Adjusted operating cash flow, adjusted EBITDA, pro forma adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), and net debt are non-GAAP financial measures.
The Company defines adjusted operating cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities. It defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before income tax expense, interest expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization and accretion of asset retirement obligations. Adjusted EBITDA, as presented herein, is EBITDA excluding asset impairment, non-cash portion of stock-based compensation, gain on derivative contracts, cash received upon settlement of derivative contracts, loss on settlement of contract, severance, oil field services – exit costs, loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, restructuring costs, reorganization items, employee incentive and retention costs and other various items. Pro forma adjusted EBITDA, as presented herein, is adjusted EBITDA excluding adjusted EBITDA attributable to properties or subsidiaries sold during the period.
Adjusted 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 adjusted 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, adjusted 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 used by other companies.
Management also uses the supplemental financial measure of adjusted net income (loss), which excludes asset impairment, (gain) loss on derivative contracts, cash received on settlement of derivative contracts, loss on settlement of contract, severance, oil field services – exit costs, loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, restructuring costs, reorganization items, employee incentive and retention and other non-cash items from 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 (loss) is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for income available (loss applicable) to common stockholders.
The Company also uses the term net debt to determine the extent to which the Company’s outstanding debt obligations would be satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. Management believes this metric is useful to investors in determining the Company’s current leverage position following recent significant events subsequent to the period.
The tables reconciling the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to operating cash flow, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income(loss) can be found in the quarterly results press releases.