News Release

DENVER, May 02, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

SM Energy Company (NYSE: SM) today reports financial results from the first quarter of 2011. In addition, a new presentation for the first quarter earnings and operational update will be posted on the Company's website at www.sm-energy.com. This presentation will be referenced during the conference call scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Mountain time (10:00 a.m. Eastern time) on May 3, 2011. Information for the earnings call can be found below.

REPORTING CHANGES EFFECTIVE FIRST QUARTER OF 2011

Beginning with the first quarter of 2011, SM Energy began reporting production using a 3-stream sales reporting method. Previously, the Company reported production on a 2-stream wellhead sales reporting method. SM Energy changed its reporting for natural gas volumes to separately show natural gas and NGL production volumes consistent with the title transfer for each product. Projected rapid production growth from rich gas assets with plant product sales contracts, primarily in the Eagle Ford shale, necessitated a change in the Company's production volume reporting. Prior period amounts and metrics, including production volumes, revenues, and realized commodity prices, have not been reclassified to conform to the current presentation given the immateriality of NGL items in those prior periods.

In addition, as disclosed in the Company's 2010 Form 10-K, SM Energy elected to discontinue cash flow hedge accounting for derivative contracts used to manage commodity price risks beginning in the first quarter of 2011. This accounting policy change does not alter the economics of the Company's derivative transactions. As a result of this change, both realized and unrealized gains and losses from commodity price management activities will be included in the income statement on the line titled "Unrealized and realized derivative (gain) loss". Hedging balances accounted for in the balance sheet line titled "accumulated other comprehensive loss" as of December 31, 2010 will now be recognized in the income statement line titled "Realized hedge gain (loss)" as they are realized.

FIRST QUARTER 2011 RESULTS

SM Energy posted a net loss for the first quarter of 2011 of ($18.5 million), or ($0.29) per diluted share. This compares to net income of $126.2 million, or $1.96 per diluted share, for the same period of 2010. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $28.1 million, or $0.42 per adjusted diluted share, versus adjusted net income of $28.9 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2010. Adjusted net income excludes certain items that the Company believes affect the comparability of operating results. Items excluded are generally one-time items or are items whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated, and large non-cash items such as unrealized gains or losses from derivative activity. A summary of the adjustments made to arrive at adjusted net income is presented in the table below.

Operating cash flow increased to $161.4 million for the first quarter of 2011 from $133.2 million in the same period of 2010. Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $156.7 million for the first quarter of 2011 from $153.9 million in the same period in 2010.

Adjusted net income and operating cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures - please refer to the respective reconciliation in the accompanying Financial Highlights section at the end of this press release for additional information about these measures.

SM Energy reported quarterly production of 36.1 BCFE, or an average of 401.4 MMCFE/d, on a 3-stream sales reporting basis. Pro forma production based on a 2-stream wellhead sales reporting basis is estimated to be 33.6 BCFE, or an average of 373.1 MMCFE/d for the quarter, which was slightly above the guidance range of 30 - 33 BCFE, or an average of 333 to 366 MMCFE/d.

Revenues and other income for the quarter were $315.3 million compared to $360.1 million for the same period of 2010. Below is a table which displays by product the average realized price received by the Company, as well as the net average realized price after taking into account cash settlements for derivative transactions.

Prior to the first quarter of 2011, realized prices for natural gas were reported on a wellhead sales reporting basis. With the adoption of 3-stream sales reporting of production, the Company's realized price for natural gas will decrease as a result of the value related to NGLs being reported separately in a distinct NGL production stream. Prior periods have not been reclassified to conform to this new presentation given the immateriality of prior NGL amounts.

The table below presents production and per MCFE cost metrics both on a reported 3-stream sales reporting basis and under the previous 2-stream wellhead sales reporting basis. The latter is being provided for ease of comparison to previously issued guidance.

*The legacy 2-stream wellhead sales reporting metrics are presented to show comparability with guidance provided in the Company's press release dated February 24, 2011.

FINANCIAL POSITION AND LIQUIDITY

As of March 31, 2011, the Company's debt-to-book capitalization ratio was 34%. SM Energy has total long-term debt of $627.9 million, which is comprised of its 6.625% senior notes and 3.50% senior convertible notes, net of debt discount. The convertible notes are accounted for as if they will be net-share settled. The Company's stock price is currently trading above the conversion price for the convertible notes, which means in periods where net income is reported, there will be potentially dilutive securities from the convertible notes reflected in the Company's calculation of diluted earnings per share.

As of March 31, 2011, the Company had $191.3 million in cash and no outstanding borrowings under its long-term secured credit facility. The borrowing base for the credit facility was reduced as a result of the issuance of the 6.625% senior notes in February 2011 and now stands at $1.0 billion. SM Energy's commitment amount under its credit facility remains unchanged at $678 million. SM Energy is in compliance with all the covenants associated with this facility. The Company is currently in discussions to amend and extend this facility.

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Record production

Production in the first quarter of 2011 reached record levels on a reported basis at 401.4 MMCFE/d. Reported average daily production grew sequentially by 17% from fourth quarter 2010 to first quarter 2011. Year over year average daily production growth from first quarter 2010 to first quarter 2011 was 40%.

Eagle Ford Shale

SM Energy is currently operating three (3) drilling rigs on its operated acreage in South Texas. The Company plans to increase its operated rig count to six (6) by the end of 2011. The drilling focus continues to be on areas with higher BTU gas content and higher condensate yields. The Company has secured multiple firm transportation agreements to increase future take-away capacity as production continues to ramp up.

SM Energy has previously announced its intention to sell down approximately 20% - 30% of its total 250,000 net acre Eagle Ford shale position, or approximately 72,000 net acres. Any transaction is expected to be announced by the end of the second quarter of 2011.

Bakken / Three Forks

Two (2) drilling rigs are currently operating for SM Energy in the Williston Basin, with a focus on horizontal development of the Bakken and Three Forks formations in the Company's prospects in Divide and McKenzie counties in North Dakota where drilling results continue to meet or exceed expectations. A third operated rig is expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2011.

Mid-Continent Region

SM Energy operated two (2) drilling rigs in its Granite Wash program in Western Oklahoma during the first quarter of 2011. The Company's acreage in the Granite Wash is held by production.

Permian Region

The Company operated one (1) drilling rig in the Permian region during the first quarter of 2011, which focused on Wolfberry tight oil assets in the region.

ArkLaTex Region

SM Energy has completed the previously announced carry and earning agreement which it used to fund development of its Haynesville shale program from the middle of 2010 through the first quarter of 2011. The Company has been exploring options for a similar carry and earning agreement to help fund the drilling of enough wells to hold leasehold with production, while minimizing the amount of SM Energy's direct capital expenditures in the play.

UPDATED CAPITAL, PRODUCTION, AND PERFORMANCE GUIDANCE

SM Energy is increasing its capital expenditure budget by $40 million to $1.080 billion to continue drilling on its operated Haynesville position in East Texas. As noted above, the Company continues to explore potential transactions that would allow for continued development of this asset on a carried basis. The Company is assuming that a transaction will be announced by the end of the second quarter of 2011. Accordingly, drilling activity in the second quarter will be paid for by SM Energy. The production guidance below accounts for this increase in activity.

The Company is recasting performance guidance based on the new 3-stream sales reporting basis.

The increase to non-cash interest expense from the Company's historic run rate reflects the accelerated recognition of deferred financing costs associated with the current credit facility that are expected to be recognized in the second quarter of 2011 upon entering into a new or amended credit facility agreement.

EARNINGS CALL INFORMATION

The Company has scheduled a teleconference to discuss these results and other operational matters on May 3, 2011, at 8:00 a.m. Mountain time (10:00 a.m. Eastern time). The call participation number is 866-510-0676 and the participant passcode is 25235869. An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call at 888-286-8010, with the passcode 50844239. International participants can dial 617-597-5361 to take part in the conference call, using passcode 25235869, and can access a replay of the call at 617-801-6888, using passcode 50844239. Replays can be accessed through May 10, 2011.

In addition, the call will be webcast live and can be accessed at SM Energy's website at sm-energy.com. An audio recording of the conference call will be available at that site through May 10, 2011.

INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of securities laws, including forecasts and projections. The words "will," "believe," "budget," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause SM Energy's actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. These risks include such factors as the volatility and level of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids prices, the uncertain nature of the expected benefits from the acquisition, divestiture, or joint venture of oil and gas properties, the uncertain nature of announced divestiture, joint venture, farm down or similar efforts and the ability to complete such transactions, uncertainties inherent in projecting future rates of production from drilling activities and acquisitions, the ability of midstream service providers to purchase or market the Company's production, the ability of purchasers of production to pay for those sales, the availability of debt and equity financing for purchasers of oil and gas properties, the ability of the banks in the Company's credit facility to fund requested borrowings, the ability of derivative counterparties to settle derivative contracts in favor of the Company, the imprecise nature of estimating oil and gas reserves, the availability of additional economically attractive exploration, development, and property acquisition opportunities for future growth and any necessary financings, unexpected drilling conditions and results, unsuccessful exploration and development drilling, drilling and operating service availability, the risks associated with the Company's commodity price risk management strategy, uncertainty regarding the ultimate impact of potentially dilutive securities, and other such matters discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of SM Energy's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. Although SM Energy may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil. SM Energy routinely posts important information about the Company on its website. For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at www.sm-energy.com.

SOURCE: SM Energy

SM Energy
Brent A. Collins, 303-861-8140