Chesapeake's Earnings Review: Higher Natural Gas Volumes, Derivative Gains Drive Top Line

The company increased its profit margin on production operations from 82.2% in the third quarter last year to 87.3% this year. Additionally, it also managed to lower its operating costs, completed the sale of several non-core assets and made several structural changes, such as the spin-off of subsidiary Chesapeake Oilfield to its stockholders, over the past few months. As a result, the company now finds itself in a very healthy position, both strategically and financially, in an environment with...