,089)
    Cash flows from
     financing activities:
     Net decrease in bank
      debt                        -     (161,000)         -      (95,000)
     Increase in other
      long-term debt              -      350,000          -      350,000
     Decrease in other
      long-term debt              -     (204,360)         -     (204,360)
     Financing costs incurred    (50)     (6,037)        (50)     (6,098)
     Treasury stock acquired      -       (5,623)         -       (5,623)
     Dividends paid           (5,021)     (3,382)     (9,974)     (6,747)
     Proceeds from issuance
      of common stock and
      other                   10,845         432      12,961       8,017
         Net cash provided
          by (used in)
          financing
          activities           5,774     (29,970)      2,937      40,189
    Net change in cash and
     cash equivalents         21,514      12,060      45,751      14,363
    Cash and cash equivalents
     at beginning of period  147,287       7,351     123,050       5,048
    Cash and cash equivalents
     at end of period       $168,801     $19,411    $168,801     $19,411


     BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

                                                 June 30,       December 31,
                                                   2008             2007
                Assets                     (In thousands, except share data)
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                  $168,801         $123,050
      Restricted cash                                 685               -
      Short-term investments                        7,393           14,391
      Receivables, net                            418,464          315,327
      Inventories                                  74,874           29,642
      Deferred income taxes                           365            5,697
      Derivative instruments                           -            12,124
      Other current assets                         24,671           64,346
        Total current assets                      695,253          564,577
    Oil and gas properties at cost, using the
     full cost method of accounting:
      Proved properties                         6,195,685        5,545,977
      Unproved properties and properties under
       development, not being amortized           388,020          364,618
                                                6,583,705        5,910,595
      Less - accumulated depreciation,
       depletion and amortization              (2,188,611)      (1,938,863)
        Net oil and gas properties              4,395,094        3,971,732
    Fixed assets, net                             101,647           90,584
    Goodwill                                      691,432          691,432
    Other assets, net                              85,846           44,469
                                               $5,969,272       $5,362,794
     Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                           $107,697          $52,671
      Accrued liabilities                         236,830          240,387
      Derivative instruments                       16,555               -
      Revenue payable                             184,819          131,513
        Total current liabilities                 545,901          424,571
    Long-term debt                                486,778          487,159
    Deferred income taxes                       1,178,369        1,076,223
    Other liabilities                             136,959          115,554
    Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred stock, $0.01 par value,
       15,000,000 shares authorized,
       no shares issued                                -                -
      Common stock, $0.01 par value,
       200,000,000 shares authorized,
        83,962,774 and 83,620,480 shares
        issued, respectively                          840              836
      Treasury stock, at cost, 885,392 and
       1,078,822 shares held, respectively        (33,344)         (40,628)
      Paid-in capital                           1,846,365        1,842,690
      Retained earnings                         1,817,902        1,448,763
      Accumulated other comprehensive income      (10,498)           7,626
                                                3,621,265        3,259,287
                                               $5,969,272       $5,362,794

SOURCE Cimarex Energy Co.
-0- 08/05/2008
/CONTACT: Mark Burford, Director of Capital Markets of Cimarex Energy
Co., +1-303-295-3995/
/Web site: http://www.cimarex.com/
(XEC)