Document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 11-K

/ x / ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

OR

/ / TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission File Number: 333-39249

A.
Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN


B.
Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Pioneer Natural Resources Company
5205 North O'Connor Blvd., Suite 200
Irving, Texas 75039




















PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN


Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the year ended December 31, 2017

With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm




PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2017
 
Notes to Financial Statements
 
Schedule H; Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year) as of December 31, 2017
 
Signatures
 
Index to Exhibits
 


3



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the Participants and Plan Administrator of the
Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. 401(k) and Matching Plan
 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. 401(k) and Matching Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits include performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Supplemental Information

The supplemental schedule of Form 5500, Schedule H; Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year) as of December 31, 2017, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan's financial statements. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/ Whitley Penn LLP

We have served as the Plan's auditor since 2014.

Dallas, Texas
June 28, 2018


4



PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Investments at fair value
$
681,076,285

 
$
557,235,465

Notes receivable from participants
19,449,883

 
17,544,872

Total assets
700,526,168

 
574,780,337

Accrued administrative expenses
(24,694
)
 
(19,938
)
Net assets available for benefits
$
700,501,474

 
$
574,760,399












































See accompanying notes to financial statements.

5



PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017

 
Year Ended
December 31, 2017
Additions to net assets available for benefits:
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
$
72,095,795

Employer contributions
34,515,661

Participants' contributions
28,999,578

Interest and dividend income
20,430,874

Rollovers
2,605,782

Other additions
168,280

Total additions
158,815,970

 
 
Deductions from net assets available for benefits:
 
Distributions to participants
32,662,013

Administrative expenses
412,882

Total deductions
33,074,895

Net increase in net assets available for benefits
125,741,075

Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year
574,760,399

Net assets available for benefits, end of year
$
700,501,474





















See accompanying notes to financial statements.

6

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016



NOTE 1.    Description of Plan
The following description of the Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. 401(k) and Matching Plan (the "Plan") provides only general information. A more complete description of the Plan is accessible to each participant and beneficiary through the website maintained for the Plan at www.vanguard.com. Access to the website is only available to each participant and beneficiary. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA").
General
The Plan is a defined contribution plan established on January 1, 1990 under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Plan was established for the benefit of the employees of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pioneer Natural Resources Company (the "Company"), and any affiliate of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. that has adopted the Plan pursuant to the terms of the Plan (collectively referred to as the "Employer"). All regular full-time and part-time employees of the Employer are eligible to participate in the Plan on the first payroll date following their date of hire. A temporary employee is eligible to participate in the Plan upon the earlier of (1) the first day of the Plan year after the employee completes one year of eligibility service (which is the period of twelve consecutive months commencing on the employee's employment date or any Plan year commencing after the employee's employment date, during which the employee completes at least 1,000 hours of service) or (2) the date that is six months after the employee completes one year of eligibility service, unless the employee has separated from service before that time. The Plan's assets are held in a trust and certain administrative functions are performed by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, the trustee of the Plan (the "Trustee"). The Plan is administered by the Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. 401(k) and Matching Plan Committee (the "Plan Administrator").
Contributions
Participants may elect to contribute to the Plan an amount up to 80 percent of their pre-tax basic compensation as defined in the Plan ("Basic Compensation") per pay period or the applicable legal limit per the Code. Additionally, participants may elect to make after-tax contributions to the Plan. Participants may also make Roth contributions to the Plan, which allow a participant to pay federal income taxes on a portion of their contributions to the Plan and take related distributions from the Plan free of federal income tax. A participant's combined pre-tax, Roth and after-tax contributions to the Plan cannot exceed 80 percent of the participant's Basic Compensation per pay period or the applicable legal limit. Certain participants may make catch-up contributions to the Plan in accordance with Section 414(v) of the Code. Pre-tax, Roth, after-tax and catch-up contributions are hereinafter referred to as "Participant Contributions."
In general, matching contributions are made in cash by the Employer on behalf of a participant in an amount equal to 200 percent of the pre-tax contributions made by the participant that do not exceed five percent of the participant's annual Basic Compensation (the "Matching Contributions"), except for certain union employees of the Company. With regard to these employees, the Plan provides that members of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers' International Union - Local Union Number 164 (the "Millwood Union") receive a matching contribution equal to 50 percent of the first six percent of pre-tax contributions and pre-tax contributions designated as Roth contributions. See Note 8 for changes made to the Millwood Union matching contributions subsequent to December 31, 2017.
The Plan also provides for the automatic enrollment of certain employees. The automatic enrollment applies to employees who (1) became eligible for participation in the Plan on February 1, 2012 or later, (2) were previously eligible for participation in the Plan but never filed an affirmative election not to participate and (3) are not members of certain unions. Prior to changes made to the automatic enrollment program subsequent to December 31, 2017 (as described in Note 8), these employees were automatically enrolled in the Plan at a contribution rate of three percent of the employee's pre-tax Basic Compensation unless the employee opted out of participation or made an alternate election within 30 days of the date the employee was eligible. Additionally, the contribution rate for an employee who had been automatically enrolled in the Plan was increased by one percentage point each Plan year up to a maximum deferral rate of five percent. All contributions are subject to certain limitations of the Code.

7

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016



Participant Accounts and Investment Options
Participants' accounts are credited with their Participant Contributions and Matching Contributions. In accordance with Section 404(c) of ERISA and the Plan's Investment Policy Statement, participants exercise individual control over their accounts and are provided a broad range of investment funds in which they may choose to invest their Participant Contributions and Matching Contributions. Earnings and losses attributable to the participants' chosen investments are allocated to the participants' accounts, along with any investment fees charged by the funds. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the amount that can be realized from the participant's vested account. See Note 3 for additional information regarding investment risks and uncertainties.
Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in their Participant Contributions and any earnings thereon. Participants who are not members of a union vest in twenty-five percent of their Matching Contributions and earnings thereon for each full year of completed service to the Company over a four-year period that begins with the participant's date of hire. The Plan also provides that participants who are members of the Millwood Union vest in 33 percent of their Matching Contribution and earnings thereon for service completed in years one and three and 34 percent of their Matching Contribution in year two of the period that begins with the participant's date of hire. Participants' account balances that were merged into the Plan from predecessor plans are fully vested. The plan provides for full and immediate vesting in any employer-derived benefits accrued under the Plan for certain employees who are involuntarily terminated in connection with the sale of certain assets and the closing or restructuring of certain offices, pursuant to plan amendments.
Payments of Benefits
A participant may receive a distribution of the vested amount credited to the participant's accounts under the Plan upon one of the following events:
retirement (which means separation from employment on or after the participant's 65th birthday),
permanent disability,
death, or
other separation from employment.
Vested balances greater than $5,000. If the total value of the vested portion of a participant's accounts (other than rollover amounts) exceeds $5,000, subject to participant consent, payments will begin no later than 60 days after the end of the Plan year in which the participant becomes entitled to a distribution. However, the law requires that distributions must begin no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which a participant reaches age 70½ or, if later, when the participant retires. Distributions of the participant's vested portion of the account can be in the form of a single distribution. Further, the vested portion of a retired, disabled or deceased participant also can be in the form of monthly, quarterly or annual installment distributions over a period of two or more years, but no longer than one of the following periods (as selected by the participant or the designated beneficiary): for a retired or disable participant, (i) the participant's life, (ii) the lives of the participant and his or her designated beneficiary, (iii) a period not extending beyond the participant's life expectancy, or (iv) a period not extending beyond the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the participant and his or her designated beneficiary, and for a deceased participant, (a) the life of the participant's designated beneficiary or (b) a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the designated beneficiary. Upon the termination of employment, retirement or disability of a participant, such participant's vested account balances attributable to predecessor plans shall be distributed in the form of a joint and survivor annuity unless the participant directs the Plan Administrator to distribute the benefits in the form of a single distribution or installment distributions.
Vested balances less than or equal to $5,000. If the total value of the vested portion of the participant's accounts is $1,000 or less, payment will be made in a single distribution as soon as administratively possible. If the total value of the vested portion of the participant's accounts is greater than $1,000 but less than or equal to $5,000 (not including amounts in the participant's rollover account, if any), and a distribution is required to be made to a participant prior to attainment of age 65, the Plan will automatically pay the distribution in a direct rollover to an individual retirement account designated by the Plan Administrator unless the participant elects to have it paid directly to the participant in a single distribution or rolled over to another eligible retirement plan.
In either case, vested amounts that are invested in the Pioneer Natural Resources Stock Fund may, at the election of the participant, be distributed in the form of the Company's common stock with cash distributed in lieu of fractional shares

8

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016



of stock. Under the Plan, a participant's beneficiary will receive the participant's account balances in the event of the participant's death.
In-Service Withdrawals
A current employee of the Employer may withdraw (i) all or a portion of the participant's account balances derived from after-tax Participant Contributions or rollover contributions, (ii) pre-tax Participant Contributions (excluding earnings and qualified non-elective contributions allocated to the participant's pre-tax Participant Contributions accounts) under certain hardship conditions specified in the Plan document, or (iii), if the participant has attained the age of 59-1/2, all or a portion of the participant's vested account balances (excluding balances in certain predecessor plan accounts that contain employer matching contributions). In addition, certain withdrawals may be made by (i) a participant who is a reservist or national guardsman called to active duty and (ii) a participant who is performing qualified military service and who is receiving differential wage payments from the Employer.
Participant Loans
Participants may borrow from their accounts a maximum of the lesser of (i) $50,000 (reduced by the excess, if any, of the highest total outstanding balance of all other Plan loans to the participant during the one-year period ending on the day before the date a new loan is made over the outstanding balance of those other loans on the date the new loan is made) or (ii) 50 percent of their accounts' vested balances. The loans are secured by the balance in the participants' accounts. Participants' loans bear interest at an annual rate equal to the prime borrowing rate at the inception of the loan plus one percent. When the loan is repaid, both principal and interest are deposited into the participant's account. Loan principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions over a period not to exceed five years unless the loan is for the purpose of acquiring the principal residence of the participant, which is not to exceed a period of 15 years. A participant may not have more than two participant loans outstanding at any time, one of which may be a principal residence loan. Loans to participants are valued at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest.
Forfeitures
The unvested portion of a participant's account is forfeited to the Plan upon termination of employment, with the exception of certain employees who are involuntarily terminated in connection with the sale of certain assets and the closing or restructuring of certain offices, pursuant to plan amendments. Such employees become immediately vested in any employer-derived benefits accrued under the Plan upon their termination.
Forfeitures may be used to restore previously forfeited amounts to participants upon rehire by the Company, defray Plan administrative expenses or reduce subsequent Matching Contributions made to the Plan by the Employer. In 2017, forfeitures of $720,369 and $113,733 were used to reduce employer contributions and pay Plan administrative expenses, respectively. Plan assets in the Plan's forfeiture account totaled $1,358,451 and $734,696 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Employer has the right under the Plan, subject to the provisions of ERISA, to discontinue its Matching Contributions at any time or to terminate the Plan. In the event of the Plan's termination or the complete discontinuance of any Matching Contributions to the Plan, participants will immediately become fully vested in their accounts.
NOTE 2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared under the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP").
Distributions of Benefits
Distributions of benefits to participants are recorded when paid.

9

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016



Investment Valuation
The Plan's investments presented in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 are stated at fair value as reported by the Trustee.
Investments in the common/collective trusts are valued at net asset value based upon the fair values of the underlying net assets of the trusts, as determined by the issuer. Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III ("VRSTIII") invests in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, including traditional contracts, wrapper contracts re-bid to determine the replacement cost and underlying bond instruments valued by the Trustee. The net asset value is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. The practical expedient would not be used if it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different from the reported net asset value. Participant transactions (purchases and sales) may occur daily. If the Plan initiates a full redemption of the collective trust, the issuer reserves the right to require 12 months' notification in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner. The values of VRSTIII as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $48,301,240 and $49,484,039, respectively.
See Note 4 for additional information about fair value.
Security Transactions and Investment Income
Security transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Expenses incurred with transactions, if any, are added to the purchase price or deducted from the selling price at the time of the transactions. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded as earned on an accrual basis. Net appreciation in fair value of investments includes the Plan's gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as investments held during the year.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants represent participant loans that are recorded at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when it is earned. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses and are expensed when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2017 or 2016. If a participant ceases to make loan repayments and the Plan Administrator deems the participant loan to be a distribution, the participant loan balance is reduced and a benefit payment is recorded.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Plan's management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements, accompanying notes and supplemental schedule. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
NOTE 3.    Investments
The Trustee holds the Plan's investments and executes all investment transactions.The investment funds in which participants are allowed to invest their accounts under the Plan are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, interest rate risk, credit risk, political risk, general business risks and overall market volatility risk. The investment funds have individual risk profiles that cause them to respond differently to changes in the risks and uncertainties described above. Due to the level of risk associated with the investment funds, it is reasonably possible that changes in the fair values of the investment funds may have occurred since December 31, 2017, or may occur during the near term, and that such changes could cause participants' account balances, and thus the benefits to which participants are entitled under the Plan, to differ materially from those reported as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. See Note 8 for changes made to investment offerings and share classes subsequent to December 31, 2017 and Schedule H; Line 4i - Schedules of Assets (Held At End of Year) for additional information about individual investment values as of December 31, 2017.



10

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016



NOTE 4.    Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based upon inputs that market participants use in pricing an asset or liability, which are characterized according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based on the degree to which they are observable. Observable inputs represent market data obtained from independent sources, whereas unobservable inputs reflect a company’s own market assumptions, which are used if observable inputs are not reasonably available without undue cost and effort. The three input levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 – quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g. interest rates) and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3 – unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
The fair value input hierarchy level into which an asset or liability measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety. The carrying value of the Plan's accrued administrative expenses approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these liabilities.
The following table presents the Plan's financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, for each of the fair value hierarchy levels:
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Using
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair Value at December 31, 2017
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered investment company funds
 
$
590,749,042

 
$

 
$

 
$
590,749,042

Pioneer Natural Resources Stock Fund
 
42,026,003

 

 

 
42,026,003

Total recurring fair value measurements
 
$
632,775,045

 
$

 
$

 
632,775,045

VRSTIII measured at net asset value (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48,301,240

Investments at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
681,076,285

 
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016 Using
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair Value at December 31, 2016
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered investment company funds
 
$
464,648,395

 
$

 
$

 
$
464,648,395

Pioneer Natural Resources Stock Fund
 
43,103,031

 

 

 
43,103,031

Total recurring fair value measurements
 
$
507,751,426

 
$

 
$

 
507,751,426

VRSTIII measured at net asset value (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
49,484,039

Investments at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
557,235,465

_______________
(a)
Investments in VRSTIII have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in VRSTIII are valued at net asset value based upon the fair values of the underlying net assets of the trusts. The net asset value of the VRSTIII is presented in this table to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the line items presented in the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

11

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016



Registered Investment Company Funds
The Plan's investments in registered investment company funds are valued using published market prices that represent the net asset value of shares or units held by the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. All significant inputs to these asset exchange values represented Level 1 independent active exchange market price inputs.
Pioneer Natural Resources Stock Fund
Investments in the Company's common stock are valued at the last reported sales price on December 31, 2017 and 2016 on the exchange on which it is traded. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, all significant inputs to these asset exchange values represented Level 1 independent active exchange market price inputs.
NOTE 5.    Administrative Expenses
The Employer may pay certain expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan, including expenses and fees of the Trustee, but is not obligated to do so. Any Plan expenses not paid by the Employer are paid from the Plan's forfeiture account or from Plan assets. Administrative expenses incurred by the Plan were $412,882 for activity related to the year ended December 31, 2017.
NOTE 6.    Tax Status of the Plan
The Plan received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") dated December 19, 2014, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the IRS, the plan was amended. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualified status. The Company believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code as any areas of noncompliance have been corrected in a timely manner; therefore, the Plan Administrator believes the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.
The financial statement effects of a tax position are recognized when the position is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, to be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2017, there are no uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken. The Plan has recognized no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Plan is subject to audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan Administrator believes the Plan is no longer subject to tax examinations for years prior to 2014.
NOTE 7.    Related Party Transactions
Plan investments are in shares or units of registered investment company funds and common/collective trusts that are managed by the Trustee or for which the Trustee provides services. The Plan also invests in the common stock of the Company. Transactions in these funds and the Pioneer Natural Resources Stock Fund qualify as party-in-interest transactions. These transactions are exempt from the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA.
NOTE 8.    Subsequent Events

Effective January 1, 2018, members of the Millwood Union will receive a matching contribution equal to 100 percent of the first six percent of pre-tax contributions and pre-tax contributions designated as Roth contributions.

On February 6, 2018, the Company executed an amendment to the Plan that changed its automatic enrollment provisions. Employees who (1) were eligible for participation in the Plan on January 29, 2018 or later and (2) are not members of certain unions will be automatically enrolled in the Plan at, or increased to, a contribution rate of five percent of the employee's Basic Compensation, unless the employee opts out of participation or makes an alternate election within 30 days of being notified of this policy change or becoming eligible for participation, whichever is later.

In March 2018, participants were sent a notification of changes to the Plan's investment options and annual fees in an ongoing effort to provide a broad range of investment options at a low cost.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2018, a flat quarterly fee of $16.25 ($65.00 annually) will be deducted from each participant's account to cover expenses associated with administering the Plan. Historically, these recordkeeping fees were included in the individual fund expense ratios.

12

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016




Changes to the Plan's investment options included:
12 lower-cost Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement Funds replaced the 12 Vanguard Target Retirement Funds since the expense ratio for the replacement funds is less than the funds replaced;
Nine additional investments switched to lower cost shares; and
Rebates will be paid for the (i) Carillon Eagle Small Cap Growth Fund Class 1, (ii) T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund Retail Class, (iii) TCW Total Return Bond Fund I Class, and (iv) T. Rowe Price New Era Fund Retail Class. These rebates were historically rebated to Vanguard to cover recordkeeping expenses; however, due to the change in annual fees noted above, Vanguard will now credit the rebate to participant accounts who participate in these funds.

The following table details the changes to investment options effective March 29, 2018:
Fund offered through March 28, 2018
 
Fund offered as of March 29, 2018
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement Income Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2015 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2020 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2025 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2030 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2035 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2040 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2045 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2050 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund

 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2055 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2060 Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2065 Fund
 
Vanguard Institutional Target Retirement 2065 Fund
JPMorgan Disciplined Equity Fund Class L
 
JPMorgan Disciplined Equity Fund Class R6
JPMorgan Small Cap Equity Fund Class R5
 
JPMorgan Small Cap Equity Fund Class R6
Templeton Global Bond Fund Advisor Class
 
Templeton Global Bond Fund Class R6
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares
 
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Shares
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund Investor Shares
 
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund Admiral Shares
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares
 
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Institutional Shares
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares
 
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Shares
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares
 
Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares
Vanguard Windsor II Fund Investor Shares
 
Vanguard Windsor II Fund Admiral Shares


13

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC. 401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN
Schedule H; Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year)
EIN: 75-2516853
Plan Number: 001
As of December 31, 2017

 
 
 
 
(c)
 
 
 
 
(b)
 
Description of investment including
 
(e)
 
 
Identity of issuer, borrower,
 
maturity date, rate of interest, collateral,
 
Current
(a)
 
lessor, or similar party
 
par or maturity value
 
Value
*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund – 537,298 shares
 
$
69,252,394

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard 500 Index Fund – 254,463 shares
 
62,806,555

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Retirement Saving Trust III – 48,301,240 shares
 
48,301,240

*
 
Pioneer Natural Resources Company
 
Pioneer Natural Resources Stock Fund – 679,922 units
 
42,026,003

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund – 1,967,009 shares
 
35,878,248

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Institutional Class – 3,171,845 shares
 
34,097,330

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund – 1,337,769 shares
 
30,099,804

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Windsor II Fund – 734,890 shares
 
27,800,876

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund – 766,946 shares
 
27,763,457

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund – 406,018 shares
 
27,081,409

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund – 729,871 shares
 
26,107,496

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund – 808,407 shares
 
25,367,808

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund – 728,990 shares
 
24,515,945

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Wellington Fund – 578,238 shares
 
24,303,333

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund – 1,160,274 shares
 
24,006,069

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund – 1,223,579 shares
 
22,636,219

*
 
Loans to participants
 
Interest rates range from 4.25% to 6% with various maturities
 
19,449,883

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund – 423,719 shares
 
16,622,483

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Extended Market Index Institutional Class – 168,451 shares
 
14,276,231

 
 
American Funds
 
American Funds Euro Pacific Growth Fund – 210,792 shares
 
11,833,877

 
 
JP Morgan
 
JP Morgan Disciplined Equity Institutional Class – 356,617 shares
 
10,085,118

 
 
Eagle Asset Management
 
Eagle Small Cap Growth I – 153,369 shares
 
9,602,455

 
 
T. Rowe Price
 
T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund – 99,332 shares
 
8,643,893

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund – 478,662 shares
 
7,337,895

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Institutional Class – 530,684 shares
 
5,535,030

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Mid-Cap Value Index Fund Admiral – 84,275 shares
 
4,866,055

 
 
JP Morgan
 
JP Morgan Small Cap Equity Fund – 84,005 shares
 
4,816,032

 
 
Oppenheimer Funds Inc.
 
Oppenheimer International Small Co I – 90,418 shares
 
4,450,357

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund – 327,787 shares
 
4,441,520

 
 
Oppenheimer Funds Inc.
 
Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund – 101,732 shares
 
4,367,342

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund – 118,831 shares
 
4,116,322

 
 
PIMCO
 
PIMCO Income Fund, Institutional Class – 326,792 shares
 
4,055,485

 
 
TCW
 
TCW Total Return Bond Fund I – 313,366 shares
 
3,111,721

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard REIT Index Fund Admiral – 26,358 shares
 
3,098,417

 
 
Franklin Templeton Investments
 
Templeton Global Bond Fund – 236,923 shares
 
2,807,539

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund Admiral – 35,817 shares
 
2,042,259

 
 
T. Rowe Price
 
TRP New ERA Fund – 42,132 shares
 
1,537,817

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund – 1,358,451 shares
 
1,358,451

*
 
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company
 
Vanguard Target Retirement 2065 Fund – 1,189 shares
 
25,800

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
700,526,168

_______________
*
Party-in-interest

Note: Column (d) is not applicable since all investments are participant directed.

14


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Plan Administrator has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC.
401(k) AND MATCHING PLAN

Date: June 28, 2018
By:
/s/ Teresa A. Fairbrook
 
 
Teresa A. Fairbrook
 
 
Member of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
401(k) and Matching Plan Committee

Date: June 28, 2018
By:
/s/ Elizabeth A. McDonald
 
 
Elizabeth A. McDonald
 
 
Member of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
401(k) and Matching Plan Committee

Date: June 28, 2018
By:
/s/ W. Paul McDonald
 
 
W. Paul McDonald
 
 
Member of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
401(k) and Matching Plan Committee

Date: June 28, 2018
By:
/s/ Margaret M. Montemayor
 
 
Margaret M. Montemayor
 
 
Member of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
401(k) and Matching Plan Committee

Date: June 28, 2018
By:
/s/ Thomas J. Murphy
 
 
Thomas J. Murphy
 
 
Member of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
401(k) and Matching Plan Committee

Date: June 28, 2018
By:
/s/ Christopher M. Paulsen
 
 
Chris M. Paulsen
 
 
Member of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
401(k) and Matching Plan Committee

Date: June 28, 2018
By:
/s/ Kerry D. Scott
 
 
Kerry D. Scott
 
 
Member of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
401(k) and Matching Plan Committee

15


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
 
 
Description
 
 
 
23.1 (a)
 
Consent of Whitley Penn LLP
_____________
(a) Filed herewith.


16