CONSOL Energy (NYSE:CEIX) (+7%,+0.49%,+16%,+0.94%), the former natural gas and coal company based in Appalachia, was a contributor to the Fund’s fourth quarter results. The company completed the long-awaited spin-off of its coal assets from its natural gas reserves, undrilled acreage, and pipelines — a move we had encouraged to enable others to fully appreciate the values of each business. The gas company now trades as CNX Resources Corporation (CNX), while the coal pure-play business retained the CONSOL Energy name. Our CNX appraisal assumes gas prices at today’s depressed strip, yet the stock price implies much less value for its undrilled resources and midstream assets than comparable peers receive. The company reduced commodity risk by hedging the majority of next year’s production above $3/mcf. CONSOL’s Pennsylvania Mining Complex is the low-cost coal producer in the eastern U.S. Both companies announced large buybacks to address their undervalued post-spin prices. We believe our management partners will continue to take action to gain value recognition at both companies. In spite of rampant coal divestment by institutional investors, CONSOL’s stock jumped 84% after becoming a pure-play coal business.
From Longleaf Partners' 2017 shareholder letter.
