Imperial Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Imperial Metals Corporation (the “Company”) III reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
FINANCIAL
Adjusted EBITDA increased by $63.7 million to $74.2 million in Q3 2024 compared to $10.5 million in Q3 2023.
Total revenue was $146.1 million in the September 2024 quarter compared to $78.5 million in the 2023 comparative quarter.
In the September 2024 quarter, the Red Chris mine (100% basis) had 4.0 concentrate shipments (2023-3.4 concentrate shipments). Mount Polley mine had 2.0 concentrate shipments (2023-1.2 concentrate shipments).
Variations in revenue are impacted by the increased quantity of concentrate sold, timing and quantity of concentrate shipments, metal prices and exchange rates, and period end revaluations of revenue attributed to concentrate shipments where copper and gold prices will settle at a future date.
The London Metals Exchange cash settlement copper price per pound averaged US$4.17 in the September 2024 quarter compared to US$3.79 in the 2023 comparative quarter. The LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) gold price per troy ounce averaged US$2,476 in the September 2024 quarter compared to US$1,929 in the 2023 comparative quarter. The average US/CDN Dollar exchange rate was 1.364 in the September 2024 quarter, 1.7% higher than the exchange rate of 1.341 in the September 2023 quarter. In CDN Dollar terms the average copper price in the September 2024 quarter was CDN$5.69 per pound compared to CDN$5.08 per pound in the 2023 comparative quarter, and the average gold price in the September 2024 quarter was CDN$3,377 per ounce compared to CDN$2,587 per ounce in the 2023 comparative quarter.
A revenue revaluation in the September 2024 quarter was $1.1 million as compared to a negative revenue revaluation of $(3.4) million in the 2023 comparative quarter. Revenue revaluations are the result of the metal price on the settlement date and/or the current period balance sheet date being higher or lower than when the revenue was initially recorded or the metal price at the last balance sheet date and finalization of contained metal as a result of final assays and weights.
Net income for the September 2024 quarter was $32.3 million ($0.20 income per share) compared to net loss of $2.9 million ($0.02 loss per share) in the 2023 comparative quarter. The increase in net income of $35.2 million primarily due to the following factors:
- Income from mine operations went from $0.5 million in the September 2023 quarter to an income of $60.4 million in September 2024, increasing net income by $59.9 million
- Interest expense went from $8.7 million in September 2023 to $9.2 million in September 2024, reducing net income by $0.5 million, and
- Income and mining tax went from a recovery of $9.0 million in September 2023 to tax expense of $14.3 million on September 2024, reducing net income by $23.3 million.
Capital expenditures including leases were $64.4 million in the September 2024 quarter, an increase of $24.6 million from $39.8 million in the 2023 comparative quarter. The September 2024 quarter expenditures included $2.9 million in exploration and development, $22.7 million for tailings dam construction, $12.7 million on stripping costs, and $26.1 million of other capital.
At September 30, 2024, the Company had not hedged any copper, gold or US/CDN Dollar exchange. Quarterly revenues will fluctuate depending on copper and gold prices, the US/CDN Dollar exchange rate, and the timing of concentrate sales, which is dependent on concentrate production and the availability and scheduling of transportation.
OPERATIONS
During the quarter ended September 30, 2024, Imperial’s consolidated metal production was 15,515,080 pounds copper and 13,551 ounces gold, of which 9,821,882 pounds copper and 9,527 ounces gold were produced at Mount Polley and 5,693,198 pounds copper and 4,024 ounces gold from its 30% share of Red Chris mine production.
Mount Polley Mine
Mount Polley metal production for the third quarter of 2024 was 9,821,882 pounds copper and 9,527 ounces gold, compared to 9,281,498 pounds copper and 10,009 ounces gold produced during the second quarter of 2024.
Mill throughput in the third quarter was down by 2%, with 1.694 million tonnes being treated compared with 1.714 million tonnes treated in the second quarter of 2024. Copper production in the third quarter 2024 was up by 6% largely on higher copper grade, 0.316% copper versus 0.294% copper in the second quarter of 2024.
Compared to the third quarter of 2023, mill throughput was up 8.6%, with 1.694 million tonnes being treated compared with 1.560 million tonnes treated in the third quarter of 2023. Copper production in the third quarter 2024 was up by 21.9%, compared to the same quarter in 2023, with copper grade, recovery and mill throughput all higher. Gold production was lower at 9,527 ounces in the third quarter of 2024 compared to 11,321 ounces produced in the comparative quarter of 2023 on lower grades and recovery which were partially offset by higher throughput.
For the nine months of 2024, copper production was up 21% compared to the same period last year with 16% increase in throughput while gold production was down 6%, with lower gold grades and recovery offsetting the higher throughput.
Stripping for the Phase 5 pushback of the Springer pit continues and approximately 3.97 million tonnes from this pushback was mined to the end of September 2024, with much of this material hauled to the TSF for buttress construction.
Three Months Ended September 30 |
Nine Months Ended September 30 |
|||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
Ore milled – tonnes | 1,694,355 | 1,560,270 | 5,080,190 | 4,380,748 | ||||
Ore milled per calendar day – tonnes | 18,417 | 16,959 | 18,541 | 16,047 | ||||
Grade % – copper | 0.316 | 0.295 | 0.287 | 0.282 | ||||
Grade g/t – gold | 0.251 | 0.322 | 0.265 | 0.320 | ||||
Recovery % – copper | 83.2 | 79.5 | 82.2 | 80.1 | ||||
Recovery % – gold | 69.7 | 70.1 | 68.2 | 69.9 | ||||
Copper – 000’s pounds | 9,822 | 8,057 | 26,459 | 21,798 | ||||
Gold – ounces | 9,527 | 11,321 | 29,544 | 31,485 | ||||
Exploration, development, and capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2024 were $27.8 million compared to $13.1 million in the 2023 comparative quarter.
Red Chris Mine
Red Chris production (100%) for the third quarter of 2024 was 18,977,325 pounds copper and 13,414 ounces gold compared to 20,731,379 pounds copper and 12,531ounces gold during the second quarter of 2024.
The reduction in copper production was primarily due to lower throughput, which was partially offset by the higher recovery. The current quarter throughput was 21,690 tonnes per day compared to 27,357 tonnes per day to the second quarter 2024. There was a 21% decrease in throughput and an 8% increase in copper grade (0.504% vs 0.466%). Gold production in the third quarter 2024 was up 7% (13,414 oz vs 12,531 oz) compared to the second quarter 2024 as result of a 21% increase in gold grades (0.37 g/t gold vs 0.30 g/t gold), which was partially offset by lower throughput.
In the 2024 third quarter, Red Chris copper production was up 38% and gold production was up 33.5% compared to the third quarter of 2023. The increase in copper production was a result of a 45.7% increase in copper grade (0.50% vs 0.35%) and an 8.6% increase in recovery (85.6% vs 78.8%). The increase in gold production was a result of a 41.2% increase in gold grade (0.365 g/t vs 0.258 g/t) and an 8.5% increase in recovery (57.3% vs 52.8%).
For the nine months of 2024, copper production was up 44% compared to the same period last year on higher copper grades and gold production was up 4% on higher gold grades.
Imperial’s 30% portion of Red Chris mine for the third quarter of 2024 was 5,693,198 pounds copper and 4,024 ounces gold.
100% Red Chris mine production | Three Months Ended September 30 |
Nine Months Ended September 30 |
||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
Ore milled – tonnes | 1,995,442 | 2,288,860 | 6,585,328 | 6,737,288 | ||||
Ore milled per calendar day – tonnes | 21,690 | 24,879 | 24,034 | 24,679 | ||||
Grade % – copper | 0.504 | 0.346 | 0.466 | 0.340 | ||||
Grade g/t – gold | 0.365 | 0.258 | 0.308 | 0.304 | ||||
Recovery % – copper | 85.6 | 78.8 | 83.2 | 77.3 | ||||
Recovery % – gold | 57.3 | 52.8 | 54.3 | 51.9 | ||||
Copper – 000’s pounds | 18,977 | 13,753 | 56,369 | 39,072 | ||||
Gold – ounces | 13,414 | 10,048 | 35,452 | 34,224 | ||||
Imperial’s 30% share of exploration, development, and capital expenditures were $36.1 million in the September 2024 quarter compared to $26.0 million in the 2023 comparative quarter.
Several capital projects are underway to improve safety and site efficiency; a coarse ore stockpile cover is being installed, a tailings thickener is being added to the circuit to recycle water to the mill along with other improvements.
Block Cave Project Update
The Red Chris JV permitting group continue work to advance the required permitting approvals for the planned Block Cave mine, as they continue to work collaboratively with both Tahltan and British Columbia governments through the process.
Red Chris Block Cave feasibility study work is focused on permitting, capital cost estimate and schedule refinement to ensure accuracy and execution so that a feasibility study can be delivered in advance of receiving final permitting for the block cave.
The underground development has continued with a total of 10,762 metres (including all vent drives) completed to the end of September 2024, with 266 metres completed in the quarter. The work on the decline to access the extraction level (Nagha decline) did not advance in the quarter. Development work focused on the three conveyor declines which have advanced 2,408 metres to the end of September 2024.
Underground development activities will be aligned to the permitting schedule with the Nagha decline expected to be completed to the extraction level elevation by June 2025
Huckleberry Mine
Huckleberry operations ceased in August 2016 and the mine remains on care and maintenance status.
Site personnel continue to focus on maintaining site access, water management (treatment and release of mine contact water into Tahtsa Reach), snow removal, maintenance of site infrastructure and equipment, mine permit compliance, environmental compliance monitoring and monitoring tailings management facilities.
For the September 2024 quarter, Huckleberry incurred idle mine costs comprised of $1.9 million in operating costs and $0.3 million in depreciation expense compared to $2.0 million in operating cost and $0.2 million in depreciation expense in the comparable quarter of 2023.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
The technical and scientific information related to the Company’s mineral projects has been reviewed and approved by Brian Kynoch, P.Eng., President of Imperial Metals, and a designated Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
Jim Miller-Tait, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration with Imperial Metals, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the Red Chris, Mount Polley and Huckleberry mines and greenfield exploration programs.
EARNINGS AND CASH FLOW
Select Quarter Financial Information
expressed in thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts |
Three Months Ended September 30 |
Nine Months Ended September 30 |
||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2923 | |||||
Operations: | ||||||||
Total revenues | $146,098 | $78,485 | $362,397 | $256,910 | ||||
Net income (loss) | $32,268 | $(2,911 | ) | $43,473 | $(26,213 | ) | ||
Net income (loss) per share | $0.20 | $(0.02 | ) | $0.27 | $(0.17 | ) | ||
Diluted income (loss) per share | $0.20 | $(0.02 | ) | $0.27 | $(0.17 | ) | ||
Adjusted net income (loss) (1) | $32,268 | $(2,955 | ) | $43,397 | $(26,266 | ) | ||
Adjusted net income (loss) per share (1) | $0.20 | $(0.02 | ) | $0.27 | $(0.17 | ) | ||
Adjusted EBITDA (1) | $74,243 | $10,483 | $139,585 | $17,333 | ||||
Cash earnings (1)(2) | $72,720 | $9,841 | $137,174 | $16,515 | ||||
Cash earnings per share (1)(2) | $0.45 | $0.06 | $0.85 | $0.11 | ||||
Working capital deficiency | $(151,915 | ) | $(152,990 | ) | $(151,915 | ) | $(152,990 | ) |
Total assets | $1,534,533 | $1,369,152 | $1,534,533 | $1,369,152 | ||||
Total debt (including current portion) | $378,347 | $292,419 | $378,347 | $292,419 | ||||
(1) Refer to Non-IFRS Financial Measures for further details. | ||||||||
(2) Cash earnings is defined as the cash flow from operations before the net change in non-cash working capital balances, income and mining taxes, and interest paid. Cash earnings per share is defined as cash earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. | ||||||||
NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company reports four non-IFRS financial measures: adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, cash earnings and cash cost per pound of copper produced which are described in detail below. The Company believes these measures are useful to investors because they are included in the measures that are used by management in assessing the financial performance of the Company.
Adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, cash earnings and cash cost per pound of copper are not standardized financial measures under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Adjusted net income (loss) is derived from operating net income (loss) by removing the gains or loss, resulting from acquisition and disposal of property, mark to market revaluation of derivative instruments not related to the current period, net of tax, unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses on non-current debt, net of tax and other non-recurring items. Adjusted net income in the September 2024 quarter was $32.3 million ($0.20 income per share) compared to an adjusted net loss of $3.0 million ($0.02 loss per share) in the 2023 comparative quarter. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) helps investors better understand the results of our normal operating activities and the ongoing cash generating potential of our business.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA in the September 2024 quarter was $74.2 million compared to an adjusted EBITDA of $10.5 million in the 2023 comparative quarter. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest expense, taxes, depletion, and depreciation, and as adjusted for certain other items.
Cash Earnings and Cash Earnings Per Share
Cash earnings in the September 2024 quarter was $72.7 million compared to $9.8 million in the 2023 comparative quarter. Cash earnings per share was $0.45 in the September 2024 quarter compared to $0.06 in the 2023 comparative quarter.
Cash earnings and cash earnings per share are measures used by the Company to evaluate its performance however they are not terms recognized under IFRS. We believe that the presentation of cash earnings and cash earnings per share is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about how well the Company can earn cash to pay its debts and manage its operating expenses and investment. Cash earnings is defined as cash flow from operations before the net change in non-cash working capital balances, income and mining taxes paid, and interest paid. Cash earnings per share is the same measure divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.
Cash Cost Per Pound of Copper Produced
Management uses this non-IFRS financial measure to monitor operating costs and profitability. The Company is primarily a copper producer and therefore calculates this non-IFRS financial measure individually for its three copper mines, Red Chris (30% share), Mount Polley and Huckleberry, and on a composite basis for these mines.
Variations from period to period in the cash cost per pound of copper produced are the result of many factors including: grade, metal recoveries, amount of stripping charged to operations, mine and mill operating conditions, labour and other cost inputs, transportation and warehousing costs, treatment and refining costs, the amount of by-product and other revenues, the US$ to CDN$ exchange rate and the amount of copper produced.
Calculation of Cash Cost Per Pound of Copper Produced | ||||||||
expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced | Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||
Mount Polley | Red Chris | Composite | ||||||
Cash cost of copper produced in US$ | $1,016 | $19,263 | $20,278 | |||||
Copper produced – 000’s pounds | 9,822 | 5,693 | 15,515 | |||||
Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ | $0.10 | $3.38 | $1.31 | |||||
expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced | Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||
Mount Polley | Red Chris | Composite | ||||||
Cash cost of copper produced in US$ | $14,025 | $18,253 | $32,278 | |||||
Copper produced – 000’s pounds | 8,057 | 4,126 | 12,183 | |||||
Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ | $1.74 | $4.42 | $2.65 |
expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||
Mount Polley | Red Chris | Composite | ||||||
Cash cost of copper produced in US$ | $21,130 | $57,389 | $78,520 | |||||
Copper produced – 000’s pounds | 26,458 | 16,910 | 43,368 | |||||
Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ | $0.80 | $3.39 | $1.81 | |||||
expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||
Mount Polley | Red Chris | Composite | ||||||
Cash cost of copper produced in US$ | $46,987 | $55,243 | $102,230 | |||||
Copper produced – 000’s pounds | 21,798 | 11,722 | 33,520 | |||||
Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ | $2.16 | $4.71 | $3.05 | |||||
—
For detailed information, refer to Imperial’s 2024 Third Quarter Management’s Discussion and Analysis available on imperialmetals.com and sedarplus.ca.
About Imperial
Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company with holdings that include the Mount Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), and the Red Chris mine (30%). Imperial also holds a portfolio of 23 greenfield exploration properties in British Columbia.
Company Contacts
Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959
Darb S. Dhillon | Chief Financial Officer | 604.669.8959
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this news release are not statements of historical fact and are “forward-looking” statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company management’s expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, specific statements regarding the Company’s expectations with respect to its ability to remain on track to achieve 2024 guidance; the continuation of work (including refinements of capital cost estimates and schedules) to advance preparation for the feasibility study and required permitting approvals for Red Chris’ planned Block Cave mine; the alignment of Red Chris underground development activities to the permitting schedule and the expectation that the Red Chris Nagha decline will be completed to the extraction level elevation by the end of 2024; the care and maintenance activities at the Huckleberry mine; and more general statements regarding the Company’s expectations with respect to its business and operations; metal pricing and demand; fluctuation of revenues; metal production guidance and estimates; and expectations regarding the usefulness of non-IFRS financial measures including adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, cash earnings and cash cost per pound of copper.
In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “outlook”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved” or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on information currently available to the Company as well as the Company’s current beliefs and assumptions. These factors and assumptions and beliefs and assumptions include, the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s interim and annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis of those statements, and the risk factors detailed in the Company’s Annual Information Form, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and all forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
DJT stock sees wild swings ahead of election results, briefly halted for volatility
Trump Media & Technology Group stock (DJT) surged as much as 25% in after-hours trading on Tuesday as investors brace for more wild swings with early voting results underway. Shares have since retreated, rising a more modest 10%.
Trump has clinched Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia, according to the Associated Press, while Harris has claimed Vermont.
The stock had a wild session during market hours after trading was halted several times due to volatility, with shares quickly erasing 15% gains and reversing Monday’s double-digit percentage rise to kick off the week.
Shares were still able to somewhat recover from steeper losses, although the stock still closed down a little over 1%.
Last week, shares suffered their largest percentage decline and closed down around 20% to end the five-day period on Friday, which shaved off around $4 billion from the company’s market cap. The stock has still more than doubled from its September lows.
The latest price action comes as investors await the results of the presidential election between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Volatility in the stock is expected to continue. One investor has warned that if Trump loses the election, shares of DJT could plunge to $0.
“It’s a binary bet on the election,” Matthew Tuttle, CEO of investment fund Tuttle Capital Management, recently told Yahoo Finance’s Catalysts.
Read more: Trump vs. Harris: 4 ways the next president could impact your bank accounts
Tuttle, who currently owns put options on the stock, said the trajectory of shares hinges on “a buy the rumor, sell the fact” trading strategy.
“I would imagine that the day after him winning, you’d see this come down,” he surmised. “If he loses, I think it goes to zero.”
Interactive Brokers’ chief strategist Steve Sosnick said DJT has taken on a meme-stock “life of its own.”
“It was volatile on the way up, and when a stock is that volatile in one direction, it has a tendency to be that volatile in the other direction,” he said on a call with Yahoo Finance last week.
Prior to the recent volatility, shares in the company — the home of the Republican nominee’s social media platform, Truth Social — had been steadily rising in recent weeks as both domestic and overseas betting markets shifted in favor of a Trump victory.
Prediction sites like Polymarket, PredictIt, and Kalshi all showed Trump’s presidential chances ahead of those of Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris. That lead, however, narrowed significantly over the weekend as new polling showed Harris surpassing Trump in Iowa, which has historically voted Republican.
Israel's Netanyahu Fires Defense Minister Gallant Over Lack Of Trust in War Management, Oil Prices Rise As US Election Results Loom
On a day when global attention focused on the U.S. presidential election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the dismissal of defense minister Yoav Gallant, amid a crisis of trust over differences in managing Israel’s war efforts in Gaza.
Gallant, who had held the defense minister post since 2022, has been a key figure in Israel’s response to the ongoing conflicts against Hamas and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
According to Netanyahu’s remarks, the relationship between the two deteriorated in recent months, fueled by what the prime minister described as significant gaps in their approach to the war effort.
“I tried to bridge these gaps, but they kept getting wider,” Netanyahu said in a statement. He argued that the trust issues had become “public domain,” a development that he claimed was exploited by Israel’s adversaries.
Gallant, for his part, responded to the firing on X, formerly known as Twitter. He expressed unwavering commitment to Israel’s safety.
“The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life,” he wrote.
In place of Gallant, Netanyahu has appointed Israel Katz, a seasoned politician who has held multiple cabinet positions, including minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance, and minister of intelligence.
“He is known as a bulldozer with a combination of responsibility and firmness, quiet firmness, and all of these are very important for managing the campaign,” Netanyahu said about Katz.
Additionally, Netanyahu revealed discussions with minister without portfolio Gideon Sa’ar, inviting him to join the coalition as Foreign Minister.
Market Reactions: Oil, Israeli Stocks Rise
News of Gallant’s dismissal and the internal discord in Israel’s wartime leadership had a marginal impact on financial markets, with traders fully focused on the upcoming results from U.S. elections.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude, tracked by the United States Oil Fund USO, was 0.6% up to $72.2 a barrel as of 3:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, holding earlier gains during the session and marking its second consecutive day in the green.
Israeli stocks saw a slight boost Tuesday, with the VanEck Israel ETF ISRA climbing 0.8%.
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Xbox Game Pass November: Metal Slug Tactics, Flight Simulator Lead New Releases
Microsoft Corp.‘s MSFT November Xbox Game Pass lineup offers a diverse selection, featuring everything from tactical RPGs to quirky simulators and high-fidelity flight experiences.
Here’s what’s coming to Game Pass this month, as announced in an Xbox Wire post:
- Metal Slug Tactics (Cloud, Console, and PC – Nov. 5)
Dive into this dynamic tactical RPG that combines the iconic run-and-gun action of the Metal Slug series with roguelite elements. Assemble your squad and conquer the battlefield in this strategic twist on a classic.
See Also: Microsoft’s Decision To Shut Down Arkane Austin Called ‘Stupid’ By Studio Founder
- StarCraft: Remastered (PC – Nov. 5)
Experience the legendary sci-fi real-time strategy game that set the bar for the genre. With enhanced graphics, relive the battles between the Terran, Protoss, and Zerg in this definitive version of the original StarCraft. - StarCraft II: Campaign Collection (PC – Nov. 5)
Delve into the epic campaigns of StarCraft II, featuring immersive single-player stories and intense strategy gameplay. This collection brings together the entire StarCraft II narrative, perfect for fans and newcomers alike. - Go Mecha Ball (Console – Nov. 6)
Engage in fast-paced, mecha-themed action as you control a ball-shaped robot on a mission. This title combines unique mechanics and challenging levels, offering a fresh take on robot combat. - Harold Halibut (Xbox Series X|S – Nov. 6)
Step into an underwater world crafted with stop-motion aesthetics in this narrative-driven adventure. Follow Harold, a lab assistant on a spaceship submerged in an ocean, as he unravels a heartfelt story. - The Rewinder (Console – Nov. 6)
Inspired by Chinese folklore, this puzzle-adventure game follows the journey of a Rewinder who can manipulate memories. Help lost souls resolve their regrets in a mystical, hand-drawn world. - Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Console – Nov. 6)
Take control of the mischievous Turnip Boy in this quirky action-adventure, where he teams up with a mob of veggies to rob a bank. Expect humor, action, and plenty of surprises. - Goat Simulator Remastered (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S – Nov. 7)
The ultimate chaos simulator returns with upgraded graphics and classic DLCs. Headbutt, flip, and lick your way through a sandbox world in this redefined edition of the fan-favorite Goat Simulator. - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S – Nov. 19)
Push your piloting skills to new heights in the latest installment of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Featuring a vast fleet of aircraft and the most realistic world map to date, this edition brings dynamically generated missions and the ultimate in simulation realism.
Games Leaving Game Pass On Nov. 15, 2024:
Be sure to wrap up your gameplay in the following titles before they leave the service:
- Dicey Dungeons (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Dungeons 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Goat Simulator (PC)
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Persona 5 Tactica (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Somerville (Cloud, Console, and PC)
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Insider Unloading: Christine J Spadafor Sells $75K Worth Of Boyd Gaming Shares
Making a noteworthy insider sell on November 4, Christine J Spadafor, Director at Boyd Gaming BYD, is reported in the latest SEC filing.
What Happened: Spadafor’s decision to sell 1,096 shares of Boyd Gaming was revealed in a Form 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The total value of the sale is $75,448.
The latest update on Tuesday morning shows Boyd Gaming shares down by 0.0%, trading at $68.31.
All You Need to Know About Boyd Gaming
Boyd Gaming Corp is a multi-jurisdictional gaming company. The company operates wholly-owned gaming entertainment properties (casino space, slot machines, table games, and hotel rooms) in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Geographical regions separate its business segments: Las Vegas Locals, Downtown Las Vegas, Midwest and South, and Online. Midwest and South hold the key number of entertainment properties, and it generate the majority of sales for the company.
Key Indicators: Boyd Gaming’s Financial Health
Revenue Growth: Boyd Gaming’s revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 6.43%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company’s top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Consumer Discretionary sector.
Profitability Metrics:
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Gross Margin: The company excels with a remarkable gross margin of 51.95%, indicating superior cost efficiency and profitability compared to its industry peers.
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Earnings per Share (EPS): Boyd Gaming’s EPS outshines the industry average, indicating a strong bottom-line trend with a current EPS of 1.43.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 2.35.
Valuation Metrics:
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Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The P/E ratio of 12.99 is lower than the industry average, implying a discounted valuation for Boyd Gaming’s stock.
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Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The Price to Sales ratio is 1.7, which is lower than the industry average. This suggests a possible undervaluation based on sales performance.
-
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): The company’s EV/EBITDA ratio 8.79 is below the industry average, indicating that it may be relatively undervalued compared to peers.
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company exhibits a lower market capitalization profile, positioning itself below industry averages. This suggests a smaller scale relative to peers.
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Uncovering the Importance of Insider Activity
While insider transactions provide valuable information, they should be part of a broader analysis in making investment decisions.
In legal terms, an “insider” refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of a company’s equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This can include executives in the c-suite and large hedge funds. These insiders are required to let the public know of their transactions via a Form 4 filing, which must be filed within two business days of the transaction.
When a company insider makes a new purchase, that is an indication that they expect the stock to rise.
Insider sells, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean that the seller thinks the stock will go down.
Unlocking the Meaning of Transaction Codes
Taking a closer look at transactions, investors often prioritize those unfolding in the open market, meticulously cataloged in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A signifies a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
Check Out The Full List Of Boyd Gaming’s Insider Trades.
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McEwen Mining: Q3 2024 Results
TORONTO, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — McEwen Mining Inc. MUX MUX today released its financial and operational results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (“Q3”). The Company achieved significant improvements in revenue and operating profitability, driven by higher gold prices and strong production. The results reflect McEwen Mining’s ongoing commitment to expanding gold and silver production, advancing its large copper project and robust investment in exploration programs.
Financial Highlights (Q3 2024 vs Q3 2023)
- Revenue increased 36% to $52.3 million due to higher realized gold prices and an increase in gold equivalent ounces (GEOs) produced for our 100%-owned mines. Average gold price sold was $2,499 per ounce in Q3 vs $1,920 in Q3 2023.
- Gross profit increased 268% to $13.8 million due to higher gold prices, improved operational efficiencies and higher production.
- Net loss significantly decreased to $2.1 million or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $18.5 million or $(0.39) per share in Q3 2023, reflecting the Company’s focused efforts on cost controls and lower expenditures at the Los Azules copper project.
- Operating cash flow increased to $23.2 million or $0.45 per share, compared to negative operating cash flow of $2.3 million or $(0.04) per share in Q3 2023, primarily reflecting the improvement in gross profit above.
- Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased 586% to $10.5 million or $0.20 per share, compared to $1.5 million or $0.03 per share in Q3 2023. Adjusted EBITDA excludes the impact of McEwen Copper’s results and reflects the operating earnings of our mining assets, including the San José mine. This measure underscores McEwen Mining’s success in improving cash flow and operating performance across its production portfolio.
Operational Highlights
- Gold Bar Mine, Nevada: Production reached 13,640 oz Au(1) in Q3, a 43% increase compared to the same period in 2023, driven by higher gold grades and improved recovery rates. The site is on track to meet its annual production guidance of 40,000 to 43,000 oz Au.
- Fox Complex, Canada: Production totaled 7,855 oz Au(1) down 30% year-over-year, impacted by a temporary shortfall in development due to a stope failure in Q2 2024 that limited stope availability. However, the Company anticipates enhanced stope availability in Q4 2024, which will support increased production. The Fox Complex is expected to produce approximately 15-20% fewer ounces compared to its annual guidance of 40,000 to 42,000 oz Au.
- San José Mine, Argentina: The 49% share of production from the San José Mine in Argentina was 13,684 GEOs(1)(3). Lower than anticipated grades contributed to a 23% decrease from Q3 2023. Nevertheless, Hochschild plc, as operator of the San José mine, expects to achieve its annual guidance for San José, which stands at 50,000 to 60,000 GEOs for McEwen Mining’s attributable share. The improved metal price environment has allowed the San José mine to build a strong liquidity position, with an increase of $40.4 million in working capital from $34.1 million at September 30, 2023 to $75.5 million at September 30, 2024, while also investing $8.5 million in exploration and $3.5 million in expanding the mill during 2024.
Time Since Last Lost Time Injury (LTI) | |
Gold Bar mine | 54 months no LTI |
Fox Complex | 33 months no LTI |
Los Azules project | 1.3 million manhours no LTI |
Corporate Developments
McEwen Copper recently raised $56 million at $30 per share to fund the ongoing development of its Los Azules copper project in Argentina. Of the total raised, $14 million was contributed by McEwen Mining, $5 million by Rob McEwen, $35 million by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, and $2 million by two individual investors. Following these investments, McEwen Mining’s ownership in McEwen Copper now stands at 46.4% and the post-money market value of McEwen Copper is now $984 million. Over $350 million have been invested in exploration to develop Los Azules as a world-class copper deposit, including amounts spent by Minera Andes Inc. until 2012 and McEwen Mining until 2021.
McEwen Mining completed the acquisition of Timberline Resources in August, thereby expanding our exploration and potential production footprint in Nevada. This acquisition includes three properties in Nevada: Eureka, which is close to our Gold Bar Mine, and contains an oxide gold resource of 423,000 oz (Measured and Indicated) and 84,000 oz (Inferred) plus attractive exploration targets; Paiute, which is adjacent to McEwen Copper’s Elder Creek project; and Seven Troughs, which is purported to host the highest grade historical gold mine in the State of Nevada(4), with production starting from 1907. All represent opportunities for long-term growth.
Exploration and Development Investments Driving Future Growth
The investment in exploration and development continued in the quarter with $6.1 million on the Los Azules copper project and $5.3 million across Gold Bar and Fox Complex. Activities during the quarter were:
- Los Azules Copper Project, Argentina: Our flagship copper development project is moving steadily towards completion of the feasibility study scheduled for publication in the first half of 2025. The latest private placement funding of $56 million will allow McEwen Copper to complete this study. Additional funding will support other initiatives, including discovery-oriented exploration programs.
- Gold Bar Mine, Nevada: Exploration activities are focused on near-mine drilling, aimed at extending the mine life and identifying new resource areas. A mine plan is in place to extend production from Gold Bar into 2029, and additional opportunities at the Eureka property, obtained through the Timberline acquisition, could potentially contribute to production beginning in 2027, depending on permitting and exploration outcomes.
- Fox Complex, Canada: During the first nine months (9M) of 2024, $5.5 million was invested developing our Stock project at the Fox Complex. Earthworks have been completed in preparation for our mine portal construction later in 2024, with the intent of driving a ramp connecting the Stock East, Stock Main and Stock West zones. Rehabilitation of the historic Stock shaft is being considered to provide alternative means of accessing these zones to facilitate increased production.
Individual Mine Performance (See Table 1):
Gold Bar production increased 43% to 13,640 oz Au(1) in Q3, compared to 9,507 oz Au in Q3 2023 due to higher mined grades and recovery rates. During 9M 2024, gold production was 37,654 oz Au and the mine remains on track to meet annual costs per ounce guidance and production of 40,000 to 43,000 oz Au.
Cash costs and AISC per GEO sold(2) in Q3 were $1,281 and $1,822, respectively, due to higher planned stripping costs in the quarter. Operations are expected to deliver on full-year cost guidance.
Gold Bar Mine ($ millions) |
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | ||||
Revenue from gold sales | 33.3 | 18.0 | 88.2 | 45.5 | ||||
Cash costs | 17.1 | 14.4 | 49.5 | 41.5 | ||||
Gross margin | 16.2 | 3.6 | 38.7 | 4.0 | ||||
Gross margin % | 48.6 | % | 20.0 | % | 43.9 | % | 8.8 | % |
Fox gold production was 7,855 oz Au(1), a 30% decrease compared to 11,174 oz Au in Q3 2023 due to a stope failure in Q2 2024, which led to a shortfall in development and limited stope availability during the quarter. During 9M 2024, gold production was 23,600 oz Au vs 34,200 oz Au in 9M 2023. While stope availability is expected to improve during Q4 2024, resulting in higher gold production compared to prior quarters in 2024, annual production is projected to be 15-20% below our guidance of 40,000 to 42,000 oz Au.
Cash costs and AISC per GEO sold(2) in Q3 were $1,572 and $1,953, respectively. Accelerated development costs to improve stope availability for Q4 2024 increased unit costs during the third quarter. While we expect production to improve in the fourth quarter, including by adding new production from our Black Fox mine, we expect unit costs to be 15 to 20% higher than guidance.
Fox Complex ($ millions) |
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | ||||
Revenue from gold sales | 19.0 | 20.3 | 51.5 | 61.9 | ||||
Cash costs | 12.6 | 12.1 | 37.3 | 38.6 | ||||
Gross margin | 5.9 | 8.2 | 14.2 | 23.2 | ||||
Gross margin % | 33.7 | % | 40.4 | % | 27.5 | % | 37.5 | % |
San José’s attributable production was 13,684 GEOs, a 23% decrease from 17,798 GEOs in Q3 2023. Production was impacted by lower gold and silver grades mined. Production is expected to increase during Q4 2024. During 9M 2024, 41,290 attributable GEOs were produced. Hochschild Mining, our joint venture partner and mine operator, asserts that the mine remains on track to meet annual production guidance, with our attributable portion at 50,000 to 60,000 GEOs.
Cash costs per GEO sold(2) in Q3 was $2,173 and AISC per GEO sold was $2,675. While cost inflation remained high from an Argentine perspective, the relative strength of the Peso against the US Dollar continued to increase costs in US Dollar terms. Combined with temporary lower than expected mined grades, unit costs were higher than planned. While production is expected to recover in Q4 2024 through mining from new areas, unit costs are expected to remain above guidance due to macroeconomic factors.
San José Mine—100% basis ($ millions) |
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | ||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | 70.4 | 64.5 | 210.6 | 179.4 | ||||
Cash costs | 58.0 | 43.4 | 154.1 | 131.4 | ||||
Gross margin | 12.4 | 20.8 | 44.2 | 25.4 | ||||
Gross margin % | 35.1 | % | 32.2 | % | 21.0 | % | 14.2 | % |
Management Conference Call
Management will discuss our Q3 financial results and project developments and follow with a question-and-answer session. Questions can be asked directly by participants over the phone during the webcast.
An archived replay of the webcast will be available approximately 2 hours following the conclusion of the live event. Access the replay on the Company’s media page at https://www.mcewenmining.com/media.
Table 1 below provides production and cost results for Q3 & 9M 2024 with comparative results for Q3 & 9M 2023 and our Guidance for 2024.
Q3 | 9M | 2024 Guidance |
|||
2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
Consolidated Production | |||||
GEOs(1) | 38,500 | 35,200 | 104,400 | 103,500 | 130,000-145,000 |
Gold Bar Mine, Nevada | |||||
GEOs(1) | 9,500 | 13,600 | 23,800 | 37,700 | 40,000-43,000 |
Cash Costs per GEO Sold(2) | 1,529 | 1,281 | 1,743 | 1,302 | $1,450-1,550 |
AISC per GEO Sold(2) | 2,160 | 1,822 | 2,203 | 1,548 | $1,650-1,750 |
Fox Complex, Canada | |||||
GEOs(1) | 11,200 | 7,900 | 34,200 | 23,600 | 40,000-42,000 |
Cash Costs per GEO Sold(2) | 1,078 | 1,572 | 1,129 | 1,572 | $1,225-1,325 |
AISC per GEO Sold(2) | 1,288 | 1,953 | 1,321 | 1,909 | $1,450-1,550 |
San José Mine, Argentina (49%)(3) | |||||
GEOs(1) | 17,800 | 13,700 | 46,400 | 41,300 | 50,000-60,000 |
Cash Costs per GEO Sold(2) | 1,445 | 2,173 | 1,505 | 1,788 | $1,300-1,500 |
AISC per GEO Sold(2) | 1,953 | 2,675 | 1,971 | 2,194 | $1,500-1,700 |
Notes:
- ‘Gold Equivalent Ounces’ are calculated based on a gold to silver price ratio of 85:1 for Q3 2024 and 82:1 for Q3 2023. 2024 production guidance is calculated based on an 85:1 gold to silver price ratio. Gold Bar and Fox mines produce insignificant (silver) co-products with gold, therefore GEOs and ‘Oz Au’ are equivalent measures.
- Cash costs per ounce and all-in sustaining costs (AISC) per ounce are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standardized definition under U.S. GAAP. For a definition of the non-GAAP measures see “Non-GAAP- Financial Measures” section in this press release; for the reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the closest U.S. GAAP measures, see the Management Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, filed on EDGAR and SEDAR Plus.
- Represents the portion attributable to us from our 49% interest in the San José Mine.
- Records indicate historic production from 1907-1955 was 158,468 oz. gold grading 35.6 g/t and 995,876 oz. of silver grading 223.9 g/t.
Technical Information
The technical content of this news release related to financial results, mining and development projects has been reviewed and approved by William (Bill) Shaver, P.Eng., COO of McEwen Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by SEC S-K 1300 and the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.”
Reliability of Information Regarding San José
Minera Santa Cruz S.A (MSC)., the owner of the San José Mine, is responsible for and has supplied the Company with all reported results from the San José Mine. McEwen Mining’s joint venture partner, a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining plc, and its affiliates other than MSC do not accept responsibility for the use of project data or the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
We have included in this report certain non-GAAP performance measures as detailed below. In the gold mining industry, these are common performance measures but do not have any standardized meaning and are considered non-GAAP measures. We use these measures to evaluate our business on an ongoing basis and believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, certain investors use such non-GAAP measures to evaluate our performance and ability to generate cash flow. We also report these measures to provide investors and analysts with useful information about our underlying costs of operations and clarity over our ability to finance operations. Accordingly, they are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations associated with the use of such non-GAAP measures. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our US GAAP results and using the non-GAAP measures supplementally.
The non-GAAP measures are presented for our wholly owned mines and our interest in the San José mine. The amounts in the reconciliation tables labeled “49% basis” were derived by applying to each financial statement line item the ownership percentage interest used to arrive at our share of net income or loss during the period when applying the equity method of accounting. We do not control the interest in or operations of MSC and the presentations of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses of MSC do not represent our legal claim to such items. The amount of cash we receive is based upon specific provisions of the Option and Joint Venture Agreement (“OJVA”) and varies depending on factors including the profitability of the operations.
The presentation of these measures, including the minority interest in the San José mine, has limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations include:
- The amounts shown on the individual line items were derived by applying our overall economic ownership interest percentage determined when applying the equity method of accounting and do not represent our legal claim to the assets and liabilities, or the revenues and expenses; and
- Other companies in our industry may calculate their cash costs, cash cost per ounce, all-in sustaining costs, all-in sustaining cost per ounce, adjusted EBITDA and average realized price per ounce differently than we do, limiting the usefulness as a comparative measure.
Cash Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs
The terms cash costs, cash cost per ounce, all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”), and all-in sustaining cost per ounce used in this report are non-GAAP financial measures. We report these measures to provide additional information regarding operational efficiencies on an individual mine basis, and believe these measures used by the mining industry provide investors and analysts with useful information about our underlying costs of operations.
Cash costs consist of mining, processing, on-site general and administrative expenses, community and permitting costs related to current operations, royalty costs, refining and treatment charges (for both doré and concentrate products), sales costs, export taxes and operational stripping costs, but exclude depreciation and amortization (non-cash items). The sum of these costs is divided by the corresponding gold equivalent ounces sold to determine a per ounce amount.
All-in sustaining costs consist of cash costs (as described above), plus accretion of retirement obligations and amortization of the asset retirement costs related to operating sites, environmental rehabilitation costs for mines with no reserves, sustaining exploration and development costs, sustaining capital expenditures and sustaining lease payments. Our all-in sustaining costs exclude the allocation of corporate general and administrative costs. The following is additional information regarding our all-in sustaining costs:
- Sustaining operating costs represent expenditures incurred at current operations that are considered necessary to maintain current annual production at the mine site and include mine development costs and ongoing replacement of mine equipment and other capital facilities. Sustaining capital costs do not include the costs of expanding the project that would result in improved productivity of the existing asset, increased existing capacity or extended useful life.
- Sustaining exploration and development costs include expenditures incurred to sustain current operations and to replace reserves and/or resources extracted as part of the ongoing production. Exploration activity performed near-mine (brownfield) or new exploration projects (greenfield) are classified as non-sustaining.
The sum of all-in sustaining costs is divided by the corresponding gold equivalent ounces sold to determine a per ounce amount.
Costs excluded from cash costs and all-in sustaining costs, in addition to depreciation and depletion, are income and mining tax expense, all corporate financing charges, costs related to business combinations, asset acquisitions and asset disposals, impairment charges and any items that are deducted for the purpose of normalizing items.
The following tables reconcile these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, production costs applicable to sales:
Three months ended September 30, 2024 | Nine months ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per ounce) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||||||||
Production costs applicable to sales (100% owned) | $ | 17,078 | $ | 12,604 | $ | 29,682 | $ | 49,515 | $ | 37,343 | $ | 86,858 | ||||||
Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | 328 | 162 | 490 | 943 | 433 | 1,376 | ||||||||||||
In‑mine exploration | 165 | — | 165 | 647 | — | 647 | ||||||||||||
Capitalized mine development (sustaining) | 5,246 | 2,870 | 8,116 | 5,246 | 7,275 | 12,521 | ||||||||||||
Capital expenditures on plant and equipment (sustaining) | 1,459 | — | 1,459 | 2,438 | — | 2,438 | ||||||||||||
Sustaining leases | 17 | 24 | 41 | 70 | 290 | 360 | ||||||||||||
All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 24,293 | $ | 15,660 | $ | 39,953 | $ | 58,860 | $ | 45,341 | $ | 104,200 | ||||||
Ounces sold, including stream (GEO) | 13.3 | 8.0 | 21.3 | 38.0 | 23.8 | 61.8 | ||||||||||||
Cash cost per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,281 | $ | 1,572 | $ | 1,390 | $ | 1,302 | $ | 1,572 | $ | 1,406 | ||||||
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,822 | $ | 1,953 | $ | 1,871 | $ | 1,548 | $ | 1,909 | $ | 1,687 |
Three months ended September 30, 2023 | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per ounce) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||||||||
Production costs applicable to sales – Cash costs (100% owned) | $ | 14,399 | $ | 12,069 | $ | 26,468 | $ | 41,446 | $ | 38,597 | $ | 80,043 | ||||||
Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
In‑mine exploration | 1,457 | — | 1,457 | 3,054 | — | 3,054 | ||||||||||||
Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) | — | 2,227 | 2,227 | — | 6,058 | 6,058 | ||||||||||||
Capital expenditures on plant and equipment (sustaining) | 4,478 | — | 4,478 | 7,655 | — | 7,655 | ||||||||||||
Sustaining leases | 8 | 124 | 132 | 237 | 523 | 760 | ||||||||||||
All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 20,342 | $ | 14,420 | $ | 34,762 | $ | 52,392 | $ | 45,178 | $ | 97,570 | ||||||
Ounces sold, including stream (GEO) | 9.4 | 11.2 | 20.6 | 23.8 | 34.2 | 58.0 | ||||||||||||
Cash cost per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,529 | $ | 1,078 | $ | 1,284 | $ | 1,743 | $ | 1,129 | $ | 1,381 | ||||||
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 2,160 | $ | 1,288 | $ | 1,686 | $ | 2,203 | $ | 1,321 | $ | 1,683 |
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
San José mine cash costs (100% basis) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||||||
Production costs applicable to sales – Cash costs | $ | 58,031 | $ | 43,380 | $ | 154,136 | $ | 131,434 | ||||||||
Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | 338 | — | 1,003 | 386 | ||||||||||||
Site exploration expenses | 1,605 | 2,538 | 4,926 | 7,336 | ||||||||||||
Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) | 7,045 | 11,890 | 21,425 | 27,939 | ||||||||||||
Less: Depreciation | (616 | ) | (909 | ) | (2,036 | ) | (2,162 | ) | ||||||||
Capital expenditures (sustaining) | 5,031 | 1,718 | 9,674 | 7,119 | ||||||||||||
All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 71,434 | $ | 58,617 | $ | 189,128 | $ | 172,052 | ||||||||
Ounces sold (GEO) | 26.7 | 29.8 | 86.2 | 87.5 | ||||||||||||
Cash cost per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 2,173 | $ | 1,445 | $ | 1,788 | $ | 1,505 | ||||||||
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 2,675 | $ | 1,953 | $ | 2,194 | $ | 1,971 |
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA per share
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have any standardized meaning. We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our operating performance and ability to generate cash flow from our wholly owned operations in production; we disclose this metric as we believe this measure provides valuable assistance to investors and analysts in evaluating our ability to finance our precious metal operations and capital activities separately from our copper exploration operations. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with GAAP is net loss before income and mining taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding back McEwen Copper’s income or loss impacts on our consolidated income or loss before income and mining taxes.
The following tables present a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | (in thousands) | (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
Net loss before income and mining taxes | $ | (1,267 | ) | $ | (28,617 | ) | $ | (39,578 | ) | $ | (110,873 | ) | ||||
Less: | ||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and depletion | 8,921 | 8,506 | 24,009 | 24,286 | ||||||||||||
Loss from investment in McEwen Copper Inc. (Note 9) | 1,852 | — | 36,680 | — | ||||||||||||
Advanced Projects – McEwen Copper Inc. | — | 18,478 | — | 78,883 | ||||||||||||
General, interest and other – McEwen Copper Inc. | — | 2,179 | — | (3,033 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest expense | 983 | 982 | 2,928 | 4,007 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 10,489 | $ | 1,528 | $ | 24,039 | $ | (6,730 | ) | |||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding (thousands) | 51,953 | 47,471 | 50,380 | 47,442 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA per share | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.48 | $ | (0.14 | ) |
Average realized price
The term average realized price per ounce used in this report is also a non-GAAP financial measure. We prepare this measure to evaluate our performance against the market (London P.M. Fix). The average realized price for our 100% owned properties is calculated as gross sales of gold and silver, less streaming revenue, divided by the number of net ounces sold in the period, less ounces sold under the streaming agreement.
The following table reconciles the average realized prices to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, revenue from gold and silver sales. Ounces of gold and silver sold for the San José mine are provided to us by MSC.
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
Average realized price – 100% owned | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 52,250 | $ | 38,404 | $ | 140,954 | $ | 107,551 | ||||
Less: revenue from gold sales, stream | 349 | 527 | 1,283 | 1,567 | ||||||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales, excluding stream | $ | 51,901 | $ | 37,877 | $ | 139,671 | $ | 105,984 | ||||
GEOs sold | 21.3 | 20.6 | 61.8 | 58.0 | ||||||||
Less: gold ounces sold, stream | 0.6 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.7 | ||||||||
GEOs sold, excluding stream | 20.8 | 19.7 | 59.6 | 55.3 | ||||||||
Average realized price per GEO sold, excluding stream | $ | 2,499 | $ | 1,920 | $ | 2,342 | $ | 1,916 |
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
Average realized price – San José mine (100% basis) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||
Gold sales | $ | 41,739 | $ | 38,563 | $ | 125,422 | $ | 105,319 | ||||
Silver sales | 28,622 | 25,932 | 85,214 | 74,124 | ||||||||
Gold and silver sales | $ | 70,361 | $ | 64,495 | $ | 210,636 | $ | 179,443 | ||||
Gold ounces sold | 15.8 | 18.0 | 51.3 | 51.5 | ||||||||
Silver ounces sold | 928 | 994 | 2,957 | 2,979 | ||||||||
GEOs sold | 26.7 | 30.0 | 86.2 | 87.3 | ||||||||
Average realized price per gold ounce sold | $ | 2,639 | $ | 2,138 | $ | 2,445 | $ | 2,044 | ||||
Average realized price per silver ounce sold | $ | 30.83 | $ | 26.08 | $ | 28.82 | $ | 24.88 | ||||
Average realized price per GEO sold | $ | 2,635 | $ | 2,149 | $ | 2,443 | $ | 2,055 |
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news release, McEwen Mining Inc.’s (the “Company”) estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the Company to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves, foreign exchange volatility, foreign exchange controls, foreign currency risk, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024, and September 30, 2024, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption “Risk Factors”, for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.
The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by the management of McEwen Mining Inc.
ABOUT MCEWEN MINING
McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it owns 46.4% of McEwen Copper which owns the large, advanced-stage Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The Company’s objective is to improve the productivity and life of its assets with the goal of increasing its share price and providing an investor yield. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, has a personal investment in the companies of US$225 million. His annual salary is US$1.
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U.S. Bancorp Is A Great Momentum Stock: Should You Buy?
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock’s recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the ‘long’ context, investors will essentially be “buying high, but hoping to sell even higher.” And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock’s price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at U.S. Bancorp USB, which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It’s also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. U.S. Bancorp currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B outperform the market over the following one-month period.
Set to Beat the Market?
In order to see if USB is a promising momentum pick, let’s examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this company holds up.
Looking at a stock’s short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It’s also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.
For USB, shares are up 0.21% over the past week while the Zacks Banks – Major Regional industry is up 0.33% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 6.12% compares favorably with the industry’s 4.51% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Over the past quarter, shares of U.S. Bancorp have risen 13.79%, and are up 33.8% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 7.29% and 32.85%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to USB’s average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. USB is currently averaging 8,694,755 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings Outlook
The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with USB.
Over the past two months, 6 earnings estimates moved higher compared to 1 lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost USB’s consensus estimate, increasing from $3.86 to $3.92 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 8 estimates have moved upwards while there have been 1 downward revision in the same time period.
Bottom Line
Given these factors, it shouldn’t be surprising that USB is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you’re looking for a fresh pick that’s set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep U.S. Bancorp on your short list.
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
SPARTAN DELTA CORP. ANNOUNCES DUVERNAY UPDATE, THIRD QUARTER 2024 RESULTS, AND UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR 2024
CALGARY, AB, Nov. 5, 2024 /CNW/ – Spartan Delta Corp. (“Spartan” or the “Company“) SDE is pleased to report its unaudited financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, as well as an inaugural Duvernay operational update, and updated guidance for 2024.
Selected financial and operational information is set out below and should be read in conjunction with Spartan’s unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A“) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023, which are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and are available on the Company’s website at www.spartandeltacorp.com. The highlights reported in this press release include certain non-GAAP financial measures and ratios which have been identified using capital letters. The reader is cautioned that these measures may not be directly comparable to other issuers; please refer to additional information under the heading “Reader Advisories – Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios”.
MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDERS
“In the last twelve months, Spartan has established one of the largest positions in the Duvernay at a low cost of entry, organically creating a second core area with a focus in the oil and condensate rich fairway. During the third quarter of 2024, Spartan initiated drilling and completion operations in the Duvernay with strong initial production results from its first two wells, warranting the acceleration of the Duvernay program. The Company also elected to shut-in new gas production from one of the highest rate gas wells drilled in Spartan’s history and further deferred certain Deep Basin activity in the third quarter in response to low natural gas prices. Spartan reallocated capital from the Deep Basin to drill and complete two additional wells in the Duvernay in the fourth quarter of 2024. Spartan continues to prudently manage production and capital with a focus on accelerating growth in the Duvernay,” commented Fotis Kalantzis, President and CEO of Spartan.
DUVERNAY UPDATE
Spartan has begun operations in the West Shale Basin Duvernay (the “Duvernay“) and is very encouraged by the strong initial results. To date, Spartan has successfully drilled 4.0 (3.4 net) wells, including a vertical stratigraphic well, and has completed and brought on-stream 2.0 (2.0 net) wells, including a previously drilled and uncompleted well (“DUC“), all in the Willesden Green Duvernay (“Willesden Green“). Spartan is currently completing 2.0 (1.4 net) wells in Willesden Green with initial results anticipated in December 2024. Additionally, the Company has begun construction on water infrastructure to further accelerate Duvernay development and reduce future capital requirements.
- 16-12-044-04W5 is Spartan’s inaugural completion in the Duvernay. The DUC was drilled by the previous operator in 2019 to a cased lateral length of 3,441 meters (11,290 feet). Spartan completed and brought the well on-stream in September. Initial production results are exceeding internal expectations, averaging 30-day peak production of approximately 1,394 BOE/d (82% liquids) (808 BBL/d of condensate, 329 BBL/d of NGLs, and 1.5 MMcf/d of natural gas).
- 01-11-044-03W5 is Spartan’s inaugural drill in the Duvernay. The well was drilled to a lateral length of 3,970 meters (13,026 feet). However, mechanical issues resulted in the casing of only 2,451 meters (8,042 feet) of lateral length. The Company successfully completed the well in October and despite the length impediment the well averaged 30-day initial production of approximately 937 BOE/d (92% liquids) (754 BBL/d of condensate, 104 BBL/d of NGLs, and 0.5 MMcf/d of natural gas). Scaling the well linearly to the drilled lateral length of 3,970 meters (13,026 feet) would result in a 30-day initial production of approximately 1,518 BOE/d (92% liquids) (1,221 BBL/d of condensate, 168 BBL/d of NGLs, and 0.8 MMcf/d of natural gas).
- 05-18-042-03W5-PAD is licensed as an eight well pad. To date, Spartan has successfully drilled 2.0 (1.4 net) wells; the 03-26-042-04W5 well at a lateral length of 3,560 meters (11,680 feet) and the 09-05-042-03W5 well at a lateral length of 3,720 meters (12,200 feet). The Company is currently completing the two wells and anticipates initial results in December 2024.
The Company continues to execute on its Duvernay strategy by significantly growing oil and liquids acreage and production, improving well costs and productivity by optimizing well designs and completions through the application of modern drilling techniques and technologies, while leveraging underutilized infrastructure in the region. To date, Spartan has accumulated approximately 250,000 net acres and believes the majority of its acreage is in the tier one oil and condensate rich Duvernay fairway with initial production results validating the thesis as production rates and flowing pressures are stronger than the nearest offsetting wells completed by the previous operators. Spartan’s Duvernay presents the opportunity to generate significant shareholder returns.
THIRD QUARTER 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
- Spartan reported production of 37,020 BOE/d (32% liquids) during the third quarter of 2024, a 1% decrease from the third quarter of 2023 due to the delay of drilling activity in the Deep Basin, as well as multiple production impediments and facility outages.
- The Company’s third quarter volumes were impacted by the voluntary intermittent shut-in of a recently completed well due to depressed natural gas prices resulting in a reduction of approximately 3,300 BOE/d of production during the quarter.
- During the third quarter, the Company experienced a loss of approximately 900 BOE/d of production as a result of third-party natural gas liquids force majeures and facility outages. The force majeures have since been rescinded.
- Spartan achieved a 138% increase in crude oil production and a 9% increase in condensate production as compared to the third quarter of 2023.
- Third quarter 2024 oil and gas sales totaled $60.6 million, generating Adjusted Funds Flow of $31.3 million ($0.18 per share, diluted).
- The Company successfully executed a $54.5 million capital program in the third quarter of 2024, continuing to focus on developing liquids-rich targets in the Deep Basin and commencing Spartan’s inaugural drilling and completion campaign in the Duvernay, exiting the quarter with Net Debt of $159.2 million.
- In the Duvernay, Spartan rig released 2.0 (2.0 net) wells, inclusive of a vertical stratigraphic well, completed 2.0 (2.0 net) wells, and brought on-stream 1.0 (1.0 net) well.
- In the Deep Basin, Spartan rig released 4.0 (4.0 net) wells, completed 4.0 (4.0 net) wells, and brought on-stream 2.0 (2.0 net) wells, continuing to target the liquids-rich Cardium and Wilrich formations.
- Successfully acquired 8,364 net acres in the Duvernay for cash consideration of $4.5 million.
- To date, Spartan has hedged approximately 78,315 GJ/d of AECO 7A at an average price of $2.98/GJ for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 27,745 GJ/d of AECO 7A at an average price of $2.50/GJ for 2025. Additionally, the Company has hedged approximately 600 BBL/d of its oil production at an average price of $101.06/BBL for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 1,900 BBL/d at an average price of $99.16/BBL for 2025.
The following table summarizes the Company’s financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023.
Three months ended September 30 |
Nine months ended September 30 |
||||||
(CA$ thousands, unless otherwise indicated) |
2024 |
2023 |
% |
2024 |
2023 |
% |
|
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
|||||||
Oil and gas sales |
60,551 |
81,878 |
(26) |
218,150 |
566,937 |
(62) |
|
Net income and comprehensive income |
3,528 |
9,005 |
(61) |
29,094 |
552,523 |
(95) |
|
$ per share, basic (1) |
0.02 |
0.05 |
(60) |
0.17 |
3.21 |
(95) |
|
$ per share, diluted (1) |
0.02 |
0.05 |
(60) |
0.17 |
3.19 |
(95) |
|
Cash provided by operating activities |
35,025 |
63,180 |
(45) |
127,850 |
424,380 |
(70) |
|
Adjusted Funds Flow (2) |
31,300 |
63,875 |
(51) |
114,150 |
369,451 |
(69) |
|
$ per share, basic (1)(2) |
0.18 |
0.37 |
(51) |
0.66 |
2.14 |
(69) |
|
$ per share, diluted (1)(2) |
0.18 |
0.37 |
(51) |
0.64 |
2.12 |
(70) |
|
Free Funds Flow (2) |
(23,238) |
36,380 |
(164) |
(7,977) |
106,330 |
(108) |
|
Cash used in (provided by) investing activities |
27,984 |
42,501 |
(34) |
180,497 |
(1,393,387) |
(113) |
|
Capital Expenditures before A&D (2) |
54,538 |
27,495 |
98 |
122,127 |
263,121 |
(54) |
|
Adjusted Net Capital A&D (2) |
4,358 |
837 |
421 |
76,826 |
(1,702,858) |
(105) |
|
Total assets |
921,710 |
862,245 |
7 |
921,710 |
862,245 |
7 |
|
Debt |
104,130 |
148,197 |
(30) |
104,130 |
148,197 |
(30) |
|
Net Debt (2) |
159,223 |
64,513 |
147 |
159,223 |
64,513 |
147 |
|
Shareholders’ equity |
464,366 |
318,328 |
46 |
464,366 |
318,328 |
46 |
|
Common shares outstanding, end of period (000s) (1) |
173,603 |
173,201 |
– |
173,603 |
173,201 |
– |
|
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS |
|||||||
Average daily production |
|||||||
Crude oil (bbls/d) |
1,140 |
478 |
138 |
961 |
7,614 |
(87) |
|
Condensate (bbls/d) (3) |
1,799 |
1,653 |
9 |
2,035 |
2,300 |
(12) |
|
NGLs (bbls/d) (3) |
8,989 |
8,670 |
4 |
9,171 |
10,994 |
(17) |
|
Natural gas (mcf/d) |
150,553 |
160,301 |
(6) |
155,249 |
224,992 |
(31) |
|
BOE/d |
37,020 |
37,518 |
(1) |
38,042 |
58,407 |
(35) |
|
Average realized prices, before financial instruments |
|||||||
Crude oil ($/bbl) |
96.64 |
115.85 |
(17) |
97.37 |
100.18 |
(3) |
|
Condensate ($/bbl) (3) |
96.64 |
102.52 |
(6) |
97.76 |
100.82 |
(3) |
|
NGLs ($/bbl) (3) |
28.92 |
30.21 |
(4) |
29.99 |
34.78 |
(14) |
|
Natural gas ($/mcf) |
0.76 |
2.52 |
(70) |
1.47 |
3.11 |
(53) |
|
Combined average ($/BOE) |
17.78 |
23.72 |
(25) |
20.93 |
35.56 |
(41) |
|
Operating Netbacks ($/BOE) (2) |
|||||||
Oil and gas sales |
17.78 |
23.72 |
(25) |
20.93 |
35.56 |
(41) |
|
Processing and other revenue |
0.35 |
0.48 |
(27) |
0.44 |
0.47 |
(6) |
|
Royalties |
(2.33) |
(3.02) |
(23) |
(2.84) |
(3.70) |
(23) |
|
Operating expenses |
(5.88) |
(5.39) |
9 |
(5.97) |
(7.46) |
(20) |
|
Transportation expenses |
(1.50) |
(1.71) |
(12) |
(1.53) |
(2.50) |
(39) |
|
Operating Netback, before hedging ($/BOE) (2) |
8.42 |
14.08 |
(40) |
11.03 |
22.37 |
(51) |
|
Operating Netback, after hedging ($/BOE) (2) |
12.22 |
23.10 |
(47) |
13.18 |
25.47 |
(48) |
|
Adjusted Funds Flow Netback ($/BOE) (2) |
9.19 |
18.51 |
(50) |
10.95 |
23.17 |
(53) |
(1) |
Refer to “Share Capital” section of this press release. |
(2) |
“Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Free Funds Flow”, “Capital Expenditures before A&D”, “Adjusted Net Capital A&D”, “Net Debt” and “Operating Netbacks” do not have standardized meanings under IFRS Accounting Standards, refer to “Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios” section of this press release. |
(3) |
Condensate is a natural gas liquid as defined by NI 51-101. See “Other Measurements”. |
UPDATED 2024 GUIDANCE
Spartan has updated its 2024 guidance to reflect lower forecast natural gas prices resulting in the tactical delay and voluntary shut-in of new natural gas production, as well as production impacts due to third-party natural gas liquids force majeures and facility outages.
Throughout the second and third quarter, the Company intermittently shut-in a newly completed natural gas well due to the depressed price of natural gas, with test rates of approximately 24.0 MMcf/d (4,000 BOE/d). Additionally, in the second half of 2024, Spartan prudently delayed the continuation of its drilling program in the Deep Basin. The Company will continue to monitor natural gas prices and intermittently curtail natural gas production in the fourth quarter. Spartan also experienced a loss of annualized production due to third-party natural gas liquids force majeures and facility outages. As a result, Spartan anticipates total impact to annualized production of approximately 2,500 BOE/d.
Despite a 23% decrease in forecasted AECO 7A natural gas prices, a 6% decrease in forecasted WTI crude oil prices, and a 6% decrease in forecasted average annual production, the Company’s forecasted Adjusted Funds Flow per share only decreased by 4%, largely offset by stronger than forecasted settlements on Commodity Derivative Contracts and improvements in operating and transportation expenses.
In light of the strong initial production results in the Duvernay, Spartan has increased its 2024 capital by $14.0 million to $164.0 million. The capital expansion is being allocated to accelerate the Company’s Duvernay strategy by acquiring additional Duvernay acreage and constructing water infrastructure to reduce future completion costs.
Spartan anticipates providing additional details regarding its preliminary 2025 operating budget and guidance on or before the release of its annual results for 2024.
Based on forecast average production of approximately 38,000 BOE/d, 33% liquids, and commodity price assumptions of US$75/bbl for WTI crude oil and $1.35/GJ for AECO natural gas, Spartan expects to generate approximately $160 million of Adjusted Funds Flow in 2024 on a capital expenditure budget of $164 million, exiting 2024 with Net Debt of $156 million.
ANNUAL GUIDANCE |
Updated |
Previous |
Variance (1) |
|
Year ending December 31, 2024 |
Guidance |
Guidance (1) |
Amount |
% |
Average Production (BOE/d) (3) |
38,000 |
39,500 – 41,500 |
(2,500) |
(6) |
% Liquids |
33 % |
33 % |
– |
– |
Benchmark Average Commodity Prices |
||||
WTI crude oil price (US$/bbl) |
75.00 |
80.00 |
(5.00) |
(6) |
AECO 7A natural gas price ($/GJ) |
1.35 |
1.75 |
(0.40) |
(23) |
Average exchange rate (US$/CA$) |
1.37 |
1.36 |
0.01 |
1 |
Operating Netback, before hedging ($/BOE) (2)(3) |
11.43 |
13.12 |
(1.69) |
(13) |
Operating Netback, after hedging ($/BOE) (2)(3) |
13.93 |
14.60 |
(0.67) |
(5) |
Adjusted Funds Flow ($MM) (2)(3) |
160 |
176 |
(16) |
(9) |
Capital Expenditures, before A&D ($MM) (2) |
164 |
150 |
14 |
9 |
Free Funds Flow ($MM) (2) |
(4) |
26 |
(30) |
(116) |
Net Debt, end of year ($MM) (2) |
156 |
127 |
29 |
23 |
Common shares outstanding, end of year (MM) |
174 |
174 |
– |
– |
(1) |
The financial performance measures included in the Company’s previous guidance for 2024 is based on the midpoint of the average production forecast. |
(2) |
“Operating Netback”, “Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Capital Expenditures, before A&D”, “Free Funds Flow” and “Net Debt” do not have standardized meanings under IFRS Accounting Standards, see “Readers Advisories – Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios”. |
(3) |
Additional information regarding the assumptions used in the forecasted Average Production, Operating Netbacks and Adjusted Funds Flow for 2024 are provided in the Reader Advisories section of this press release. |
ABOUT SPARTAN DELTA CORP.
Spartan is committed to creating value for its shareholders, focused on sustainability both in operations and financial performance. The Company’s culture is centered on generating Free Funds Flow through responsible oil and gas exploration and development. The Company has established a portfolio of high-quality production and development opportunities in the Deep Basin and the Duvernay. Spartan will continue to focus on the execution of the Company’s organic drilling program in the Deep Basin, delivering operational synergies in a respectful and responsible manner to the environment and communities it operates in. The Company is well positioned to continue pursuing optimization in the Deep Basin, participate in the consolidation of the Deep Basin fairway, and continue growing and developing its Duvernay asset by leveraging Spartan’s balance sheet and Free Funds Flow.
Spartan’s corporate presentation as of November 5, 2024, can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.spartandeltacorp.com.
READER ADVISORIES
Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios
This press release contains certain financial measures and ratios which do not have standardized meanings prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS Accounting Standards“) or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP“). As these non-GAAP financial measures and ratios are commonly used in the oil and gas industry, Spartan believes that their inclusion is useful to investors. The reader is cautioned that these amounts may not be directly comparable to measures for other companies where similar terminology is used.
The non-GAAP measures and ratios used in this press release, represented by the capitalized and defined terms outlined below, are used by Spartan as key measures of financial performance, and are not intended to represent operating profits nor should they be viewed as an alternative to cash provided by operating activities, net income or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
The definitions below should be read in conjunction with the “Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios” section of the Company’s MD&A dated November 5, 2024, which includes discussion of the purpose and composition of the specified financial measures and detailed reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
Operating Income and Operating Netback
Operating Income, a non-GAAP financial measure, is a useful supplemental measure that provides an indication of the Company’s ability to generate cash from field operations, prior to administrative overhead, financing, and other business expenses. “Operating Income, before hedging” is calculated by Spartan as oil and gas sales, net of royalties, plus processing and other revenue, less operating and transportation expenses. “Operating Income, after hedging” is calculated by adjusting Operating Income for realized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments including settlements on acquired derivative financial instrument liabilities (together a non-GAAP financial measure “Settlements on Commodity Derivative Contracts“). The Company refers to Operating Income expressed per unit of production as an “Operating Netback” and reports the Operating Netback before and after hedging, both of which are non-GAAP financial ratios. Spartan considers Operating Netback an important measure to evaluate its operational performance as it demonstrates its field level profitability relative to current commodity prices.
Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Funds Flow
Cash provided by operating activities is the most directly comparable measure to Adjusted Funds Flow. “Adjusted Funds Flow” is a non-GAAP financial measure reconciled to cash provided by operating activities by excluding changes in non-cash working capital, adding back transaction costs on acquisitions and dispositions, and deducting the principal portion of lease payments. Spartan utilizes Adjusted Funds Flow as a key performance measure in the Company’s annual financial forecasts and public guidance. Transaction costs, which primarily include legal and financial advisory fees, regulatory and other expenses directly attributable to execution of acquisitions and dispositions, are added back because the Company’s definition of Free Funds Flow excludes capital expenditures related to acquisitions and dispositions. For greater clarity, incremental overhead expenses related to ongoing integration and restructuring post-acquisition are not adjusted and are included in Spartan’s general and administrative expenses. Lease liabilities are not included in Spartan’s definition of Net Debt therefore lease payments are deducted in the period incurred to determine Adjusted Funds Flow.
The Company refers to Adjusted Funds Flow expressed per unit of production as an “Adjusted Funds Flow Netback“.
“Free Funds Flow” is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by Spartan as Adjusted Funds Flow less Capital Expenditures before A&D. Spartan believes Free Funds Flow provides an indication of the amount of funds the Company has available for future capital allocation decisions such as to repay current and long-term debt, reinvest in the business or return capital to shareholders.
Adjusted Funds Flow per share
Adjusted Funds Flow (“AFF“) per share is a non-GAAP financial ratio used by the Company as a key performance indicator. AFF per share is calculated using the same methodology as net income per share (“EPS“), however the diluted weighted average common shares (“WA Shares“) outstanding for AFF may differ from the diluted weighted average determined in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards for purposes of calculating EPS due to non-cash items that impact net income only. The dilutive impact of stock options and share awards is more dilutive to AFF than EPS because the number of shares deemed to be repurchased under the treasury stock method is not adjusted for unrecognized share-based compensation expense as it is non-cash (see also, “Share Capital”).
Capital Expenditures, before A&D
“Capital Expenditures before A&D” is a non-GAAP financial measure used by Spartan to measure its capital investment level compared to the Company’s annual budgeted capital expenditures for its organic drilling program. It includes capital expenditures on exploration and evaluation assets and property, plant and equipment, before acquisitions and dispositions. The directly comparable GAAP measure to Capital Expenditures before A&D is cash used in investing activities.
Adjusted Net Capital A&D
“Adjusted Net Capital A&D” is a supplemental measure disclosed by Spartan which aggregates the total amount of cash and debt used to acquire crude oil and natural gas assets during the period, net of cash proceeds received on dispositions. The Company believes this is useful information because it is more representative of the total transaction value than the cash acquisition costs or total cash used in investing activities, determined in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. The most directly comparable GAAP measures are acquisition costs and disposition proceeds included as components of cash used in investing activities.
Net Debt and Adjusted Working Capital
References to “Net Debt” includes long-term debt under Spartan’s revolving credit facility and second lien term facility, net of Adjusted Working Capital. Net Debt and Adjusted Working Capital are both non-GAAP financial measures. “Adjusted Working Capital” is calculated as current assets less current liabilities, excluding derivative financial instrument assets and liabilities, lease liabilities, and current debt (if applicable). The Adjusted Working Capital deficit includes cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, dividends payable, and the current portion of decommissioning obligations.
Spartan uses Net Debt as a key performance measure to manage the Company’s targeted debt levels. The Company believes its presentation of Adjusted Working Capital and Net Debt are useful as supplemental measures because lease liabilities and derivative financial instrument assets and liabilities relate to contractual obligations for future production periods. Lease payments and cash receipts or settlements on derivative financial instruments are included in Spartan’s reported Adjusted Funds Flow in the production month to which the obligation relates to.
References to “Cash Financing Expenses” includes interest and fees on current and long-term debt, net of interest income, and excludes financing costs related to lease liabilities and accretion of decommissioning obligations. Cash Financing Expenses is a non-GAAP financial measure used by Spartan in its budget and guidance as it corresponds to the Company’s definition of Net Debt, however it should not be viewed as an alternative to total financing expenses presented in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
OTHER MEASUREMENTS
All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.
This press release contains various references to the abbreviation “BOE” which means barrels of oil equivalent. Where amounts are expressed on a BOE basis, natural gas volumes have been converted to oil equivalence at six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) per barrel (bbl). The term BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet per barrel is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead and is significantly different than the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil and natural gas. This conversion factor is an industry accepted norm and is not based on either energy content or current prices.
References to “oil” in this press release include light crude oil and medium crude oil, combined. National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (“NI 51-101“) includes condensate within the product type of “natural gas liquids”. References to “natural gas liquids” or “NGLs” include pentane, butane, propane, and ethane. References to “gas” or “natural gas” relates to conventional natural gas.
References to “liquids” includes crude oil, condensate and NGLs.
ASSUMPTIONS FOR 2024 GUIDANCE
The significant assumptions used in the forecast of Operating Netbacks and Adjusted Funds Flow for 2024 are summarized below. These key performance measures expressed per BOE are based on the calendar year average production guidance for 2024 of approximately 38,000 BOE/d.
2024 financial Guidance ($/BOE) |
Updated Guidance |
Previous Guidance |
% Change |
Oil and gas sales |
21.13 |
23.83 |
(11) |
Processing and other revenue |
0.40 |
0.34 |
18 |
Royalties |
(2.82) |
(3.27) |
(14) |
Operating expenses |
(5.70) |
(6.15) |
(7) |
Transportation expenses |
(1.58) |
(1.63) |
(3) |
Operating Netback, before hedging |
11.43 |
13.12 |
(13) |
Settlements on Commodity Derivative Contracts |
2.50 |
1.48 |
69 |
Operating Netback, after hedging |
13.93 |
14.60 |
(5) |
General and administrative expenses |
(1.32) |
(1.29) |
2 |
Cash financing expenses |
(0.27) |
(0.56) |
(52) |
Other income |
0.19 |
0.17 |
12 |
Settlements of decommissioning obligations |
(0.26) |
(0.25) |
4 |
Lease payments |
(0.81) |
(0.76) |
7 |
Adjusted Funds Flow |
11.46 |
11.91 |
(4) |
Changes in forecast commodity prices, exchange rates, differences in the amount and timing of capital expenditures, and variances in average production estimates can have a significant impact on the key performance measures included in Spartan’s guidance. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from these estimates. Holding all other assumptions constant, a US$5/bbl increase (decrease) in the forecasted average WTI crude oil price for the remainder of 2024 would increase Adjusted Funds Flow by approximately $2.3 million (decrease by $2.3 million). An increase (decrease) of CA$0.25/GJ in the forecasted average AECO natural gas price for the remainder of 2024, holding the NYMEX-AECO basis differential and all other assumptions constant, would increase Adjusted Funds Flow by approximately $2.0 million (decrease by $2.0 million). Holding U.S. dollar benchmark commodity prices and all other assumptions constant, an increase (decrease) of $0.05 in the US$/CA$ exchange rate for the remainder of 2024 would increase Adjusted Funds Flow by approximately $1.5 million (decrease by $1.5 million). Assuming capital expenditures are unchanged, the impact on Free Funds Flow would be equivalent to the increase or decrease in Adjusted Funds Flow. An increase (decrease) in Free Funds Flow will result in an equivalent decrease (increase) in the forecasted Net Debt (Surplus).
SHARE CAPITAL
Spartan’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX“) and trade under the symbol “SDE”. The volume weighted average trading price of Spartan’s common shares on the TSX was $3.97 for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Spartan’s closing share price was $3.69 on September 30, 2024, compared to $2.98 on December 31, 2023.
As at September 30, 2024, and as of the date hereof, there are 173.6 million common shares outstanding. There are no preferred shares or special preferred shares outstanding. The following securities are outstanding as of the date of this press release: 3.5 million restricted share awards; and 1.4 million stock options outstanding with an average exercise price of $3.25 per common share and average remaining term of 4.4 years.
The table below summarizes the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (000s) used in the calculation of diluted EPS and diluted AFF per share:
Three months ended September 30 |
Nine months ended September 30 |
||||||
(000s) |
2024 |
2023 |
% |
2024 |
2023 |
% |
|
WA Shares outstanding, basic |
173,415 |
173,201 |
– |
173,273 |
172,302 |
1 |
|
Dilutive effect of outstanding securities |
1,775 |
1,100 |
61 |
1,659 |
1,107 |
50 |
|
WA Shares, diluted – for EPS |
175,190 |
174,301 |
1 |
174,932 |
173,409 |
1 |
|
Incremental dilution for AFF (1) |
2,003 |
– |
nm |
2,071 |
1,014 |
104 |
|
WA Shares, diluted – for AFF (1) |
177,193 |
174,301 |
2 |
177,003 |
174,423 |
1 |
|
(1) |
AFF per share does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards, refer to “Reader Advisories – Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios”. |
FORWARD-LOOKING AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained within this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “budget”, “plan”, “endeavor”, “continue”, “estimate”, “evaluate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “monitor”, “may”, “will”, “can”, “able”, “potential”, “target”, “intend”, “consider”, “focus”, “identify”, “use”, “utilize”, “manage”, “maintain”, “remain”, “result”, “cultivate”, “could”, “should”, “believe” and similar expressions. Spartan believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, but no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to: the business plan, objectives, cost model and strategy of Spartan, continued optimization of its Deep Basin asset, participation in the consolidation of the Deep Basin fairway and advancing its Duvernay strategy; the Company’s drilling strategy in the Deep Basin; expected drilling and completions in the Duvernay, the Company’s capital program; the Company’s updated 2024 guidance; Spartan’s strategies to deliver strong operational performance and to generate significant shareholder returns; the ability of the Company to achieve drilling success consistent with management’s expectations; the estimated amount of available tax pools; being well positioned to take advantage of opportunities in the current business environment; Spartan’s ability to leverage its balance sheet and Free Funds Flow to progress its Duvernay strategy, to continue pursuing immediate production optimization and responsible future growth with organic drilling, to continue to execute on building an extensive position in the Duvernay; opportunistic acquisitions; risk management activities, including hedging; and the timing of release of preliminary 2025 operating budget and guidance.
The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Spartan, including, but not limited to, expectations and assumptions concerning the business plan of Spartan, the timing of and success of future drilling, development and completion activities, the growth opportunities of Spartan’s Duvernay acreage, the performance of existing wells, the performance of new wells, the availability and performance of facilities and pipelines, the geological characteristics of Spartan’s properties, the successful application of drilling, completion and seismic technology, prevailing weather conditions, prevailing legislation affecting the oil and gas industry, prevailing commodity prices, price volatility, future commodity prices, price differentials and the actual prices received for the Company’s products, anticipated fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates, impact of inflation on costs, royalty regimes and exchange rates, the application of regulatory and licensing requirements, the availability of capital, labour and services, the creditworthiness of industry partners, general economic conditions, and the ability to source and complete acquisitions.
Although Spartan believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because Spartan can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in commodity prices; changes in industry regulations and political landscape both domestically and abroad, wars (including Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza), hostilities, civil insurrections, foreign exchange or interest rates, increased operating and capital costs due to inflationary pressures (actual and anticipated), risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general, stock market and financial system volatility, impacts of pandemics, the retention of key management and employees, risks with respect to unplanned third-party pipeline outages and risks relating to inclement and severe weather events and natural disasters, including fire, drought, and flooding, including in respect of safety, asset integrity and shutting-in production.
Please refer to Spartan’s MD&A for the period ended September 30, 2024, and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023, for discussion of additional risk factors relating to the Company, which can be accessed either on Spartan’s website at www.spartandeltacorp.com or under Spartan’s SEDAR+ profile on www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. Spartan undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
This press release contains future-oriented financial information and financial outlook information (collectively, “FOFI“) about Spartan’s prospective results of operations and production, Free Funds Flow, Adjusted Funds Flow, operating costs, Capital Expenditures before A&D, Operating Netback, Net Debt, production, annualized production, organic growth, capital efficiency improvements and components thereof, all of which are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set forth in the above paragraphs. FOFI contained in this document was approved by management as of the date of this document and was provided for the purpose of providing further information about Spartan’s future business operations. Spartan and its management believe that FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgments, and represent, to the best of management’s knowledge and opinion, the Company’s expected course of action. However, because this information is highly subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Spartan disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any FOFI contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law. Readers are cautioned that the FOFI contained in this document should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein. Changes in forecast commodity prices, differences in the timing of capital expenditures, and variances in average production estimates can have a significant impact on the key performance measures included in Spartan’s updated guidance. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from these estimates.
References in this press release to peak rates, initial production rates, average 30-day production and other short-term production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will commence production and decline thereafter and are not indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production of Spartan. The Company cautions that such results should be considered preliminary.
ABBREVIATIONS
A&D |
acquisitions and dispositions |
bbl |
barrel |
bbls/d |
barrels per day |
BOE/d |
barrels of oil equivalent per day |
CA$ or CAD |
Canadian dollar |
GJ |
gigajoule |
GJ/d |
gigajoule per day |
mcf |
one thousand cubic feet |
mcf/d |
one thousand cubic feet per day |
Mbbls |
thousand barrels |
MBOE |
thousand barrels of oil equivalent |
MMbtu |
one million British thermal units |
MMcf |
one million cubic feet |
MM |
millions |
$MM |
millions of dollars |
US$ or USD |
United States dollar |
SOURCE Spartan Delta Corp.
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