The company defines operating cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities. It defines EBITDA as net (loss) income before income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, and depreciation, depletion and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA excluding interest income and various non-cash items (including asset impairments, income from equity investments, noncontrolling interest, stock-based compensation, unrealized (gain) loss on derivative contracts, and provision for doubtful accounts). This generally conforms to the EBITDA definition in the company’s credit agreement.

Operating cash flow and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental financial measures used by the company’s management and by securities analysts, investors, lenders, rating agencies and others who follow the industry as an indicator of the company’s ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt. The company also uses these measures because operating cash flow and adjusted EBITDA relate to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements that the company may not control and may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred. Further, operating cash flow and adjusted EBITDA allow the company to compare its operating performance and return on capital with those of other companies without regard to financing methods and capital structure. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income and these measures may vary among other companies. Therefore, the company’s adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Management also uses the supplemental financial measure of adjusted net income available (loss applicable) to common stockholders, which excludes asset impairments and unrealized (losses) gains on derivative contracts from net income available (loss applicable) to common stockholders. Management uses this financial measure as an indicator of the company’s operational trends and performance relative to other oil and natural gas companies and believes it is more comparable to earnings estimates provided by securities analysts. Adjusted net income available (loss applicable) to common stockholders is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for net income available (loss applicable) to common stockholders.