Ted Macklin
Harry Winston Diamond Corp.
HW-T
BUY
Feb 26, 2004
The bulk of capital spending is behind them. Future expansion will be covered from free cash flow. Stock dropped because production levels were below expectations, but this is not a problem. A tremendous opportunity. Buy on pullbacks.
Up about 40% this year. 2 components. 1) A mining operation they’ve been working on with Rio Tinto (RIO-N) in the North West Territories. Had some really good results lately. 2) Also have 35 Salons operating and it looks like they will be expanding. Japan is about 20% of their retail sales so surprised this was not affected. Stock is overbought which worries him.
There is a world shortage around the world in rough diamonds. Mine production is being stabilized in NWT. Big push is in jewelry and especially in watches. Certainty of expanding jewelry business in China.
Sold most when they cut their dividend. Likes the assets. Probably cut dividend for the right reason. Likes the mining the most. If they got back to 3% he would be interested.
125 day moving average was broken. Head and shoulders pattern was broken. If he saw it go much lower he would find a better name. If you see it get back above $17, buy it. There are better names out there. There is no momentum.
Diamonds. You can put a higher rating on the retail assets, particularly expansion in the far east and particularly the scarcity of diamonds. Good results reported about a month ago.
Thinks that management has indicated that if revenues get big enough they would consider another spinoff (of the jewellery division), which would be a good move.