Comstock Resources Sells 27% Stake in Pinnacle for $600 Million
The company states: "Comstock Resources announced that it has sold a minority equity interest in Comstock's midstream subsidiary, Pinnacle Gas Services LLC, to certain funds managed by Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm. Sixth Street invested $600 million in Pinnacle and acquired a 27% non-controlling common equity interest in Pinnacle. Sixth Street's investment values Pinnacle at a $2.2 billion enterprise value. Upon closing the transaction, Comstock retained a 73% controlling common equity interest in Pinnacle, valued today at approximately $1.6 billion, and continues to manage, operate and control the business under a management services agreement with Comstock. The proceeds from the investment were used to fully extinguish and retire the Pinnacle preferred equity securities for $445 million plus accrued dividends, all outstanding indebtedness at Pinnacle, transaction costs and for working capital."
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- Transaction Overview: Comstock Resources has agreed to sell its mining and processing subsidiaries to Mackay Precious Metals for over $45 million, including more than $30 million in cash and stock payments, indicating a significant inflow of funds during its transformation.
- Cash and Stock Payments: Upon closing, Comstock will receive $20 million in cash and 2 million shares of Mackay Gold & Silver Corp valued at over $3.5 million, enhancing its liquidity and supporting future growth initiatives.
- Ongoing Royalties and Obligations: Comstock retains a 1.5% net smelter return royalty and is entitled to an additional $10 million if Mackay builds a mine or undergoes a high-value merger within seven years, suggesting potential future revenue streams.
- Cost Reduction and Strategic Shift: The divestiture is expected to cut costs by over $1.5 million annually, marking a pivotal shift for Comstock from a traditional mining company to a global renewable metals and materials firm, aligning with its long-term strategic goals.
- Equity Sale Transaction: Comstock Resources sold a 27% stake in its Pinnacle Gas Services midstream subsidiary for $600 million, valuing Pinnacle at an enterprise value of $2.2 billion, highlighting the company's strong potential in the natural gas market.
- Retained Control: Despite the equity sale, Comstock retains a 73% controlling interest and continues to manage and operate Pinnacle under a management services agreement, ensuring its dominant position in business decisions.
- Future Ownership Changes: Upon Sixth Street achieving certain return hurdles, its ownership in Pinnacle will decrease from 27% to 19.5%, while Comstock's stake will increase from 73% to 80.5%, further enhancing its control.
- Clear Use of Proceeds: Comstock stated that the proceeds from the sale will be used to extinguish all preferred equity securities and outstanding indebtedness at Pinnacle, indicating a strategic intent to optimize capital structure and reduce financial risk.
- Production Decline Impact: Comstock Resources reported an average production of 1.1 Bcfe per day in Q1, significantly affected by severe winter weather, leading to lower-than-expected financial results; however, management anticipates a production increase of 13%-15% in Q2, indicating potential recovery ahead.
- New Project Selection: On March 19, the U.S. Department of Commerce selected Comstock's Western Haynesville site for a new 5.2-gigawatt natural gas power generation hub, which is expected to supply nearly 1 billion cubic feet of gas by 2031, significantly enhancing the company's market position and long-term growth prospects.
- Financial Performance: The company reported $339 million in oil and gas sales and an adjusted EBITDAX of $251 million for the quarter, with a profit of $107 million, showcasing resilience despite production challenges and highlighting operational strength.
- Capital Expenditure and Efficiency: Comstock spent $343 million on its drilling program, successfully turning 13 wells to sales, and achieved a 35% cost saving when drilling 10,000-foot horseshoe wells, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency.
- Earnings Announcement: Comstock Resources, Inc. is scheduled to release its Q1 2023 earnings report on May 5th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.23, reflecting a 27.8% year-over-year increase, indicating improved profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $486.41 million, representing a 5.1% year-over-year decline, which reflects a cautious market sentiment regarding the company's sales growth and could impact investor confidence.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Comstock has beaten EPS and revenue estimates 75% of the time, demonstrating a degree of stability and profitability amid market fluctuations, which may attract investors.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen five upward and five downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced two upward and five downward revisions, indicating analyst divergence and uncertainty regarding the company's future performance.
- Revenue Miss: Comstock Resources reported revenues of $361.8 million last quarter, a 5.9% year-on-year increase, but fell short of analysts' expectations, indicating increasing competitive pressure in the market.
- Production Decline: The company reported oil production of 3,000 barrels, down 70% year-on-year, which not only impacts short-term financial performance but may also negatively affect future production capacity and market confidence.
- Market Recovery Expectations: This quarter, the market anticipates a 29.3% year-on-year revenue growth for Comstock Resources, an improvement from the 15.8% increase recorded in the same quarter last year, reflecting cautious optimism among investors regarding the company's future.
- Stable Analyst Ratings: Over the past 30 days, analysts covering the company have generally reaffirmed their earnings estimates, despite Comstock Resources missing Wall Street's revenue estimates multiple times over the past two years, indicating a divergence in market expectations for its future performance.
- Earnings Release Schedule: Comstock Resources plans to release its Q1 2026 financial results after market close on May 5, showcasing its latest performance in natural gas production.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call on May 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the Q1 results, requiring participants to register in advance to receive dial-in information.
- Live Broadcast Access: The conference call will be broadcast live in listen-only mode, accessible via the company's website link, ensuring timely access to financial information for investors.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the conference call will be available starting at 1:00 p.m. CT on May 6, 2026, for a duration of twelve months, allowing investors who missed the live event to review the discussion.








