The reason for the diversification is that the gold industry is essentially “ex-growth,” according to Harquail, who says companies are investing in new projects to maintain production, but “none of these projects are really great.”
Company can take its time
Harquail also noted that Franco does not need to be in a rush to invest. It has growth built in for the next five years from royalties on advanced-stage projects, while it could maintain its dividend for the next 32 years even if it did nothing else.
Franco is also appealing more and more as an investment to long-term conservative institutions, including generalist funds who want a small exposure to gold and resources without the extreme volatility from mining companies. Franco remains a foundational investment for us. If you don’t own it, it’s a good buy here.
Some debt and greater risk, but higher potential?
Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD:NASDAQ; RGL:TSX, NASDAQ 63.03) also has near-term growth from new mines (including New Gold’s troubled Rainy River, which is still scheduled to start up later this year). Its main assets have long lives, while it has a strong pipeline with optionality to higher prices. Following concerns about the balance sheet when it added to investments in Mount Milligan, the new debt ratios are now reasonable and the company has $420 million in available liquidity with no further funding obligations.
Unlike Franco, it carries debt, and the revenue sources are more concentrated. But in a stronger gold environment, Royal likely has more upside than Franco. It has increased its dividend each year for the past 16 years (currently yielding just over 1.5%). Royal is a strong buy at current levels, albeit with more downside risk if gold is weak.
Flat outlook means wait
Silver Wheaton Corp. (SLW:TSX; SLW:NYSE, NY 19.44) has a flat production outlook for the next three years, following a period of strong growth. The Canadian tax issue is still hanging over the company. Silver Wheaton remains our favored way to gain exposure to silver, even though some 45% of its revenue now comes from gold. Given these reasons, we want to buy SLW when it is particularly cheap, so we’ll hold for now.
Buy out ahead?
Almaden Minerals Ltd. (AMM:TSX; AAU:NYSE, NY 1.01) is nearing completion of its Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) on the Ixtaca deposit, which should show improved economics over the PEA (January 2016); the study is expected by the end of the month. Importantly, it should show a larger deposit. The PEA showed life-of-mine production of 724,000 ounces of gold and 49 million ounces of silver at an operating cost of under $700 per ounce of gold, with very attractive returns.
Meanwhile, the company has continued to drill high-grade mineralization in areas within and outside the previous PEA; this material will be included in the new study. The company has many other targets on the Tuligtic project besides the Ixtaca deposit. Also, last month, the company raised $3.4 million in a private placement and is now well funded to continue advancing the project. Final permitting is expected to commence soon, with a 6 to 12-month target for permits. Once the PFS and permits are in hand, we suspect other companies will take a much stronger look at Ixtaca and possible acquisition. With a production profile almost 50/50 gold/silver, Ixtaca could be attractive to one of the several junior silver producers operating in Mexico.
It’s a clean deposit, with low capex, upside potential, and in a good jurisdiction. Buy Almaden at the current level.
Multiple properties, with key deposit
Almadex Minerals Ltd. (AMX:TSX.V, 1.19), spun off from Almaden a year ago, holds all of the exploration properties and royalty assets, including the more advanced El Cobre project which is the company’s main focus at present. This is a large property with good grades, and near good infrastructure.
In all, Almadex has about 20 properties, and has been active optioning them to ensure work gets done on as many as possible while it focuses on El Cobre. Almadex has also completed a placement, raising nearly CA$3.4 million to add to its already solid cash, bullion and share hoard. We like Almadex and its management, but would look to buy on further weakness.
Miranda Gold Corp. (MAD:TSX.V, 0.09 x0.095) has been active of late in Colombia, tying up land and seeking joint venture partners. We hope to see the fruits of this work in coming months. The transition from Nevada is complete. The company’s Willow Creek in Alaska is moving forward as its partner, Gold Torrent, has obtained financing to develop the project. Though small, Willow Creek once in production—Gold Torrent is forecasting the end of 2018, though that sounds optimistic to me—will provide cash flow to Miranda sufficient to cover overhead. Currently, Miranda has $3.2 million in cash, sufficient for nearly two years’ expenditures. At this price, Miranda is a good buy, but I wouldn’t chase it higher until there are partnerships in place in Colombia.Adrian Day, London-born and a graduate of the London School of Economics, heads the money management firm Adrian Day Asset Management, where he manages discretionary accounts in both global and resource areas. Day is also sub-adviser to the EuroPacific Gold Fund (EPGFX). His latest book is “Investing in Resources: How to Profit from the Outsized Potential and Avoid the Risks.”
Want to read more Gold Report articles like this? Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and you’ll learn when new articles have been published. To see a list of recent articles and interviews with industry analysts and commentators, visit our Streetwise Interviews page.
Disclosure:
1) Adrian Day: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: Franco-Nevada and Royal Gold. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. Funds controlled by Adrian Day Asset Management hold shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: Franco-Nevada Corp., Royal Gold Inc., Silver Wheaton Corp., Almaden Minerals Ltd., Almadex Minerals Ltd. and Miranda Gold Corp. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Silver Wheaton Corp. Streetwise Reports does not accept stock in exchange for its services. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article.
4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports’ terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise during the up-to-four-week interval from the time of the interview/article until after it publishes.
