Coterra Energy misses profit estimates on weak natural gas prices

(Reuters) -U.S. oil and gas producer Coterra Energy missed analysts' estimates for second-quarter profit on Thursday, hurt by subdued natural gas prices.

U.S. natural gas prices have tumbled this year amid lukewarm demand due to a hotter-than-expected winter and a build-up in storage.

The company's average sales price for natural gas fell to $1.26 per thousand cubic feet (mcf) compared with $1.65 per mcf a year earlier, with prices at the Permian Basin dropping below zero.

Total production rose to 669,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) from 664,900 boepd. However, natural gas production declined.

It sees oil production for the year rising to 105,500 barrels per day (bpd) to 108,500 bpd, from the 102,000 bpd to 107,000 bpd forecast earlier.

Coterra's 7.3% higher operating revenues were partly offset by a 7.4% rise in operating expenses.

The company reported an adjusted earnings of 37 cents per share for the three months ended June 30, compared with analysts' average estimate of 39 cents, according to LSEG data.

Shares of the company were marginally down in extended trading.

(Reporting by Seher Dareen and Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi and Sriraj Kalluvila)